Image: Mining Review Africa
Global diamond producer, Gem Diamonds, has recovered two high-quality Type II white diamonds – 145-carat and 102-carat – from its Letšeng diamond mine in Lesotho.
Found on the same day, the diamonds feature fewer impurities when measured at an atomic scale and have a high dollar-per-carat value.
The London-based company owns 70% of the Letšeng mine, which is the highest dollar-per-carat kimberlite diamond mine in the world, boasting an average of $1,908 per carat last year. During that year, Gem Diamond’s highest per-carat value for a diamond was $38,827.
Earlier this year, the company discovered two high-quality Type II stones – 370-carat and 245-carat – within six days of each other. The 245-carat stone was sold for $40,139 per carat.
Gem Diamonds acquired the Letšeng mine in 2006, a mine responsible for having found five out of the 20 largest white gem diamonds ever recovered. The mine also boasts being one of the highest diamond mines in the world, with an average elevation of 3,100m above sea level.
Located in the Maluti Mountains of Lesotho, the Letšeng diamond mine is renowned for the recovery of the 910-carat “Lesotho Legend” diamond, the 603-carat “Lesotho Promise”, and the 550-carat “Letšeng Star.”
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