2019 has been a great year for diamond miners on the continent with some record gemstones being recovered. Here are our Top 12.
This article first appeared in Mining Review Africa Issue 11, 2019
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Company: Lucara Diamond Corporation
Mine: Karowe
Region: Botswana
Diamond: 127 carat, top white gem diamond
Month recovered: January
Company: Lucara Diamond Corporation
Mine: Karowe
Region: Botswana
Diamond: 223 carat, high white gem diamond
Month recovered: February
Company: Petra Diamonds
Mine: Cullinan
Region: South Africa
Diamond: 100.83 carat D-Colour Type II gem quality diamond,
Month recovered: March
Company: Petra Diamonds
Mine: Cullinan
Region: South Africa
Diamond: 425.10 carat D colour Type II gem quality diamond
Month recovered: March
Company: Lucara Diamond Corporation
Mine: Karowe
Region: Botswana
Diamond: 1 758 carat diamond, unbroken, weighing close to 352 g and measuring 83 mm x 62 mm x 46 mm. The diamond was characterised as near gem of variable quality, including domains of high-quality white gem. It was named Sewelô, meaning "rare find" in Setswana
Month recovered: April
Company: Petra Diamonds
Mine: Cullinan
Region: South Africa
Diamond: 209.9 carat D colour Type II gem quality diamond and the third +100ct Type II D colour gem quality diamond recovered by Petra since March 2019
Month recovered: April
Company: Lucapa Diamond Company
Mine: Mothae
Region: Lesotho
Diamond: 126 carat diamond and largest gem-quality diamond ever recovered from Mothae. It is the sixth +50 carat diamond recovered since pre-production bulk sampling in 2018
Month recovered: May
Company: Lucapa Diamond Company
Mine: Lulo
Region: Angola
Diamond: 130 carat diamond
Month recovered: May
Company: Lucapa Diamond Company
Mine: Mothae
Region: Lesotho
Diamond: Exceptional 64 carat diamond – Type IIa D colour gem. It was the first commercially produced diamond from Mothae to sell for a price in excess of US$1 million.
Month recovered: August
Company: Lucara Diamond Corporation
Mine: Karowe
Region: Botswana
Diamond: 123 carat gem quality top white Type II diamond – sourced from the EM/PK(S) area which delivered several other high value diamonds including the 1 109 carat Lesedi La Rona, the 813 carat Constellation
Month recovered: September
Company: Petra Diamonds
Mine: Cullinan
Region: South Africa
Diamond: Exceptional 20.08 carat blue gem quality Type IIb diamond
Month recovered: September
Company: Lucara Diamond Corporation
Mine: Karowe
Region: Botswana
Diamond: Exceptional blue, 9.74 carat gem quality diamond and a 4.13 carat pink gem quality diamond
Month recovered: September
