JSC «Mekhanobr Engineering» (St. Petersburg, Russia):

Bogdanovich A. V., Research Director, Doctor of Engineering Sciences
Vasilyev A. M., Researcher, Candidate of Engineering Sciences
Urnysheva S. А., Researcher
E-mail (common): science@mekhanobr.spb.ru

Diamond ores are distinguished by complexity of material composition. Through the example of the domestic and foreign deposits, on which diamond recovery plants are successfully operating at present time, certain structural features of the ores are considered, to a large extent determining their processing technologies. Considerable losses of diamonds in processing may be stemming from overloads on main processing apparatuses. What is more, this risk is increased progressively as deposits are developed and stronger ores are mined. Of prime importance is determination of final tailings size, needed to ensure a high recovery of diamonds. For this purpose it is necessary to conduct tests on samples of considerable mass, also, along with this, separation effectiveness has to be estimated by degree of recovery of heavy fractions or by recoveries of garnets or other high-density minerals. It is shown, that diamond ores disintegration to size of 3 mm securely ensures practically complete liberation of diamonds over 1 mm size. Also, tailings of up to 6-8 mm size may be removed from processing. With that, part of rock material of lowest density must be preliminarily removed and rougher concentrate must be subjected to final concentration in heavy-medium cyclone without its overloading. Presence of considerable quantities of saponite group of minerals in ores leads to decline of final tailings settling in tailings storage facilities and complicates organization of return water system. In order to solve the above problems during development of Recovery Plant Process Regulation, diamond ores dressability tests must be performed on large samples on a pilot-scale or commercialscale basis.

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