Which term denotes the device that uses diamonds' affinity for grease to separate them from other minerals?

Which term denotes the device that uses diamonds' affinity for grease to separate them from other minerals?

• A. Gravity sorting
• B. Graphitization
• C. Grease belt
• D. Girdle thickness percentage

Answer: (C)

Diamonds have a surface that is hydrophobic and tends to adhere to grease, so a device that uses a thin layer of grease to capture the diamonds while letting other minerals wash away is the grease belt. In this setup, crushed ore is moved over a grease-coated surface or belt; diamonds stick to the grease due to their affinity, and the lighter gangue minerals are carried away by water or removed as waste. The diamonds are then recovered from the grease for further processing. This method specifically leverages the grease affinity of diamonds, which is why the term grease belt is the best fit. Gravity sorting, by contrast, relies on density differences rather than surface adhesion; graphitization is a chemical transformation of carbon, and girdle thickness percentage is a measurement related to a diamond’s cut, not a separation device.

Diamonds have a surface that is hydrophobic and tends to adhere to grease, so a device that uses a thin layer of grease to capture the diamonds while letting other minerals wash away is the grease belt. In this setup, crushed ore is moved over a grease-coated surface or belt; diamonds stick to the grease due to their affinity, and the lighter gangue minerals are carried away by water or removed as waste. The diamonds are then recovered from the grease for further processing. This method specifically leverages the grease affinity of diamonds, which is why the term grease belt is the best fit.

Gravity sorting, by contrast, relies on density differences rather than surface adhesion; graphitization is a chemical transformation of carbon, and girdle thickness percentage is a measurement related to a diamond’s cut, not a separation device.