What is X-ray separation?

What is X-ray separation?

• A. A recovery method that uses X-rays to detect diamonds and an air jet to remove them from ore
• B. A method to sort diamonds by color
• C. A method to weigh diamonds by density
• D. A method to cut diamonds

Answer: (A)

X-ray separation is a recovery method used in rough diamond processing that relies on how diamonds and surrounding rock attenuate X-rays differently. As crushed ore moves past an X-ray source, diamonds—being carbon and having different attenuation properties than many gangue minerals—produce a distinct signal detected by sensors. When a diamond is identified, a precisely timed blast of compressed air diverts that particle into a separate collection stream. This allows diamonds to be separated from waste rock continuously and early in the process, without relying on color, weight, or cutting. The technique works best when diamonds are well dispersed in the ore, but it requires careful calibration because some minerals can mimic the signal, which can affect accuracy.

X-ray separation is a recovery method used in rough diamond processing that relies on how diamonds and surrounding rock attenuate X-rays differently. As crushed ore moves past an X-ray source, diamonds—being carbon and having different attenuation properties than many gangue minerals—produce a distinct signal detected by sensors. When a diamond is identified, a precisely timed blast of compressed air diverts that particle into a separate collection stream. This allows diamonds to be separated from waste rock continuously and early in the process, without relying on color, weight, or cutting. The technique works best when diamonds are well dispersed in the ore, but it requires careful calibration because some minerals can mimic the signal, which can affect accuracy.