AMN - ANGOLA: Lucapa boasts record Lulo production

Lucapa Diamond Companyand its partners, Empresa Nacional de Diamantes E.P. (Endiama) and Rosas & Petalas, have announced that alluvial mining operations continued ahead of plan in August 2016 at the Lulo Diamond Project in Angola.

The recent investment in earth moving fleet and equipment saw Lulo achieve record monthly processing volumes of 22,870 bulk cubic metres (bcm) in August, surpassing the 21,114 bcm achieved in the previous month.

Diamond production for August at Lulo totalled 2882 carats, the second best month on record. The August production included 39 Special diamonds (individual stones weighing > 10.8 carats) of up to 80.5 carats. This takes to 98 the number of Specials recovered from Lulo in the first two months of the September 2016 Quarter as the Lulo partners continue to mine high-value areas such as Mining Block 8.

The August production also included more fancy coloured diamonds, including pink and yellow gems.

The average monthly diamond grade for August was 12.6 carats per 100 cubic metres, while the average size of the diamonds recovered in August was 1.7 carats.

ENDIAMA Chairman Eng. Antonio Carlos Sumbula says the results from Lulo are extremely encouraging. “Lulo continues to produce diamonds of the highest quality and the investment in new fleet and equipment is delivering more positive results.”

www.lucapa.com.au