Diamond miner Lucapa has recovered another big, colourful diamond — this time from its Mothae mine in the kingdom of Lesotho in Africa’s south.

A 25-carat yellow gem-quality diamond was unearthed at the Neck Zone of the Mothae kimberlite, which is not part of the current resource of over 1 million carats.

Kimberlite is a dark-coloured, heavy rock that contains diamonds and is sometimes found in valuable “pipes” in areas such as the Kimberley district of South Africa.

Kimberlite is named after the Kimberley, which was the site of a diamond rush in the late 1800s following the discovery of an 83.5-carat diamond called the Star of South Africa.

The diamond was recovered in the first two days of trial processing through the bulk sampling plant after recent efficiency and security modifications.

Lucapa (ASX:LOM) also recovered a 6-carat diamond.

25-carat yellow gem recovered from the Neck Zone at Mothae, along with a 6-carat diamond. Pic: Lucapa
A 25-carat yellow gem recovered from Lucapa’s Neck Zone site with a 6-carat diamond. Pic: Lucapa

Once Lucapa has signed off on the modifications, the company will begin processing three 50,000 tonne bulk samples of kimberlite material from the Neck, North and South East zones.

The company is aiming to increase the resource and extend the mine life.

Construction of a new 150-tonne-per-hour treatment plant with XRT large diamond recovery technology is on track to begin commercial production in the second half of this year.

Lucapa Diamond Company (ASX:LOM) shares over the past year.
Lucapa Diamond Company (ASX:LOM) shares over the past year.

Earlier this month, Lucapa banked a further $4 million from the sale of alluvial diamonds from its Lulo mine in Angola.