Lucara, the mining company, has successfully retrieved a remarkable 1,080.1-carat diamond from its Karowe Diamond Mine located in Botswana. The massive gem, as detailed in a press release, measures 82.2 x 42.8 x 34.2mm and is identified as a “Type IIa top white gem of high quality.”
This remarkable discovery marks the fourth instance of unearthing a diamond exceeding 1,000 carats from the South Lobe of the AK6 kimberlite since 2015. Among the three other 1,000+-carat diamonds retrieved are the 1,758-carat Sewelô (2019), a 1,174-carat diamond (2021), and the 1,109-carat Lesedi La Rona (2015).
Eira Thomas, CEO of Lucara, highlighted the significance of this achievement. She stated, “As we continue our mining activities at deeper levels within the open pit and transition to underground mining, exclusively in the South Lobe, the occurrence of large, high-value stones is becoming more frequent. This aligns with the established resource model and reinforces the strong economic justification for investing in the Underground expansion, which will effectively extend the mine’s lifespan to at least 2040.”
The recovery of this extraordinary diamond reaffirms the exceptional potential of the Karowe Diamond Mine and underscores Lucara’s commitment to harnessing the value of these extraordinary natural treasures.
