Which process recovers diamonds by separating them from lighter materials?

Which process recovers diamonds by separating them from lighter materials?

• A. Grease Belt
• B. Dense Media Separation
• C. Ore Grade
• D. Geochemical Testing

Answer: (B)

Dense Media Separation recovers diamonds by using a dense fluid medium to separate materials by specific gravity. Diamonds have a higher density than most surrounding rock or gravel, so when the crushed ore or gravel is processed in a medium with an appropriate density, the diamonds tend to sink while the lighter material floats. This creates a concentrate enriched in diamonds that can be further processed. Grease belts are another method used in alluvial diamond recovery, relying on adhesion to a sticky surface rather than density differences, while ore grade and geochemical testing refer to quality assessment and analysis, not the physical separation process.

Dense Media Separation recovers diamonds by using a dense fluid medium to separate materials by specific gravity. Diamonds have a higher density than most surrounding rock or gravel, so when the crushed ore or gravel is processed in a medium with an appropriate density, the diamonds tend to sink while the lighter material floats. This creates a concentrate enriched in diamonds that can be further processed. Grease belts are another method used in alluvial diamond recovery, relying on adhesion to a sticky surface rather than density differences, while ore grade and geochemical testing refer to quality assessment and analysis, not the physical separation process.