Dense media separation is a process for separating diamonds from lighter materials. Which term fits this description?

Dense media separation is a process for separating diamonds from lighter materials. Which term fits this description?

• A. Dense media separation
• B. Darkfield illumination
• C. Diamond pipeline
• D. Cutting center

Answer: (A)

Dense medium separation relies on buoyancy in a carefully tuned fluid to separate materials by density. In diamond sorting, a dense liquid or suspension is prepared with a specific gravity between that of diamonds and the surrounding gangue. Since diamonds have a higher density (around 3.5 g/cm³) than many lighter minerals, they behave differently in this medium—typically sinking while lighter materials float, or vice versa depending on the medium’s density. This contrast lets you separate diamonds from lighter waste efficiently after initial crushing, before further processing. Darkfield illumination is a microscopy technique used to see surface details, not a separation method. Diamond pipeline and cutting center refer to logistics or operations stages, not how to separate materials.

Dense medium separation relies on buoyancy in a carefully tuned fluid to separate materials by density. In diamond sorting, a dense liquid or suspension is prepared with a specific gravity between that of diamonds and the surrounding gangue. Since diamonds have a higher density (around 3.5 g/cm³) than many lighter minerals, they behave differently in this medium—typically sinking while lighter materials float, or vice versa depending on the medium’s density. This contrast lets you separate diamonds from lighter waste efficiently after initial crushing, before further processing.

Darkfield illumination is a microscopy technique used to see surface details, not a separation method. Diamond pipeline and cutting center refer to logistics or operations stages, not how to separate materials.