| Tue 3 Jun 2008, 12:32 | | LAF - Lonrho Plc - Lonrho mining discovers exceptional 18.39 carat diamond |
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LAF
LOLAF
LAF - Lonrho Plc - Lonrho mining discovers exceptional 18.39 carat diamond
Lonrho Plc
(Formerly Lonrho Africa Plc)
(Incorporated and registered in England and Wales)
(Registration number 2805337)
(Share code: LAF; ISIN number: GB0002568813)
("Lonrho" or "the Company")
LONRHO MINING DISCOVERS EXCEPTIONAL 18.39 CARAT DIAMOND
61.30 CARAT DIAMOND SELLS FOR US$754,321
3 June 2008
Lonrho (AIM: LONR), the conglomerate with a structured portfolio of African
investments, is pleased to announce that Lonrho Mining Ltd (formerly known as
Nare Diamonds) owned 23.01% by Lonrho, has made the following announcement to
the Australian Securities Exchange this morning:
HIGHLIGHTS
* 18.39 carat fancy yellow diamond and 9.9 carat stone expected to yield high
value
* 61.30 carat fancy yellow diamond sells for US$12,305 per carat
Australian based diamond exploration and development company Lonrho Mining
Limited (ASX: LOM) ("Lonrho Mining" or the "Company") today announced it had
discovered another exceptional diamond, an 18.39 carat stone, at its
Schmidtsdrift Mine located in the Republic of South Africa.
In addition, a 9.9 carat diamond was discovered from the same mining zone on the
previous day.
Like the 61.30 carat diamond discovered earlier this month, the 18.39 carat
diamond is a fancy yellow perfect octahedron and is also expected to yield a
high value (see Figure 1). Further photos of the diamond can be viewed on the
Company`s website at www.lonrhomining.com.
The 61.30 carat fancy yellow perfect octahedron was recently sold for US$12,305
per carat (US$754,321) (see Figure 2). It formed part of a parcel of 472.66
carats which was sold for US$1,094,200.
Commenting on the recent discovery of these diamonds, Lonrho Mining`s Chief
Executive Officer Charles Mostert stated:
"We are pleased to see that Schmidtsdrift is once again producing large stones.
These discoveries are due to a recently completed organizational restructure at
the alluvial mine."
The Schmidtsdrift mine, which is owned by Lonrho Mining (80%) and the
Schmidtsdrift Communal Property Association (20%), comprises six contiguous
farms along the western bank of the Vaal River, with a combined area of
320kmSquared.
Up to April 30 2008, the mine has produced 16,395 carats of diamonds from
3,255,969 tonnes at an average grade of 0.5 carats per hundred tons since the
Company commenced operations in April 2006. The production has included 328
stones in excess of 5 carats in size, including a rare 235 carat stone, two 66
carat stones and 25 stones between 15 and 50 carats in size.
LONRHO ENQUIRIES
Lonrho Plc +44 (0)20 7016 5105
David Lenigas, Executive Chairman +44 (0)7881 825 378
Geoffrey White, Chief Executive +44 (0)7717 307 308
Officer
Emma de Borchgrave, Executive +44 (0)7867 785 177
Director
Pelham PR
Charles Vivian +44 (0) 20 7743
6672
+44 (0) 7977 297903
James MacFarlane +44 (0) 20 7743
6375
+44 (0) 7841 672831
Collins Stewart Europe : NOMAD to
Lonrho
Hugh Field / Simon Alston +44 (0) 20 7523
8350
NOTES TO EDITORS
Background
The Schmidtsdrift diamond mine comprises six contiguous farms along the western
bank of the Vaal River, with a combined area of 320kmSquared and divided into 24
mining zones.
The Company`s flagship project is the Lulo Diamond Concession located in north
eastern Angola. The Company recently announced the identification of 217
magnetic anomalies from a helicopter borne aeromagnetic and radiometric survey
conducted at Lulo. Other diamond operators in this region have reported that up
to 75% of the targeted magnetic anomalies drilled are kimberlite pipes. Based
on this comparison, approximately 160 of the anomalies on the Lulo concessions
are likely to be kimberlites. Lulo is located in an area which many experts
believe will become a prolific region for the production of diamonds. Petra
Diamonds Alto Cuilo and Luangue projects, borders the Lulo Diamond Concession to
the east. Petra Diamonds has announced that more than 70 kimberlite pipes have
been found on Alto Cuilo, the largest of which is 175 hectares in size and is
currently being evaluated with encouraging results received to date.
Lulo is also in close proximity to the Catoca Mine, one of the largest
kimberlite diamond mines in the world, which produces 60% of Angola`s diamond
production and is located 90km east of the Lulo Diamond Concession. The Catoca
mine produced approximately 7 million carats in 2007. In addition, the Company
owns interests in three other South African diamond exploration projects.
About LONRHO:
Lonrho Plc is an expanding conglomerate that is rapidly growing a successful
business throughout Africa. The Company`s shares are traded on the London AIM
stock exchange (LONR). Lonrho is strategically focused on the development of
business opportunities in infrastructure, transportation, support services,
hotels and natural resources. The Company has over 19,000 shareholders and
substantial institutional backing to support its mandate to build a profitable
business that plays a fundamental role in the development of the African
economy.
Since 2006, the Company has invested in or acquired control of:
Hotel Cardoso - www.hotelcardoso.co.mz (retained)
Lonrho Mining - www.lonrhomining.com
Luba Freeport - www.lubafreeport.com
Fly540 - www.fly540.com
Swissta Holdings - www.swissta.com
SA Independent Liner Services - www.saliners.com
Bytes and Pieces www.bytespieces.com
Kwikbuild - www.e-kwikbuild.co.za
LonZim - www.lonzim.co.uk
South African sponsor to Lonrho Plc
Java Capital (Proprietary) Limited
Date: 03/06/2008 12:32:13 Produced by the JSE SENS Department.
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