ASX-listed diamond miner Lucapa on Monday announced that its latest sale from the Lulo alluvial mine, in Angola, had achieved gross revenues of $10-million, representing an average price of $1 800/ct.
This took total half-year sales of Lulo diamonds to $22.1-million, achieving an average price of $3 668/ct.
The sale excluded several high-value diamonds which remain held in inventory by Lulo alluvial mining company Sociedade Mineira Do Lulo (SML), of which Lucapa holds 40% and is the operator. These diamonds include the 130 ct Type IIa D-colour diamond and a 46 ct pink diamond.
SML, in which Endiama and Rosas & Petalas are the other shareholders, is undertaking a self-funded expansion of Lulo to deliver a 50% increase in the yearly plant throughput to about 450 000 bulk cubic metres by 2020.
The latest Lulo diamond sale closely follows the $3.5-million sale of diamonds from Lucapa’s second high-value mine, the Mothae kimberlite mine in Lesotho.