Meya mine strikes again: Discovery of 391.45-carat diamond signals high potential for future finds

In the Meya mine in Sierra Leone, a high-quality, 391.45-carat diamond has been discovered, making it the second diamond over 100 carats found at the site. The Type IIa diamond, recovered on August 20, was originally part of a 514.99-carat stone that broke into three pieces during extraction. 

This discovery follows the 2017 recovery of a 476.98-carat Type IIa diamond, known as the Meya Prosperity, which was sold for 16.5 million dollars. Meya Mining CEO Jan Joubert noted that finding two such large diamonds suggests a high potential for future discoveries. The company’s priority is to improve methods for recovering these high-value stones intact. 

Last year, a 70% stake in Meya Mining was sold to Sterling Global Trading for 50 million dollars, with the funds aimed at expanding production at the mine.

Photo credit: National Minerals Agency