Modern Mining January 2020

MINING News

Night view of the 1,1 Mt/a Mothae plant in Lesotho (photo: Lucapa).

Lucapa notches up record diamond production mid-stream demand and prices – as evi- denced in a number of rough diamond tenders and sales – and strong holiday season jewellery sales in America.

their status as niche large stone producers during the quarter, producing 287 plus-4,8 carat diamonds for a combined 2019 total of 1 164. This included a combined total of five plus-100 carat diamonds. Mothae processed record tonnes and recovered a record grade to produce a record 9 837 carats in the quarter for a 2019 total of more than 30 000 carats in its first year of production – 45 % ahead of plan. This came on the back of an 11 % increase in tonnes treated through the 1,1 Mt/a Mothae plant and a 31 % increase in the recovered diamond grade for 2019. Lulo, which Lucapa operates and in which it has a 40 % stake, produced 4 170 carats in the quarter despite disruptions caused by near record rainfall towards the end of the year and a cessation in opera- tions during the period as a result of labour action, which has since been resolved. This resulted in annual production of more than 19 000 carats, within 1 % of the previous year’s result despite the disruptions. Lulo and Mothae produce large and high-value diamonds, with more than 75 % of revenues from both mines being gener- ated from the recovery of plus-4,8 carat stones. Lulo has produced 14 plus-100 carat diamonds to date and is one of the high- est average US$ per carat alluvial diamond producers in the world. Lucapa and its Lulo partners continue to advance their search for the primary kimberlite sources of these exceptional alluvial gems through a system- atic exploration programme. 

Lucapa Diamond Company, listed on the ASX, continued to drive production and operational efficiencies at the Mothae and Lulo mines in Lesotho and Angola respec- tively in the December 2019 quarter (Q4) to counter the decline in global rough dia- mond demand, which has impacted prices and revenues for diamond producers. While 2019 was a challenging year for all diamond producers in respect of sales prices, Lucapa says the year ended on a more positive note with a turnaround in

The record results for the quarter con- tributed to record annual group production of 49 120 carats and combined sales of US$55,0 million from the Mothae kim- berlite mine and the Lulo alluvial mine in calendar 2019 (FY-2019), on a 100 % basis (non-IFRS). Mothae and Lulo continued to underline

More exploration success for Roxgold at Séguéla TSX-listed Roxgold Inc has announced drill- ing results from the company’s Séguéla gold project located in Côte d’Ivoire.

pits along the main structures of the Boulder- Agouti trend.” “These excellent results highlight the potential for further growth in our min- eral resource inventory,” commented Paul Weedon, Vice President, Exploration. “The reconnaissance 10-hole programme at Ancien was very successful in delineating a clear high-grade core which is open at depth, while the strike extensions remain to be fully tested along this prospective trend. Previous broad spaced geochemistry corre- lates well with a regional structure that hosts Ancien, and presents excellent potential for additional high grade prospects.” The Séguéla project is located approxi- mately 240 km north-west of Yamoussoukro, the political capital of Côte d’Ivoire, and approximately 480 km north-west of Abidjan, the commercial capital of the country. 

Highlights of RC drilling at Ancien, part of the project, include 23 m at 19,73 g/t Au in drill hole SGRC329 from 1 m; 8 m at 11,82 g/t Au in drill hole SGRC322 from 82 m; and 8 m at 8,77 g/t Au in drill hole SGRC324 from 37 m. “The exploration success at the Séguéla project continues to build confidence in the growth potential at our newest development project,” stated John Dorward, Roxgold’s President and CEO. “With eight of the first ten holes hitting significant mineralisation, these drill results demonstrate how Ancien is quickly becoming a high-value target – underscoring our vision of Séguéla as a project where the Antenna deposit is sup- ported by a portfolio of high-quality satellite

10  MODERN MINING  January 2020