(IDEX Online) - Lucapa Diamond Company and its partners have announced the discovery of a new alluvial source of large and premium-value diamonds at the Lulo diamond project in Angola.
"To date, the diamonds mined from Lulo - the world's highest average US$ per carat alluvial production - have been sourced predominantly from the terrace deposits along the Cacuilo River valley," Lucapa said. "The Lulo partners recently began exploring the extensive flood plains (leziria areas) along the ~50km stretch of Cacuilo River valley within the Lulo diamond concession to determine whether these areas were also host to exceptional alluvial diamonds.
"The positive results from the first of these flood plain areas tested - adjacent to Mining Block 31 - where regular Specials (diamonds >10.8 carats) were recovered, demonstrate the potential to open additional and expansive new mining areas at Lulo."
The exploration results include:
17 Specials, including an exceptional 55 carat Type IIa D-colour white A total of 1,502 carats recovered so far from 11,155 bulk cubic meters processed, achieving a diamond grade of 13.5 carats per 100 cubic meters
"Given the results from the flood plains adjacent to Mining Block 31, Lucapa and its partners will continue testing other flood plain areas at Lulo in parallel with alluvial mining activities in established areas."