PROCESS OF SEPARATION OF DIAMOND-CARRYING MATERIALS Russian patent published in 2003 - IPC

FIELD: automatic classification of ores, specifically, extraction of diamonds from diamondcarrying materials. SUBSTANCE: technical result of invention consists in enhanced efficiency of separation thanks to rise of separation selectivity with due account of properties of minerals to scatter, absorb and transmit penetrating radiation. This technical result is achieved by process of separation of diamond-carrying materials which includes piecemeal feed of material containing particles with various atomic numbers to zone of analysis, irradiation of material with beam of primary penetrating radiation of specified cross-section, recording of secondary penetrating radiation, comparison of signal with threshold value, extraction of legitimate signal by comparison results. Novelty of process lies in irradiation of material with collimated beam of penetrating radiation which cross-section is elongated in horizontal direction. Height and width of beam are chosen depending on size of separated material, are recorded on side opposite to incident primary flux of penetrating radiation in solid angle of 0.2-0.4 steradian with reference to axis of penetrating radiation. Secondary penetrating radiation passed towards detector through scattering screen with thickness depending on atomic number of accompanying minerals making up main mass of kimberlite and of material with atomic number close to atomic number of useful mineral. Angle of incidence of beam of penetrating radiation on to scattering screen is set depending on atomic number of accompanying minerals and threshold value of intensity of secondary penetrating radiation is set in proportion to transparency of scattering screen and coefficients of transmission and dispersion of penetrating radiation by diamond. Intensity of penetrating radiation passed through mineral and scattered by mineral is utilized in the capacity of secondary penetrating radiation. Organic substance ( polymer ) is employed as material of scattering screen. Width of beam of penetrating radiation is not less than maximum size of particle of mineral and its height is equal or over minimal size of particle in specified class of lump size. Atomic number of accompanying minerals which is main mass of kimberlite amounts to not more than 25 atomic numbers. EFFECT: enhanced efficiency of separation. 4 cl, 1 dwg