Photo gallery
Gem Diamonds is pleased to have won in three categories at the Investing in African Mining Indaba Junior ESG Awards 2022.
View awards here
Letšeng mitigates the impact mining activities have on the environment through responsible environmental management that includes biodiversity preservation and rehabilitation of disturbed land.
To ensure responsible end of life of mine land use and rehabilitation, Letšeng conducts rehabilitation trials utilising waste rock.
Sustainable water management is a key priority for Letšeng and the operation has implemented a comprehensive water management strategy that includes quality preservation and usage reduction measures.
The cornerstone of Letšeng’s safety management strategy is “My Brother’s Keeper”. Being a Brother’s Keeper means taking responsibility for all team members and ensuring that they work safely.
Letšeng supports sustainable farming and subsistence farmers through the Butha-Buthe Vegetable Project and the Mokhotlong Dairy Project.
Letšeng constructed a footbridge to provide safe passage to the pupils of the Pae-la-itlhatsoa Primary School in the rainy season.
Letšeng’s focus on berm retention and careful execution of final walls has enhanced the safety of mining operations at the mine.
Letšeng operates a mixed fleet of 49 dump trucks consisting of 19 x CAT 777s, 14 x CAT 773s and 16 x CAT 745s. These machines move 2.5 to 3 million tonnes of material each month.
An aerial view of the Letšeng Main and Satellite pipes that produce the world's most valuable diamonds. The two kimberlite pipes have a total footprint of 20ha. The pits which are currently just over 250m deep, have a total footprint of 110ha and have a planned final depth of 450m placing them among the deepest pits in the world.
At more than 3 000 metres above sea level, winters at Letšeng Mine are always a challenge with extreme temperatures, wind and snow.
A Letšeng diamond sorter holding a recovered rough diamond in the coarse recovery sort-house.
Recovered diamonds are weighed, photographed and described in detail as part of Letšeng’s diamond recording and accounting practice.
Contractors are seen placing a filter membrane on the downstream slopes of the Mothusi fresh water supply dam during the rehabilitation activities in which the wall was raised and widened.
Letšeng Diamonds provides a successful learning platform to equip employees and interns with the required practical and operational experience.
The Letšeng Diamond Discovery Centre, located at Letšeng's offices in Maseru, is an interactive learning hub providing the history of diamonds, the Letšeng Diamond Mine and the diamond mining industry in Lesotho.
The Letšeng Diamond Discovery Centre receives many students, scholars and other important visitors from all over the world, including the Lesotho Royal Family, Members of Parliament, senior Government officials and Ministers.
An exceptional 212.91ct Type II White diamond, recovered at Letšeng Diamond Mine on 19 September 2024
A remarkable 126.21ct Type II White diamond, recovered at Letšeng Diamond Mine on 6 September 2024.
A 122.20ct Type II White diamond, recovered at Letšeng Diamond Mine on 1 September 2024.
A 129.71ct Type II White diamond, recovered at Letšeng Diamond Mine on 23 August 2024.
A 145.55ct Type II White diamond, recovered at Letšeng Diamond Mine on 3 August 2024.
A 123.20ct Type II White diamond, recovered at Letšeng Diamond Mine on 29 June 2024.
A 172.06ct Type II White diamond, recovered at Letšeng Diamond Mine on 2 June 2024
A 212.49ct Type II White diamond, recovered at Letšeng Diamond Mine on 28 May 2024.
A 118.74ct Type II White diamond, recovered at Letšeng Diamond Mine on 28 April 2024.
A 169.15ct Type II White diamond, recovered at Letšeng Diamond Mine on 18 April 2024.
A high quality 113ct White Type II diamond recovered at Letšeng on 17 February 2024.
A low quality 139ct Boart diamond recovered at Letšeng on 17 February 2024.
A high quality 295ct white Type II diamond, recovered at Letšeng on 8 January 2024.
A high value, large 117.47ct White Type IIa rough diamond, recovered at Letšeng on 29 October 2023.
A 101.96 carat gem quality White Type II diamond, recovered at Letšeng Diamond Mine on 28 September 2023.
An impressive 163.91ct Yellow diamond recovered at Letšeng Diamond Mine on 22 June 2023.
An exceptional 122 carat D colour Type II white diamond recovered on 5 March 2023 at the Letšeng Diamond Mine.
A remarkable 6.63 carat pink colour diamond, sold in February 2023
A high quality 114 carat Type I white diamond was recovered at Letšeng on 16 July 2022
An exceptional quality 245 carat white Type II diamond recovered at Letšeng on 11 June 2022
Gem Diamonds announces the recovery of a 125 carat top quality white diamond from the Letšeng mine on 31 May 2022
A high quality white diamond of 129 carats recovered at Letšeng on 23 May 2022
An exceptional white Type II diamond of 99.36 carats recovered at the Letšeng mine on 5 April 2022.
A 101 carat high quality white type II diamond recovered at Letšeng on 13th November 2021
A high quality 102 carat Type II white diamond, recovered at Letšeng on 15 October 2021.
A high quality 245 carat Type II white diamond, recovered at Letšeng on 15 October 2021
A high quality 367 carat Type II white diamond, recovered at Letšeng on 7 May 2021.
A high quality 254 carat Type II white diamond, recovered at Letšeng on 29 April 2021.
A 146.9 carat high quality Type II white diamond recovered at Letšeng on 7 January 2021.
A 179 carat high quality white Type 1 diamond was recovered at Letšeng on 26 November 2020 – the 16th diamond of over 100 carats recovered at Letšeng in 2020.
A 14.09 carat top quality Type II pink colour diamond recovered on 24 November 2020.
A high quality 104 carat white diamond recovered at Letšeng on 8 November 2020 - the 15th diamond of over 100 carats recovered at Letšeng in 2020.
On 16 October 2020, a 111.99 carat high quality Type I yellow diamond was recovered at Letšeng, the 13th diamond of over 100 carats recovered in 2020.
An exceptional quality 166 carat Type II white diamond recovered from Letšeng on 18 September 2020.
A 233 carat Type IIa white diamond recovered at the Letšeng mine on 30 August 2020.
A 442 carat Type IIa white diamond recovered at the Letšeng mine on 19 August 2020.
A 183 carat Type IIa white diamond recovered at the Letšeng mine on 3 February 2020.
A 94 carat Type IIa white diamond recovered at the Letšeng mine on 30 November 2019.
A 114 carat Type I yellow diamond recovered at the Letšeng mine on 8 December 2019.
A 183 carat Type IIa white diamond recovered at the Letšeng mine on 3 February 2020.
A 127 carat Type IIa white diamond recovered at the Letšeng mine on 10 September 2019.
A 114 carat Type I yellow diamond recovered at the Letšeng mine on 22 August 2019.
A 140 carat Type II1 white recovered at the Letšeng mine on 6 July 2019.
A 134 carat Type I yellow diamond recovered at the Letšeng mine on 30 March 2019.
A 161 carat Type IIa white diamond recovered at the Letšeng mine on 20 March 2019.
A 13.32 carat Type I pink diamond recovered at the Letšeng mine on 7 February 2019. More information on this diamond can be found here.
A 101 carat and a 71 carat Type IIa white diamonds, both recovered within a twenty-four-hour period, at the Letšeng mine on 15 and 16 December 2018 respectively.
A 138 carat Type IIa white diamond recovered at the Letšeng mine on 12 August 2018.
A 100 carat Type IIa white diamond recovered at the Letšeng mine on 24 July 2018.
A 115 carat Type IIa white diamond recovered at the Letšeng mine on 18 May 2018.
A 169 carat Type IIa white diamond recovered atthe Letšeng mine on 12 March 2018.
A 152 carat Type IIa white diamond recovered at the Letšeng mine on 4 March 2018.
A 149 carat Type IIa white diamond recovered at the Letšeng mine on 18 January 2018.
A 910 carat Type IIa white diamond, the largest diamond from the Letšeng mine to date, recovered on 12 January 2018. More information on this diamond can be found here.
A 117 carat and a 110 carat Type IIa white diamonds recovered at the Letšeng mine on 6 January 2018.
A 202 carat Type IIa white diamond recovered at the Letšeng mine on 21 November 2017.
A 115 carat Type IIa white diamond recovered at the Letšeng mine on 17 September 2017.
A 151 carat Type I yellow diamond recovered at the Letšeng mine on 8 June 2017.
An 80 carat Type IIa white diamond recovered at the Letšeng mine on 2 May 2017.
A 114 carat Type IIa white diamond recovered at the Letšeng mine on 5 April 2017.
The Many-spotted Snake or Cape Reed Snake (Amplorhinus multimaculatus); one of the snakes found in the Letšeng Diamond Mine Lease area
The Maluti River Frog (Amietia vertebralis) Sensitive species found at the artificial Qaqa wetland. Existence of this species is an indication of a successful phytoremediation initiative within the wetland.
Drakensberg Crag Lizard (Pseudocordylus subviridis) is found within the LDM lease area.
The Spiral Aloe, Lekhala Kharetsa or Many-Leaved Aloe (Aloe polyphylla) one of the protected species endemic to Lesotho. it is found outside the Mine Lease area, however Letšeng Diamonds monitor the plants on an annual basis.
Disa cephalotes subsp. Frigida One of the species found in the Mine Lease area; its natural habitat is well managed and protected. It is endemic to the Drakensberg Mountains and Maluti Mountains.
The Pineapple Flower (Eucomis schijffii): One of the species, found within the Mine Lease area; its natural habitat is well managed and protected. It is endemic to the Drakensberg Mountains and Maluti mountains of Lesotho
Mountain Pipit (Anthus hoeschi): A globally Near Threatened and localised endemic species restricted to the Lesotho Highlands Endemic Bird Area. It is a predominantly summer breeding visitor to Letšeng in grassland and shrubveld areas.
Ground Woodpecker (Geocolaptes olivaceus): The global conservation status was recently uplisted from Least Concern to Near Threatened. Increased observations around Letšeng have been made in the past few years. Also a localised endemic species that is restricted to the Lesotho Highlands Endemic Bird Area
Drakensberg Rock Jumper (Chaetops aurantius): The global conservation status has recently been uplisted from Least Concern to Near Threatened, with a high frequency of occurrence at Letšeng and surrounds. Also one of two species that are restricted to the Afro-tropical Highlands Biome with the Drakensberg siski (Serinus symonsi)