Angola hosts over 1,000 kimberlite pipes, predominantly Cretaceous in age, with the richest deposits in the northeast, including the Catoca and Luele Mines and other significant deposits within the Camatchia field, all hosted within the Lucapa graben structure. While some pipes exhibit high diamond grades (0.5–1.0 ct/t), many lack significant diamond content, and most are poorly understood. Secondary deposits exist throughout the country, and some yield spectacular, high-value Type IIa diamonds where the primary source has yet to be discovered. After several years of exploration, evaluation, and mining in northeastern Angola, the economically significant pipes all display a common set of geological features.
In this presentation, we present a summary of the key geological features with respect to rock types, kimberlite emplacement, and diamond grade that need to be taken into consideration when exploring and evaluating pipes in this area of Angola.
