Firestone Diamonds has announced the recovery of its largest diamond to date – a 134 carat gem-quality light yellow diamond, from its Liqhobong Diamond Mine in Lesotho. Firestone is currently in the process of commencing commercial production at Liqhobong, which is owned 75% by Firestone and 25% by the Government of Lesotho.
According to a press release, “the Board believes this recovery, the second of over a hundred carats since production commenced, reinforces the potential for large stones at Liqhobong as the Company continues early stage mining”.
Earlier this week, the miner reported selling a total of 195,330 carats at its latest sales in Antwerp in July and September. One stone was sold for more than $1 million. According to IDEX Online, the average price per carat was $69 with total sale proceeds of $13.5 million. Since production started in Liqhobong, Lesotho, in Q4 of 2016, the company sold all 505,706 carats recovered for $41.3 million, at an average value of $82 per carat.
