Assignment 4b - Diamond Mining Flashcards
What are the methods used for mining a diamond pipe
Open-Pit-Mining and Underground mining (Cave mining)
Removal of mineral-bearing ore from a large surface excavation
Open-Pit-Mining
An underground mining technique in which orebody is drilled beneath the surface, loosened, and collected at it falls.
Cave mining
A vertical tunnel drilled in stable rock near the pipe to provide access for personell, equipment, supplies, and ventilation
Shaft
A horizontal tunnel drilled through a diamond pipe
Drift
How are the contents of primary deposits recovered
- Sizing (Crushing & Scrubbing)
- Concentrating
- Recovering
Any method used to separate diamonds from ore or alluvial sediments
Recovery
Reduction of newly mined or e to a manageable size.
Sizing
A recovery process that separates diamonds from lighter material.
Dense media separation
An apparatus that uses diamonds’ affinity for grease to separate them from other minerals.
Grease-belt
A recovery method that uses X-rays to detect diamonds and an air jet to remove them from ore.
X-ray separation
What caused a shift in emphasis from secondary to primary deposits?
Improved technology caused a shift in emphasis from alluvial to primary diamond mining.
What are the special challenges of mining diamonds from ocean deposit?
Difficult conditions and widespread diamonds.
How is a mine’s diamond production measured?
There are two ways:
- Carats per hundered metric tons (Cpht)
- Value of diamond rough produced
How did the earth’s ancient geography affect diamond source locations?
The continents were once joint together and drifted apart later. Most diamond deposits date back from that time.
