Abstract
SYNOPSIS The paper brings together the language of diamond numbers and the underlying principles for calculation of diamond liberation, followed by estimation of process efficiency at circuit and complete plant levels. In this way it provides a reference point, albeit a mixture of the theoretical and empirical, to assess the effectiveness of diamond plant accounting systems in the field. Having established today's baseline, the wider aim is ongoing education, peer technical debate, and progression to a more exact science. Keywords: diamonds, liberation, recovery, modelling.
Highlights
Quantification of stream content in a diamond processing plant as part of daily mass balance statistics is unlike similar exercises for other commodities
This is due to the particulate distribution of diamonds, relatively low grades, wide range of particle sizes, the indeterminate state of diamond liberation, and the absence of an assay office, among other factors
Substituting the typical values above yields a diamond to ore size ratio of 0.82, indicating that such a situation cannot exist in terms of the preferential liberation factor (PLF) deportment model, which operates in the range 0.25 to 0.45 with 0.82 indicating complete liberation
Summary
Affiliation: 1 Independent Consultant and Visiting Lecturer – University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. The paper brings together the language of diamond numbers and the underlying principles for calculation of diamond liberation, followed by estimation of process efficiency at circuit and complete plant levels. In this way it provides a reference point, albeit a mixture of the theoretical and empirical, to assess the effectiveness of diamond plant accounting systems in the field. Process efficiencies, liberation modelling, and simulation: The art of the possible. This paper will be presented at the Diamonds - Source to Use 2021 Hybrid Conference, 9–10 June 2021, The Birchwood Hotel & OR Tambo Conference Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa
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