Detecting diamonds in a rock sample
First Claim
1. A method of detecting diamonds in a rock sample, comprising reducing the rock sample to small particles, placing a layer of the particles on a substrate, irradiating the particles with X-radiation, sensing X-radiation transmitted through the layer of particles, and detecting diamonds by their greater transparency to X-radiation than the remainder of the particles.
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Abstract
In order to provide secure and simple detection of diamonds when prospecting, a rock sample is reduced to powder particles which are automatically checked to see if they contain diamond particles (30) by processing an image of X-radiation transmitted through a layer of the particles. The image may be processed by comparing it with a further image of visible light transmitted by the layer of particles.
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Citations
30 Claims
- 1. A method of detecting diamonds in a rock sample, comprising reducing the rock sample to small particles, placing a layer of the particles on a substrate, irradiating the particles with X-radiation, sensing X-radiation transmitted through the layer of particles, and detecting diamonds by their greater transparency to X-radiation than the remainder of the particles.
- 20. Apparatus for detecting diamonds in a rock sample which has been reduced to small particles, comprising means for irradiating a layer of the particles with X-radiation, means for sensing X-radiation transmitted through the layer of particles, and means for detecting diamonds in the layer of particles by the greater transparency of diamonds than the remainder of the particles.
Specification