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Tracers & Simulants
Luminescent Tracers
Tracers are an essential component in setting up X-ray based diamond
sorting machines. Tracers are luminescent which allows them to be recovered
by X-ray machines. Through calibration, the machine’s detection
sensitivity can be adjusted to the most cost effective level, thus maximising
diamond recovery and minimising the volume of waste material recovered.
To aid this procedure, tracers are manufactured in 6 luminescence intensities
and 7 sizes. The luminescence intensities are indicated by different
colours, blue, brown, grey, violet and olive, and are available in sizes
2mm, 3.2mm, 5mm, 8mm, 12mm, 25mm and 38mm.
Ceramic Diamond Simulants
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The use of diamond simulants makes it possible
for the management at mining sites, and particularly at diamond
separation and recovery plants, to identify the stages in ore
handling or subsequent processing, where stones may be trapped
or damaged in order to take corrective action. |
The financial benefits to the mine of eliminating and avoiding hang-up
or damage are considerable. Without the use of simulants, it would be
virtually impossible to quantify accurately the losses attributable
to avoidable diamond damage.
Diamond damage generally occurs most frequently at:
- DMS cyclone feed pumps
- Concentrate transfer pumps
- Pneumatic transfer into bins
- Other transfer points
The simulants are available in a range of colours, i.e. white, red,
blue & green and sizes 3mm, 4mm, 6mm, 8mm, 12mm, 16mm, 20mm and
25mm. All simulants have sufficient luminescence intensities so that
they can be recovered by X-ray technology.
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