• Karowe Mine

Karowe Mine

The Karowe diamond mine, located in Botswana, is a state-of-the-art mine which was fully commissioned in Q2 2012. Karowe, which means precious stone in the local language, is a large-scale operating mine and is one of the world’s foremost producers of large, high quality, Type IIA diamonds in excess of 10.8 carats. Notable recoveries include the historic 2,488ct stone, the 1,758 carat Sewelô, the 1,109 carat Lesedi La Rona and the 813 carat Constellation.

OWNERSHIP:
100% - Lucara Botswana Proprietary Limited
ROYALTY:
10%
TYPE:
Hard rock. Open pit. Mine plan to depth of 324 m. Underground operations to commence Q1 2028.
STATUS:
Mine development and production
MINE LIFE:
Open pit operations to 2026 with underground commencing in Q1 2028.
PRODUCTION:
2.5 - 2.8 mtpa

Karowe Mine Summary

RESOURCES AND RESERVES

The mine plan is based on:

  • Probable reserves from surface to a depth of 324 m below surface of 19.84 mt containing 2.6 million carats, total Mineral Reserve (including stockpiles) of 25.40 mt containing 2.96 million carats (effective date of May 25, 2018, based on 1.25mm bottom cut off size and 70% of the insitu carats at 1.00 BCOS).
     
  • A total Indicated resource from surface to a depth of 600 m below surface of 57 mt containing 7.9 million carats including stockpiles (effective date of May 25, 2018, based on 1.25mm bottom cut off size and 70% of the insitu carats at 1.00 BCOS).
     
  • Inferred resource from 600 m to 750 m below surface of 1.93 mt containing 1.17 million carats.

 

Karowe Diamond Mine

AK06 Kimberlite
2024 Extraordinary 1,094ct diamond recovered

This is the sixth diamond in excess of 1,000cts recovered from Karowe.

2024 Epic 2,488ct diamond recovered

Largest diamond recovered in more than 100 years.

2023 1,080CT DIAMOND RECOVERED

Recovered Aug 8, 2023. This is the fourth diamond in excess of 1,000cts recovered from Karowe.

2022 UNDERGROUND EXPANSION PROJECT UPDATE

Shaft sinking commences at the Karowe UGP.

2021 Underground Expansion Project Update

The Karowe UGP is in a fully financed position.

2019 1,758CT SEWELÔ DIAMOND

Recovered Apr 25, 2019

2019 POSITIVE FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR KAROWE UNDERGROUND

Expected to double the mine life

2018 Resource Update

2018 Underground FS underway

2017 Underground Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA)

Positive outcome, Phase 3 plant upgrade (4-8mm XRT)

2016 Resource expansion

Drilling initiated

2015 Constellation Diamond 813ct

Recovered Nov 17, 2015

2015 Lesedi La Rona 1,109ct

Recovered Nov 16, 2015

2013 resource update

Start of large diamond recoveries

2012 commercial production achieved

2010 Feasibility Study (FS)

FS updated and Lucara acquires 100% ownership

1969 Discovery

Renewed delineation and sampling in early 2000’s

+1000 carats

6 diamonds recovered

+300 carats

37 diamonds recovered

+10.8 carats

+8,500 diamonds recovered