Catoca diamond mine

The Catoca diamond mine is the fourth largest diamond mine in the world, and is located in Angola. The mine is owned by a consortium of international mining interests, including Endiama (the state mining company of Angola) (32.8% ownership), Alrosa of Russia (32.8%), Odebrecht of Brazil (16.4%), and the Diamond Finance CY BV Group (16.8%). The mine is located on a kimberlite pipe.

The mine had production of 1.8 million carats (360 kg) in 2000 and 2.6 million carats (520 kg) in 2001. Catoca management has been actively expanding capacity at the mine, such that the owners plan to extract as much as 5 million carats (1,000 kg) in 2005. The mine's production is 35 % gem quality, compared to a global average of 20 %; the diamonds produced at Catoca have an average value of $75 to $100 USD per carat (375 to 500 $/g). Estimated reserves are 60 million carats (12,000 kg).

References

* [http://www.mbendi.co.za/indy/ming/dmnd/af/an/p0005.htm MBendi]