PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Diamond miner Lucapa has reported a 154% increase in production for the three months ended September, compared with the previous corresponding period.
The miner on Wednesday reported that its Lulo mine, in Angola, delivered 8 853 ct during the quarter, with production including a record 137 special stones weighing a total of 3 210 ct.
Volumes treated at the Lulo mine increased by 47% year-on-year, while the recovered diamond grade increased by 73% to 13.7 ct for every 100 m3.
During the three months under review, three parcels of alluvial diamonds, weighing a total of 7 837 ct were sold, an increase of 206% on the previous year. The sales achieved gross proceeds of $10.3-million.
Lucapa reported a maiden profit of $3.3-million for the half-year ended June, and at the end of September, the miner’s cash balance stood at $7-million.