NC mine discovers ‘exceptional’ diamond

AN ‘EXCEPTIONAL” nine-carat diamond has been-discovered at a mine close to Kimberley.

London-listed producer Bluerock Diamonds has discovered an “exceptional” 8.97-carat diamond at its Kareevlei mine.

The recovery of the almost nine-carat stone at the company’s site is the first large discovery at the mine for 2019.

The recently recovered sparkler is the third gem from Kareevlei to be independently assessed and valued in excess of US$50 000.

The two previous record value stones were a 7.76-carat stone, recovered in 2017 and sold for US$10 070 per carat and a 10.58carat stone recovered in 2018 and sold for US$7 047 per carat.

“The 8.97-carat stone recovered on Friday, February 1, along with two other high-quality 6.36-carat and 3.64-carat diamonds, reinforces the exceptional quality being produced at Kareevlei,” Adam Waugh, Bluerock’s CEO, said.

Bluerock Diamonds is an Aim-listed diamond producer which operates the Kareevlei Diamond Mine near Kimberley, which produces diamonds of exceptional quality and ranks in the top 10 in the world in terms of average value per carat.

The Kareevlei licence area covers 3 000 hectares and hosts five known diamondiferous kimberlite pipes.

As at November 2018, it was estimated that the remaining Inferred Mineral Resource from the four kimberlite pipes (KV1, KV2, KV3 and KV5) represents a potential inground number of carats of 367 000.