Outlook for the use of modular plants in processing ores from low-producing and remote diamond deposits

摘要

Diamond-bearing Kimberlite pipes are scattered over broad areas in virtually undeveloped unpopulated regions that are not very suitable for permanent settlement. It is, therefore, not feasible to construct large mining and dressing complexes in such areas as these complexes would not be needed after exploitation of the indigenous sources or placers is complete. The creation of modular dressing plants is one possible path to follow in the development of deposits in arctic regions. All the operations of ore preparation and preliminary dressing at remote and low-producing deposits may be accomplished on interrelated modular plants that resemble the washing devices that are widely used in dressing of placer gold. By means of such a complex only several hundred kilograms of dressed product may be produced from 10001 of worked ore. The dressed product may be delivered, for example, by helicopter, to the nearest functioning dressing plant for further dressing and final finishing. The use of modular plants for processing large/volume samples from remote pipes in the Muna Kimberlite field may serve as the initial stage of industrial development of the pipes.