LONDON (Dow Jones)--Obtala Resources PLC (OBT.LN), a resources investment and development and production company, said Monday it has recovered a 23.30 carat and 11.92 carat "special" stone from its Bakidu diamond operation in Sierra Leone. MAIN FACTS: -In addition to this special stone (defined as being greater than 10.8 carats), six stones of 5.15, 5.16, 5.75, 7.60, 8.86 and 9.05 carats have been recovered. -Over the past two months, Obtala has been evaluating a change in the current mining strategy, adopted from previous workers. -Historically most of the production was processed through the main 2Mtpa DMS plant located at Konoma. -It is the Company's intention to revise this strategy in an attempt to reduce operating costs and improve overall production rates, by using a number of lower-cost mobile DMS plants which will be strategically located along the Bafi River. -These smaller units will allow for focused, localized mining with reduced haulage distances and operating costs. -Obtala has recovered 963.95 carats from 8,336 tons of gravel processed at Bakidu, with an average stone size of 0.73 carat per stone. -Shares closed Friday at 31.75 pence. -By Tommy Stubbington, Dow Jones Newswires; 44-20-7842-9268; tommy.stubbington@dowjones.com (END) Dow Jones Newswires July 19, 2010 02:39 ET (06:39 GMT)