Our PROJECTS

LULO Alluvial
—mine

About the project

Lulo lies in Angola’s diamond heartland of Lunda Norte, 630km east of the capital, Luanda. 

The 3000 km2 concession is one of the world’s most prolific alluvial diamond fields. 

Commercial production at Lulo Alluvial Mine commenced in 2015 through the alluvial mining company Sociedade Mineira Do Lulo (SML).  SML is a partnership between Lucapa Diamonds (40%) and Angola’s Endiama (32%) and private Angolan company Rosas & Petalas (28%).

Lulo regularly produces large, premium Type IIa diamonds. To date, more than 35 +100 carat diamonds have been recovered from Lulo.  

Lulo Diamond Mine, Angola

historic recoveries

Lulo is home to some of the largest recorded diamonds recovered in Angola.

The largest recorded diamonds in Angola’s history have been recovered at Lulo, they are the “4th February Stone” (weighing 404 carats), an un-named 227 carat white diamond and the “Lulo Rose”, a 170 carat pink coloured diamond.

Lulo commands the highest price per carat for alluvial diamonds in the world and has proven to be a prolific producer of special sized diamonds (those over 10.8 carats in weight) and fancy coloured diamonds in hues of pink and yellow.

Mine to market

Fancy Intense Purplish Pink

Rough

2.64ct

This pink coloured rough diamond was recovered from Lulo and sold into the polishing partnership.

Polished

1ct

A one carat fancy intense purplish pink oval gemstone was cut from the rough.

About the project

What is alluvial diamond mining? 

The World Diamond Council describes alluvial diamonds as “diamonds that have been removed from the primary source (Kimberlite) by natural erosive action over millions of years, and eventually deposited in a new environment such as a riverbed, an ocean floor or a shoreline.”

At Lulo, commercial alluvial diamond mining commenced in January 2015. Alluvial mining is carried out using excavators and haul trucks which mine surface deposits of gravel, sand and clay which are then screened for diamonds.

The alluvial mining at Lulo now focuses on the floodplains (leziria) and the terrace deposits along a 50 kilometre stretch of the Cacuilo River which runs through the concession. The leziria areas are only accessible during the summer months when rainfall doesn’t hamper vehicle movement.

Alluvial Mining at Mining Block 46 Terrace, Lulo Diamond Mine, Angola

Lulo’s alluvial processing facility is a 1.1 million tonne per annum plant which includes an XRT (X-Ray Transmission) diamond recovery technology that is capable of recovering individual diamonds up to 1,100 carats.

LULO JORC CLASSIFIED DIAMOND RESOURCE – 31 DECEMBER 2022
LUCAPA 40% ATTRIBUTABLE
Resource ClassificationDateArea (m2)Diluted Volume (m3)Carats Per StoneStonesCaratsDiluted Grade (cphm3)Modelled Diamond Value (US$/carat)*
Inferred31-Dec-222,700,0002,640,0001.23125,460153,8705.822,000
Notes:
(i) m2 = square metres; m3 = cubic metres; cphm3 = carats per 100 cubic metres.
(i) Diluted volumes have been estimated based on historical mining production data to better reflect recoverable volumes and grades.
(iii) Bottom cut off screen size: effective 1.5mm.
(iv) Table contains rounded figures.
*Special stones are not excluded in the modelling stage, in terms of size or assortment.

This map details the various mining blocks at Lulo from where we are conducting current alluvial mining operations and exploring for alluvial stones.

+100 Carats—RECOVERED

2024 | FebruaryLulo Diamond Project, Angola

116ct

2024 | FebruaryLulo Diamond Project, Angola

162ct

2023 | NovemberLulo Diamond Project, Angola

235ct

2023 | OctoberLulo Diamond Project, Angola

208ct

2023 | OctoberLulo Diamond Project, Angola

123ct

2023 | JuneLulo Diamond Project, Angola

180ct

2023 | FebruaryLulo Diamond Project, Angola

150ct

2022 | DecemberLulo Diamond Project, Angola

115ct

2022 | NovemberLulo Diamond Project, Angola

134ct

2022 | NovemberLulo Diamond Project, Angola

159ct

2022 | OctoberLulo Diamond Project, Angola

123ct

2022 | SeptemberLulo Diamond Project, Angola

100ct

2022 | SeptemberLulo Diamond Project, Angola

112ct

2022 | SeptemberLulo Diamond Project, Angola

131ct

2022 | SeptemberLulo Diamond Project, Angola

160ct

2022 | JulyLulo Diamond Project, Angola

170ct

2022 | AprilLulo Diamond Project, Angola

115ct

2021 | JuneLulo Diamond Project, Angola

102ct

2021 | MayLulo Diamond Project, Angola

138ct

2021 | AprilLulo Diamond Project, Angola

144ct

2021 | MarchLulo Diamond Project, Angola

118ct

2021 | MarchLulo Diamond Project, Angola

131ct

2021 | MarchLulo Diamond Project, Angola

133ct

2021 | FebruaryLulo Diamond Project, Angola

114ct

2021 | JanuaryLulo Diamond Project, Angola

104ct

2021 | JanuaryLulo Diamond Project, Angola

113ct

2020 | DecemberLulo Diamond Project, Angola

127ct

2020 | MayLulo Diamond Project, Angola

171ct

2020 | JanuaryLulo Diamond Project, Angola

117ct

2019 | MayLulo Diamond Project, Angola

130ct

2019 | FebruaryLulo Diamond Project, Angola

128ct

2018 | JulyLulo Diamond Project, Angola

114ct

2018 | JanuaryLulo Diamond Project, Angola

116ct

2018 | JanuaryLulo Diamond Project, Angola

103ct

2017 | NovemberLulo Diamond Project, Angola

129ct

2017 | FebruaryLulo Diamond Project, Angola

227ct

2016 | SeptemberLulo Diamond Project, Angola

172ct

2016 | SeptemberLulo Diamond Project, Angola

104ct

2016 | FebruaryLulo Diamond Project, Angola

404ct

2016 | FebruaryLulo Diamond Project, Angola

120ct

2016 | JanuaryLulo Diamond Project, Angola

133ct

2012 | AugustLulo Diamond Project, Angola

131ct

Lulo Kimberlite
Exploration