JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – All 75 936 ct on offer at Aim-listed Firestone Diamonds’ first sale of diamonds recovered from its Liqhobong diamond mine, in Lesotho, have been sold.
The sale was held in Antwerp between February 6 and 10, with the company raking in $8.14-million, or an average of $107/ct. Over 90 companies viewed the goods and more than 38 companies were successful.
The higher-quality diamonds were competitively bid for during the sale. The best diamond, a 37 ct Type IIa internally flawless white diamond was sold for well over $1-million. A number of yellow and fancy yellow stones included in the sale also achieved competitive prices, with interest being exceptionally strong in these categories.
CEO Stuart Brown on Monday said the company was looking forward to even better results as it gradually increases its mining to all areas of the pit and increases the mine’s run-of-mine production over time.
“To have recovered some exceptional white and fancy coloured stones at this early stage is extremely pleasing and we believe the Liqhobong orebody will, over time, prove to be an exciting one,” he added.
A second sale will be held late in the first quarter.