DIAMOND MINING: Lucara’s Karowe mine produces first gems

BOTSWANA – Vancouver’s Lucara Diamond Corp. says its new Karowe mine has produced its first diamonds as plant commissioning ramps up. The company added that the quantity and grade of stones recovered during the first ore run are outstanding.

Over 5,300 ct of diamonds have been recovered from ore mined from the upper benches of the North Lobe of the deposit, which has an estimated grade of greater than 32 cpht which is double the average deposit grade. Several large diamonds have also been recovered including four special stones larger than 10.8 ct. The three largest stones recovered are 25.88 ct, 16.55 ct and 14.56 ct.

Lucara said commissioning will continue through April until full capacity is reached by the middle of this year. The first sale of Kawore diamonds is scheduled for June 2012.

Although at press time the website LucaraDiamond.com was not responding, the company promises to post pictures of Kawore diamonds on the site.