Lucapa Unearths 171ct. Rough at Lulo

RAPAPORT... Lucapa Diamond Company has recovered a 171-carat, gem-quality diamond from its Lulo alluvial mine in Angola.The stone is the miner's 15th over 100 carats from Lulo to date, and the second in that size category this year, following the discovery of a 117-carat stone in January. The new find is also the fourth largest ever recovered from the site, the company said Monday. Lucapa retrieved the stone from mining block 6, which along with mining block 8 comprises the high-value portion of the mine from which Lucapa found the 404-carat 4th February diamond. That stone, Angola's largest diamond, sold for $16 million in 2016."The recovery of this 171-carat, gem-quality, white diamond continues to underpin the potential of the kimberlite-exploration program," said Lucapa CEO Stephen Wetherall.Image: The 171-carat rough. (Lucapa Diamond Company)