Vancouver-based Lucara Diamond has recovered a 53,5-ct white type IIa diamond during the first week of produc- tion at its Mothae mine, in Lesotho.

The company started processing kimberlite ore last week and is ramping up production towards the design capacity of 1 000 t/d.

“Recovery of this 53,5-ct stone on initial start-up at the Mothae mine is a huge win for Lucara and Mothae Diamonds,” CEO William Lamb com- mented in a statement.

“Results of initial sampling work at Mothae indicated that large diamonds are present but were being broken [owing to] the limited material size which the original bulk sample plant could process.”

The diamond is more than twice the size of any previous diamond recovered from Mothae, Lamb said.

Besides Mothae, Lucara also holds a majority stake in the AK6 diamond project, in Botswana.

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