Lucara Unearths 472ct. Rough Stone

RAPAPORT... Lucara Diamond Corp. has recovered a 472-carat rough diamond, thethird largest from its Karowe mine in Botswana. The stone is "top light brown," meaning it has a relativelylow color grade. "In 2018, mining at Karowe is focused in the high-valuesouth lobe, which consistently delivers large, high-quality diamonds in excessof 10.8 carats in size," CEO Eira Thomas said last week.  Lucara found the diamond in that part of the mine, the same area that produced the 1,109-carat Lesedi La Rona, which Graff Diamonds purchased for $53 million. The 813-carat Constellation, which sold for a record$63.1 million, also camefrom the Karowe asset. Lucara will sell the 472-carat diamond at its exceptional-stone tender later this year. So far this year, Lucara has recovered four stones over 100carats.