Concentrate from the DMS plant is then processed through the recovery section. In this section, the specific properties of diamonds are used to recover the diamonds from the concentrated material.
These properties include magnetic susceptibility, X-ray luminescence and crystallographic laser fluorescence.
The concentrate will either be dried or processed wet through a magnetic separation process. The non-magnetic fraction is subjected to an X-ray recovery process.
Under X-ray radiation, the diamonds absorb energy which is given off in the form of light. This light is detected, enabling the diamonds to be ejected from the process stream.
Diamonds are also hydrophobic, meaning they repel water, and oleophyllic, meaning they are attracted to grease, and hence grease belts can also be used as an alternative or complementary process to X-ray recovery.
Diamonds will be repelled by the water in the medium feeding the grease belt and adhere to the grease surface that the mixture is passed over. The gangue material (non-diamond) will pass through and report to the waste stream.
After X-ray recovery, the material will undergo a final round of diamond recovery and concentration. Single particle Laser Raman sorters are used to further concentrate the diamonds in the product stream.
The diamond concentrate is finally sorted, weighed and parceled prior to being exported to the final sorting, cleaning and valuation facility.