TOMRA Sorting Mining congratulates Lucara Diamond Corp. (Lucara) upon the recent recovery of a magnificent 1,111ct type IIa diamond using TOMRA XRT (X-ray transmission) technology at their Karowe Mine in Botswana. The diamond, which is the second largest gem quality diamond in history and the largest ever to be recovered through a modern processing facility was recovered by a TOMRA LDR (large diamond recovery) machine
utilizing X-ray transmission sensors which was commissioned at Karowe earlier this year. The value of the Diamond is not yet assessed.
Paul Day, Chief Operating Officer at Lucara Diamond Corp. said: “We selected TOMRA XRT following an extensive suite of test work which demonstrated TOMRA XRT technology as a superior technological solution having the highest efficiency of diamond recovery and lowest concentrate yield compared to their competitors. TOMRA’s technology detects all types of diamonds with the same efficiency and has a remarkably small footprint in terms of
power and water consumption. “
Dr Volker Rehrmann, Head of TOMRA Sorting Solutions: “It´s an honour for us to be part of setting new benchmarks in the diamond mining industry. We are very proud that Lucara showed confidence in our innovative sensor-based sorting technology which was rewarded with this outstanding recovery.”
Six TOMRA XRT sorters are in operation at the Karowe Diamond Mine since May 2015 replacing conventional Dense Media Separation (DMS) technology in the -60+8mm size range. Each sorter can treat up to 150 tons per hour at over 8,000 hours per year. Advantages of the XRT technology include its compact footprint, low operating costs, high recovery rates and extremely low concentrate yields. There is no need to further process the sorter’s concentrate before final hand sorting.
TOMRA launched at the beginning of 2014 a new range of Diamond recovery solutions which out-performs traditional technologies, providing the highest diamond recovery rates at the lowest yields. This allows the overall complexity of recovery plants to be reduced, resulting in lower running costs.
About TOMRA Sorting Mining
TOMRA Sorting Mining designs and manufactures sensor-based sorting technologies for the global mining industry. The company’s systems deliver dry material separation of various ores and minerals, including diamonds and other gemstones, in addition to enabling metal recovery from slag. Numerous TOMRA Sorting Mining systems have been installed worldwide, each contributing to extending the lifetime of mining operations and increasing
the value derived from deposits.
TOMRA Sorting is owned by Norwegian company TOMRA Systems ASA, which is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange. Founded in 1972, TOMRA Systems ASA has a turnover around €550m and employs over 2,400 people.
For more information on TOMRA Sorting Mining visit www.tomra.com/mining