By Rachel Seeley
ASX-listed Lucapa Diamond Company made history with the discovery of the biggest diamond ever found in Angola – one of the world’s top four producing nations.
The 404.2 carat, Type IIa D-colour diamond was found at the Perth-based company’s Lulo diamond project in the Lunda Norte province.
It is the twenty-seventh biggest recorded diamond in the world and the largest discovered by an Australian company.
Lucapa had not valued the diamond yet, but initial estimates indicated it could be worth about $20 million.
The Lulo project has a solid track record for producing large diamonds, with more than 100 large special diamonds – of more than 10.8 carats – recovered to date.
The latest discovery was also the fourth diamond of more than 100 carats recovered from the project.
“We have always emphasised the very special nature of the Lulo diamond field and this recovery – together with the other 100 carat-plus diamonds recovered this year along – is further evidence of that,” Lucapa chief executive Stephen Wetherall said.
“And while we continue mining these exceptional alluvial gems from Mining Blocks 6 and 8 at Lulo, we are also continuing to advance our systematic exploration program to find the kimberlite source of these diamonds.”
The Lulo project is jointly owned by Lucapa (40 per cent), Endiama (32 per cent) and Rosas & Petalas (28 per cent).
