The Tongo diamond project in Sierra Leone, currently being developed by Newfield Resources, is set to benefit from DebTech’s X-ray diamond recovery technology, the diamond processing technology specialist reports.
Working in collaboration with project house Paradigm Project Management, DebTech is to supply a dry unit – the CDX118CD dual wavelength X-ray sorter – to the project.
“DebTech’s mature sorting technology is a dependable solution for high efficiency recovery of diamonds from a wide variety of kimberlite, marine and alluvial sources, capable of treating a material size range from 1 mm to 32 mm,” DebTech says.
The unit to go to Tongo features an eight-channel photo multiplier detection system capable of identifying all types of diamonds including low luminescence, yellow and boart, the company said.
Gavin Alexander, Products Manager at DebTech, said: “The appeal of the technology is its efficient diamond recovery with minimum gangue material, even at high feed rates. These rates can range from 825 kg/h with material sized between 1 mm and 2 mm, to 4.5 t/h with material of 16 mm to 32 mm in size.”
Among the benefits of the system is the unique “dual wavelength” detection system and small installed footprint, the company says, adding it is capable of self-testing, while calibration can be conducted online.
“Designed to be operator-friendly and straightforward to maintain, the unit offers complete operator safety due to its improved features,” Alexander says. “It is specifically designed to enhance diamond security, and the compact sorting modules can be configured for higher throughput or for a double-pass process, as required.”
There are manual and automated inlet chute gate options available, with an air ejector system that ensures no loss of valuable stones.
DebTech says: “Design is modular, compact and ergonomic, with left and right-hand variants available to suit. The split cabinet design features a heat exchanger-cooled X-ray generator and power supply compartment with separate control and service panel configurations. There is a single network interface for control and information, and DebTech ensures there is full maintenance support for customers, wherever they are on the globe.”
