Angola : Lucapa Diamond excavates for primary sources of Lulo high-value diamonds

Lucapa Diamond Company Ltd, active in the diamondiferous Lulo area, on June 27 announced drilling on high priority kimberlite to, essentially, identify the primary sources of the exceptional alluvial diamonds constantly recovered in the project.

“The aim of the drilling program is to help identify the primary kimberlite source, or sources, of the large, high value alluvial diamonds being recovered from Lulo”, the Australian company said in a release that Rutilance has copy.

It underscored that the series of high value diamonds recovered include a 404 carat Type IIa D-colour gem, the Angola’s biggest recorded diamond. The exceptional gem was sold for 22.5 million $ February this year.

The program, scheduled to continue through the year, has commenced at the L259 kimberlite target where 78-108 hectare body, consistent with a weathered near-surface expression of a kimberlite pipe, has been identified.

According to the ASX listed company, the kimberlites expected to be drilled are close to alluvial mining blocks 8 at 6, which have been regular sources of large, premium-value special diamonds.

Lucapa and its partners on the project also announced, in the same release, the results of the latest sale of Lulo alluvial diamonds.
The sale of the parcel of 808 carats of Lulo diamonds achieved gross sale proceeds of 880,720 US$ representing an average sale price per carat of 1,090 US$.

This has added to the cash resources of the mining company Sociedade Mineira do Lulo (SML), which Lucapa operates and has a 40% interest in, the release said.

The Lulo Diamond Project is a 3,000km2 concession in Angola’s Lunda Norte diamond heartland, approximately 630km east of the capital Luanda. (Rutilance.com)