Stimulation of X-ray fluorescence separation of diamond-bearing materials by recovery of diamond crystals with nonstandard natural luminous intensity

Based on the analyses of X-ray fluorescence separation of rough diamond-bearing concentrates from kimberlite ores, the method of increased recovery of diamonds with nonstandard natural luminous intensity in the main cycle of X-ray fluorescence separation is theoretically substantiated, developed and experimentally approved. This method involves preliminary treatment of a diamond-bearing material by luminophore-bearing agents developed at the IPKON Institute, RAS. These luminophore-bearing agents ensure stimulation of X-ray fluorescence separation, which is proved by: the high indicators of selectivity and steadfastness of the agents on the surface of diamonds in a diamond–kimberlite mixture; the increased recovery of diamonds in X-ray fluorescence separation concentrate; the reduced yield of kimberlite material in concentrates. The mathematical processing of the experimental data obtained within the actual flowsheets of processing diamond-bearing kimberlite ore proves that: the luminophore-bearing agents of the proposed composition in the test conditions ensure maximal concentration (5—6.7%) on the surface of diamond crystals at their low content (0.5—0.6%) in kimberlite; attached to the diamond surface, the luminophore-bearing agents ensure optical signal from the surface in a range of 400–580 nm, which conforms with the kinetic and spectral characteristics of crystals and, accordingly, predetermines recovery of the crystals to concentrate. The pilot tests of the developed mode for treatment of kimberlite-bearing materials containing diamond crystals of nonstandard luminous intensity by the new luminophorebearing agents proved recoverability of diamonds at a level of 75–100% with the total yield of kimberlite rocks to tailings.

Dvoichenkova G. P., Morozov V. V., Chanturia E. L., Podkamenny Yu. A., Timofeev A. S. Stimulation of X-ray fluorescence separation of diamond-bearing materials by recovery of diamond crystals with nonstandard natural luminous intensity. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2024;(12):103-117. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2024_12_0_103.

G.P. Dvoichenkova^1,2, Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Assistant Professor, Chief Researcher; Professor, e-mail: dvoigp@mail.ru, ORCID ID: 0000-0002-0940-3880,
V.V. Morozov³, Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Professor, Professor, e-mail: dchmggu@mail.ru, ORCID ID: 0000-0003-4105-944X,
E.L. Chanturia³, Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Professor, Professor, e-mail: elenachan@mail.ru, ORCID ID: 0000-0002-4410-8182,
Yu.A. Podkamenny^1,2, Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Researcher; Head of Chair, e-mail: mirniy.yuriy@mail.ru, ORCID ID: 0000-0002-4104-9113,
A.S. Timofeev¹, Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Senior Researcher, e-mail: Timofeev_ac@mail.ru, ORCID ID: 0000-0002-3382-6007,
¹ Institute of Comprehensive Exploitation of Mineral Resources of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 111020, Russia,
² Mirny Polytechnic Institute (branch) of North-Eastern Federal University in Yakutsk, Mirny, 678174, Russia, 3 NUST MISIS, 119049, Moscow, Russia.

G.P. Dvoichenkova, e-mail: dvoigp@mail.ru.

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