Additional priority kimberlites identified at Lulo ahead of exploration ramp up

Lucapa Diamond Company and its partners in the Project Lulo Joint Venture, Endiama and Rosas & Petalas, provided a progress update on the kimberlite exploration work program in Angola, which has been boosted by the addition of two new high-priority kimberlites for bulk sampling.
The latest phase of discovery drilling has identified 24 new kimberlites, bringing the total number of kimberlites discovered at Project Lulo to 133.
Samples from eight of the 24 recently discovered kimberlites have already been sent to South Africa for indicator mineral picking which will undergo mineral chemistry analysis in Canada.
Of particular interest, are indicator minerals picked from two of the eight kimberlite samples (L056 and L403) containing numerous high-interest deep purple garnets and chrome diopsides, often associated with diamondiferous kimberlites. As a result, they have been added to the list of high-priority kimberlites for bulk sampling. The mineral chemistry results will determine if additional kimberlites are added to the priority bulk sampling list in the coming months.
Construction of the kimberlite bulk sampling plant is advanced, notwithstanding logistics challenges and commissioning is expected during July 2022. The location of the plant has been positioned close to the majority of the key priority kimberlites to reduce sample turnaround time and costs. New trucks have also been mobilised to assist with the ramp up of the kimberlite exploration activities.
Managing Director Stephen Wetherall said, “The construction and commissioning of the bulk sampling plant will enable us to process samples from these high priority kimberlites and bring us one step closer to finding the primary sources of the abundant large and high-value alluvial diamonds which we are recovering at Lulo. From the time that the plant is commissioned we expect to be processing, on average, two bulk samples every six weeks.”