Validation and Investigation of X-Ray Luminescence and X-Ray Transmission Response for the Recovery of Diamonds Using Sensor Based Sorting
| dc.contributor.advisor | Alam, Shafiq | |
| dc.contributor.committeeMember | Evitts, Richard | |
| dc.contributor.committeeMember | Hunt, Lucy | |
| dc.contributor.committeeMember | Heppner, Kevin | |
| dc.contributor.committeeMember | Odeshi, Akindele | |
| dc.creator | Lang, Zachary | |
| dc.creator.orcid | 0009-0008-5622-4042 | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2024-04-09T02:38:08Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2024-04-09T02:38:08Z | |
| dc.date.copyright | 2024 | |
| dc.date.created | 2024-04 | |
| dc.date.issued | 2024-04-08 | |
| dc.date.submitted | April 2024 | |
| dc.date.updated | 2024-04-09T02:38:08Z | |
| dc.description.abstract | X-ray luminescence technology is widely utilized for diamond recovery. Recently, X-ray transmission technology has become available as an alternative to X-ray luminescence technology for fine diamond recovery, offering a potential solution to recovering weakly luminescing diamonds by identifying atomic energy signatures. However, challenges exist when implementing X-ray transmission technology, including variability in the contrast between gangue particles and diamonds. Furthermore, there are operational limitations, as X-ray transmission sorters are restricted to dry conditions when processing material within the 2-4mm size range. This study conducted a comprehensive analysis of 300 diamonds and 177 gangue particles to examine the effectiveness of X-ray transmission and X-ray luminescence sensor-based sorter in 2-4mm diamond recovery applications. The findings reveal that physical characteristics, such as low clarity and transparency, negatively impact diamond x-ray luminescence response. Additionally, nitrogen aggregation also affects x-ray luminescence. Specifically, diamonds that lack nitrogen, known as Type 2 diamonds, exhibit weak luminescence. These diamonds are more likely to be large and valuable, with concentrations in ore reaching up to 50% in certain lithological units. This can pose a significant economic threat to a diamond mine. X-ray transmission response can be reliably predicted based on diamond characteristics. Theoretically, X-ray transmission technology can identify and recover all diamonds; however, it is also susceptible to misidentifying gangue particles. X-ray luminescence response is unpredictable and inconsistent, making diamond recovery with X-ray luminescence unreliable. Additionally, X-ray luminescence can theoretically identify gangue particles but can fail to identify diamond particles. An audit of both technologies using 400 tonnes of Canadian kimberlite drill core in an operational setting revealed that the X-ray luminescence sorter achieved lower recoveries and higher yields than X-ray transmission technology. | |
| dc.format.mimetype | application/pdf | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/10388/15565 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.subject | Sensor-based-sorting, ore sorting, diamond processing. diamond mining | |
| dc.title | Validation and Investigation of X-Ray Luminescence and X-Ray Transmission Response for the Recovery of Diamonds Using Sensor Based Sorting | |
| dc.type | Thesis | |
| dc.type.material | text | |
| thesis.degree.department | Chemical and Biological Engineering | |
| thesis.degree.discipline | Chemical Engineering | |
| thesis.degree.grantor | University of Saskatchewan | |
| thesis.degree.level | Masters | |
| thesis.degree.name | Master of Science (M.Sc.) |