AK6 diamonds to hit market in Q2 next year

In a 2011 third quarter update, promoters of what will be Botswana's second operating diamond mine outside Debswana's, Lucara Diamonds says construction of the mine advanced from 55 percent complete at the end of the second quarter to 84 percent complete at the end of third quarter.

"The company intends to continue with the construction of the AK6 Phase 1 production facility, which includes a process plant and support facilities designed for an initial throughput of an estimated 2.5 million tonnes per year," it says in a statement.