VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Jan. 12, 2009) - Lucara Diamond Corp. (TSX VENTURE:LUC) and partner Motapa Diamonds Inc. (TSX VENTURE:MTP) are pleased to update diamond recovery results for Phase 2 of the Mothae bulk sample project in Lesotho. Initial diamond recovery from sample C3A was completed in December. Processing of 7,781 dry tonnes yielded 642 diamonds for a total of 277.13 carats and a preliminary sample grade of 3.56 carats per hundred tonnes (cpht). Grease belt tailings have been retained and will be audited by means of a separate x-ray recovery circuit. Final sample grade for C3A will include results of this audit.
Sample C3A produced fifteen stones greater than 2 carats and four stones greater than 5 carats. The average stone size for the sample is 0.43 carats per stone and the largest three diamonds recovered are 22.71, 20.04, and 10.03 carats.
Results for sample C2C that were previously reported have been revised based on updated and verified tonnage information. A revised dry tonnage of 8,192 for C2C yielded 355.74 carats, resulting in a grade of 4.34 cpht, a 16% increase relative to the previously reported value of 3.74 cpht.
This completes sampling for the C kimberlite domain of the Mothae pipe, which makes up the largest part of the surface area of the pipe. Phase 1 and Phase 2 bulk sample results for the C kimberlite domain are summarized in the following table. Note that final diamond grade results for samples C2C and C3A are subject to results of a forthcoming audit of grease belt tailings, and are expected to increase.
Sample Dry Tonnes # of Stones Total Carats Carats/Stone Dry Grade
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C1A 1,837 90 27.86 0.41 1.52
C2A 4,164 310 117.11 0.38 2.81
C2B 1,617 211 75.47 0.36 4.67
C2C 8,192 568 355.74 0.63 4.34
C3A 7,781 642 277.13 0.43 3.56
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Totals 23,591 1,821 753.31 0.41 3.19
Dr. Larry Ott, CEO of Motapa noted: "Sample grade and stone size distribution for Mothae continue to exceed the expectations that we had at the initiation of this bulk sampling program.
