Lucara Diamond (TSX: T.LUC, Stock Forum) late Thursday said it produced a total of 303,000 carats from 1.4 million tonnes of ore from its Karowe Mine in Botswana in 2012, exceeding guidance by 12%, this according to a company news release.
The company added that proceeds from the sale of nearly 216,000 carats in 2012 totaled $55 million, resulting in an average sales price of $253 per carat.
"In under eight months, Karowe has established itself as one of Botswana's premier diamond producers, having yielded a number of exceptional, high value stones including a 9.6 carat blue diamond that sold for $4.5 million in Q3 and more recently, a 239 carat white diamond that was recovered in early March, 2013. The latter stone represents one of the largest diamonds ever recovered in the prolific Orapa district," said Lucara President and CEO William Lamb.
For 2013, Lucara expects Karowe to mine and process 2.5 million tonnes of ore and to produce 400,000 carats of diamond for sale.