Gem Diamonds has unearthed a 122.20-carat rough diamond from its Letšeng mine in Lesotho, marking the third diamond over 100 carats discovered in the past month and the 11th of its kind this year. The company recovered this high-quality, type II diamond on September 1, following the discovery of a 129.71-carat rough on August 23 and a 145.55-carat stone on August 3. Additional notable finds this year include a 212.49-carat rough in May and two
Rio Tinto has rescheduled its tender of run-of-mine rough diamonds from the Diavik deposit in Canada due to reduced production volumes. Originally set for September 30 to October 2, the sale has been postponed until after the Diwali holiday, which runs from October 31 to November 1, the company informed Rapaport News. Patrick Coppens, general manager of sales and marketing for Rio Tinto’s diamond unit, explained, “Geotechnical challenges at the mine in July and August
Sociedade Mineira de Chissema in Lunda-Norte is ramping up its investments in diamond prospecting to reassess existing reserves and ensure its market presence. The company, which operates in a 1,019-square-kilometre concession spanning four municipalities—Capenda-Camulemba, Xá-Muteba, Cuango, and Lubalo—is focusing on exploration to navigate the current downturn in diamond prices. José Eduardo Van-Dúném, the head of Chissema’s Geology department, shared these plans during a visit by the provincial governor, Filomena Miza. He highlighted the need for
Angola produced 5.6 million carats of diamonds in the first half of 2024, marking a 36% increase compared to the 4.1 million carats recorded during the same period in 2023. This data was shared in Luanda by Miguel Vemba, Director of Mining Operations and Shareholding Management at Endiama, during a presentation on diamond production and sales for the first half of the year. The event, chaired by the Secretary of State for Mineral Resources, Jânio
Botswana’s state-owned Okavango Diamond Company (ODC) is seeking a $300 million credit facility from local banks to support increased diamond purchases, according to Finance Minister Peggy Serame. The move comes as ODC aims to capitalize on its growing share of diamond production from Debswana, a joint venture between Botswana and Anglo American’s De Beers. Established in 2012 as an independent sales channel for the government, ODC currently receives 25% of its diamonds from Debswana. However,
London-listed Gem Diamonds, owner and operator of the Letšeng mine in Lesotho, has raised its production and sales guidance for the 2024 full year. The company now expects to recover between 98,000 and 101,000 carats, with sales projected between 100,000 and 103,000 carats. This is an increase from the previous guidance of 88,000 to 92,000 carats for recovery and 91,000 to 95,000 carats for sales. Despite ongoing pressure in the global diamond market, which has
Lucapa Diamond Company reported a $1.3 million loss for the first half of the year due to a market slowdown that led to declining prices for its rough diamonds. This contrasts sharply with a profit of $64,000 during the same period last year. Total revenue dropped by 24% year-on-year to $35.6 million, with the average diamond price falling 26% to $1,213 per carat. Production also declined, with a 12% decrease to 27,362 carats from January
ASX-listed Lucapa Diamond Company has announced an earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) of $1.4 million for the six months ending June 30, reflecting a 13% year-on-year increase. The company attributes this higher EBITDA to robust demand for its diamonds, despite a softer market. Excluding the now-sold Mothae kimberlite mine in Lesotho, Lucapa reported a net loss of $1.2 million, compared to a profit of $60,000 in the first half of 2023. During
Lucara Diamond Corp. has announced the recovery of an extraordinary 2,492-carat diamond from its Karowe Diamond Mine in Botswana. This remarkable find, one of the largest rough diamonds ever unearthed, was detected using the Company’s Mega Diamond Recovery (MDR) X-ray Transmission (XRT) technology. This cutting-edge system, installed in 2017, is designed to identify and preserve large, high-value diamonds. The diamond was recovered from the processing of EM/PK(S) kimberlite, the primary ore type that Lucara will
Between 2019 and 2024, Angola significantly expanded its diamond cutting industry by opening eight new cutting factories. These include the Stone Polished Diamond factories in Luanda, with a combined processing capacity of 24,000 carats per year, KGK (60,000 carats/year), and Pedra Rubra (60,000 carats/year). At the Saurimo Diamond Development Pole (PDDS), KGK opened additional factories with a capacity of 180,000 carats per year, alongside Stardiam (72,000 carats/year), Kapau Gems (54,000 carats/year), Pollaro (60,000 carats/year), and
