Africa focused Gem Diamonds must be getting used to recovering huge precious rocks from its flagship Letšeng mine in Lesotho, as it has just dug up another massive one.
The 138 carat, top white colour Type IIa diamond is 12th diamond over 100 carats the company finds this year, beating the 11 it dug up in 2015.
The largest diamond found this year is a 910 carat D colour type IIa diamond, about the size of two golf balls, which was named the “Lesotho Legend.” It became the second largest recovered in the past century and sold for $40 million at an auction in March.
Since acquiring Letšeng in 2006, Gem Diamonds has found now five of the 20 largest white gem quality diamonds ever recovered, which makes the mine the world’s highest dollar per carat kimberlite diamond operation.
At an average elevation of 3,100 metres above sea level, Letšeng is also one of the world’s highest diamond mines.
The biggest diamond ever found was the 3,106 carat Cullinan, dug near Pretoria, South Africa, in 1905. It was later cut into several stones, including the First Star of Africa and the Second Star of Africa, which are part of Britain’s Crown Jewels held in the Tower of London.
Lucara’s 1,109 carat Lesedi La Rona was the second biggest in record, while the 995 carat Excelsior and 969 carat Star of Sierra Leone were the third and fourth largest.
Source: mining.com
Gem Diamonds has unearthed a 100.50-carat diamond from its Letšeng mine in Lesotho, it said Friday.
The white, type IIa stone is the 11th over 100 carats the miner has recovered from the asset so far this year.
Gem Diamonds owns 70% of the Letšeng mine, with the state holding the remaining shares. The company also owns the Ghaghoo mine in Botswana, which it plans to sell.
Source: diamonds.net
Gem Diamonds recovered the 910 carat rough diamond in January.
The world’s fifth biggest gem quality diamond ever found has sold for $40 million , the company that found the massive rough diamond reported.
Gem Diamonds mined the D colourType IIa rough diamond at its flagship Letšeng mine in Lesotho.
The Lesotho Legend was purchased by an anonymous buyer in Antwerp, the company said.
Prior to “The Lesotho Legend,” the largest rough diamond recovered at Letšeng was a 603 carat named Lesotho Promise.
Gem Diamonds has recovered another 100 carat plus rough diamond this year.
The recovery of the D colour type IIa stone shortly after the recovery of a 910 carat D colour IIa rough diamond from Letšeng last week.
Gem Diamonds began extracting ore from a higher grade part of Letšeng last year, resulting in the increase of large stones.
Gem Diamonds Letseng mine is located in the mountainous kingdom of Lesotho in southern Africa.
Gem Diamonds has recovered a 910 carat rough diamond at its Letšeng mine in Lesotho, the fifth largest rough ever found.
The D colour type IIa diamond is the largest to be unearthed at Letšeng, outranking the 603 carat Lesotho Promise recovered in 2006.
That stone was sold for $12.4 million, to Graff Diamonds, which owns a 15% stake in Gem Diamonds.
Last year, Graff bought the 1,109 carat Lesedi la Rona, the second largest rough diamond in history, for $53 million, or $47,790 per carat.
The discovery follows a recent revival of exceptionally large stones recovered at Letšeng, which is known for its high value production.
The two Rough diamonds each weighing more than 100 carats were recovered by Gem Diamonds at the Lesotho mine in southern Africa.
Both rough Diamonds weight 117 carats and 110 carats are D color Type IIa diamonds.
Type IIa diamonds carbon bonds contain little or no nitrogen atoms making them very white and rare. These are the most expensive white diamonds.
The Diamond Producers Association announced the launch of their operations in the country to build confidence among consumers.
India polishes 85 90 percent of the diamonds today accounts for only seven percent of the global polished diamond consumption. DPA believe this is a huge opportunity to build the India market by promoting the integrity and reputation of diamonds and ensuring the sustainability of the industry.
DPA has reached out to 3,000 retailers and will offer training and education in diamonds. DPA will expand training across the country.
The DPA is an alliance between ALROSA, De Beers, Dominion Diamond, Gem Diamonds, Lucara Diamond, Petra Diamonds and Rio Tinto. These are the leading diamond miners globally. Which together produce over 75 percent of the world’s rough diamond production.
DPA is also working with the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council to build trade relationships and best trade practices.
