Analysis of Distribution of Secondary Minerals and their Associations on The Surface of Diamonds and in Derrivative Products of Metasomatically Altered Kimberlites

Abstract

The theoretical and experimental studies resulted in establishing regularities in the distribution of secondary minerals and theirassociations in metasomatically altered diamond-bearing kimberlites and products of their processing.Based on integrated mineralogical research, it was found out that the composition of the altered kimberlites and the fine-dispersedclayey slurries formed during their processing constituted the basis of hydrophilic formations on the surface of diamond crystals notrecovered by the methods of grease and froth separation. Particles of these minerals concentrate in fine-dispersed slurry productsof kimberlite ore processing, interact with the crystal surface, reduce their hydrophobic properties and, accordingly, recovery inprocesses of grease and froth separations into concentrates.