Africa-focused Firestone Diamonds (LON:FDI) has dug up a 54 carat intense fancy yellow, sawable diamond from its 75%-owned Liqhobong mine, in Lesotho.
The company said the stone will go
on sale at the next tender, which is scheduled to take place in September.
The find follows the recovery of a 72-carat yellow, whole makeable diamond in early April, which was the second one over 70-carat Firestone has found this year at Liqhobong.
“While Liqhobong has become known for its fancy yellow stones, this one is the largest we’ve recovered so far”
Chief executive Paul Bosma
“Sawable” stones can be cut in half in order to
create two smaller diamonds. In contrast, “makeable” ones are those whose
shape allows to cut only one large diamond from it.
“The Liqhobong mine has become
known for its fancy yellow stones, but this one is the largest we’ve recovered
so far and is therefore quite special,” chief executive Paul Bosma said in the statement.
Bosma added that while certain
segments of the diamond market were currently struggling, the demand for unique
natural stones remained positive.
In March, Firestone halted plans to extend the life of the mine, as market conditions didn’t support the project.
The company spent $185 million
building Liqhobong, which started production in late 2016, and boasts over
11 million carats in reserve. The total open pit resource contains over 17
million carats to a depth of 393 metres.