Preliminary sampling of kimberlite material recovered four diamonds, including three diamonds of 1.75cts and one diamond weighing 0.10ct.
The company plans to use a Yehuda ZVI colorimeter to assess and confirm the quality and color of the kimberlite diamonds recovered from Se251 pipe.
Se251 is spread over a surface area of approximately 220 hectares, and is said to be the largest kimberlite pipe identified by Lucapa within the 3,000km² Lulo diamond concession.
Since the company’s geological team identified the kimberlite pipe as a likely source of large alluvial diamonds being recovered, the Se251 has been considered a priority exploration target.
Lucapa Managing Director Miles Kennedy said: "This kimberlite pipe will undoubtedly contain many different eruptive phases and, like all big pipes, the diamond grade between these phases will vary."
"Se251 is, of course, only one of eight pipes Lucapa has identified proximal to where we have been recovering magnificent alluvial diamonds, and we will move on to conduct preliminary sampling of Se257 and the remaining pipes in this area to see what results emerge," added Kennedy.
Last month, Lucapa said it had sold 867.5cts of alluvial diamonds recovered from the exploration phase at Lulo for approximately $A6m ($5.6m), which represents an average price of $A6,960 ($6,543) per carat.
Image: Excavating sample from diamondiferous kimberlite pipe Se251 at Lulo. Photo: courtesy of Lucapa Diamond Company Limited.