MINING
Lucara continues to shine
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Recovers fancy 62 carat pink diamond, names it Boitumelo Diamond rich Botswana Karowe Mine bolsters Lucara Corp
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arely a few weeks after recovering a whopping 1,174 carat diamond, Canadian giant diamond entity Lucara Diamond Corporation reached another milestone recovering 62.7 carat pink diamond. The pink diamond was recovered from the rich Karowe Mine in Letlhakane 100% owned by Lucara. “The diamond has been given the name “Boitumelo” meaning “Joy” in Setswana noting that the impressive diamond, measuring 26x17x16mm is described as a high-quality, fancy pink, a Type II gem and was recovered from direct milling of ore sourced from EM/ PK(S) unit of South Lobe,” said Lucara.
diamonds join a collection of significant diamond recoveries in 2021 produced from the EM/PK(S) which forms a key economic driver for the proposed underground mine at Karowe,” said the elated Thomas buoyant over more success. Recently, the Managing Director (MD) of Lucara Botswana Naseem Lahri revealed that 1 174 carat diamond from the Karowe mine symbolizes the resilience of Lucara amidst Covid-19
pandemic. Lahri said that Botswana emerged to be on the top regarding 10 largest stones globally occupying positions 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 while presenting the stone to President Mokgweetsi Masisi and the cabinet. In addition, MD Lahri said that the majority of largest stones in the context of Botswana originates from Lucara Botswana, except one 1 098 carat diamond that was discovered by the Debswana mine. She noted that the Karowe Mine in Letlhakane produce high quality and lucrative type 2 diamonds. These are very unique stones in the world and we are blessed as Lucara and the country to be producing them. The reason we are recovering the large stones is because of the big technology that we have implemented at Lucara being the SRT technology. We are also enabled by the jurisdiction which is a stable one. It enables us to recover safely with the government officials with us,” said Lahri.
A superb, 22.21 carat fancy pink gem of similar quality was also recovered during the same production period along with two additional pink gems of similar colour and purity weighing 11.17, and 5.05 carats. According to the diamond mining company, the 62.7 carat Boitumelo diamond represents the largest fancy pink gem to be recovered in and one of the world’s largest rough pink diamonds on record.
Lacara’s latest finds of 1 174 carat diamond and 62 carat pink one respectively also follows hot on the heels of the recovery of a 1 098-carat diamond by Debswana at its Jwaneng mine, in Botswana as well.
Lucara Diamond Corporation Chief Executive Officer (CEO) said that the company is delighted to have recovered yet another historic diamond with the recovery of the pink fancy Boitumelo gem.
In recent years, Lucara also recovered the 1 758 carats Sewelô and the 1 109 carat Lesedi La Rona diamonds from the South Lobe of the Karowe Mine which has proven to be very richer. The historic 1,109-carat Lesedi La Rona was seen fetching value of $80 million (P900 million) when it is auctioned in London at the end of June 2016 thus demonstrating its higher value.
“And I am very pleased to demonstrate the continued potential for large, coloured diamonds from the South Lobe production. These remarkable pink Strides Magazine
30
August 2021
