Lucapa Diamond Co Ltd (ASX:LOM) has recovered the largest coloured gem-quality diamond to date from the Lulo Diamond Project in Angola.
The 43 carat yellow gem from Mining Block 8 at Lulo surpasses a 39 carat pink diamond recovered in September 2016.
Also among the most recent recovery of large diamonds from Lulo is a 116 carat low-quality boart stone.
READ: Lucapa Diamond Company schedules next sale of Lulo diamonds for early 2018
It is the tenth 100+ carat diamond recovered from Lulo and the second within the first three weeks of 2018.
Lulo is the highest US$ per carat alluvial diamond producer in the world.
Company also has Mothae project
The company has a 70% interest in the Mothae kimberlite project in diamond-rich Lesotho.
Mothae is within 5 kilometres of Letšeng, the world’s highest US$ per carat kimberlite diamond mine.
Letšeng is operated by Letšeng Diamonds, which is 70%-owned by London-listed Gem Diamonds Limited (LON:GEMD).
A 910 carat diamond recently recovered from Letšeng is reported to be the 5th largest gem-quality diamond ever recovered.
Lucapa is constructing a 150 tonne per hour diamond treatment plant at Mothae, complete with XRT recovery technology.
Production is expected to begin at Mothae in the second half of 2018.