The Letseng Diamond Mine in Lesotho is in the news again with the announcement they recovered a rare 216-carat white diamond (right photo). This mine, situated in the Maluti Mountains in Lesotho, is the highest diamond mine in the word but is best known for the large world-class diamonds that it produces.
In August of 2006, the mine made headlines with the discovery of the Lesotho Promise, a 603-carat white diamond that is the 15th largest gem quality diamond reported in the world. The Lesotho Promise was sold in Antwerp last year to Safdico, owners of Graff Jewelers, for $12.4 million.
The recently discovered 216-carat diamond has been sent to Antwerp where it will be tendered in a parcel containing two other white D color stones of 54.9 and 30 carats respectively.
De Beers previously owned the Letseng Mine from 1977 to 1982 before it was closed with less than 10 percent of the open pit mineable ore being processed. The first diamonds were discovered in the financially destitute mountain kingdom in 1957 and a modest mining industry was established in the 1960s. During the 1960s and 1970s, several large gems were recovered from Lesotho's mines and the industry employed thousands of people. Mining activity in Lesotho's Maluti Mountains ceased in the 1980s because of low world market prices for diamonds and royalty disagreements between the government and mining companies. The mine opened again in 2006 by a partnership of Gem Diamonds (70% ownership) and the Lesotho Government (30% ownership).
Previous articles about the Lesotho Mine:
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