Lucara has announced the discovery of a 2,492-carat diamond from its Karowe Diamond Mine in Botswana aided by Mega Diamond Recovery ("MDR") X-ray Transmission ("XRT") technology. The technology was installed in 2017 to identify and preserve large, high-value diamonds.
In June 2021, the 1,174.76 carat diamond at the same mine was also discovered using the same technology.
Developed by Germany-based TOMRA, the technology allows for diamond recovery post-primary crushing and prior to milling. This enables the recovery of diamonds in their natural form without breakage, as well as opportunities to recycle tailings from the machine for further crushing and recovery of fine diamonds. It also allows for more tonnage to be sent to the recovery plants which improves the chances of more diamonds being recovered.
Additionally, it is a sustainable method due to its strong technical structure, high recovery performance and continual strides in technological development by the original equipment manufacturer.
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| Mega Diamond XRT (X-ray transmission) facility in Karowe Mine. (Image source: Lucara) |
According to William Lamb, the discovery underscores the importance of technology in discovering such massive stones and maximizing value for the company's shareholders and other stakeholders including Batswana.
"We are ecstatic about the recovery of this extraordinary 2,492 carat diamond. This find not only showcases the remarkable potential of our Karowe Mine, but also upholds our strategic investment in cutting-edge XRT technology," Lamb said.