Using XRT Sorters supplied and maintained by IMS Engineering, Gem Diamonds has recovered a high quality 442 carat Type II diamond at its Letšeng mine in Lesotho.

Dion Lusinga, sorting business development manager at IMS Engineering. Image credit: IMS Engineering

Dion Lusinga, sorting business development manager at IMS Engineering. Image credit: IMS Engineering

On the 21st of August 2020, Gem Diamonds recovered an exceptional 442 carat white Type II diamond at the Letšeng mine – the highest dollar per carat kimberlite diamond mine in the world.

“We are very proud to announce that the stone was recovered using Steinert’s XRT sorters that were supplied and are maintained by IMS Engineering together with Letšeng mine personnel,” says Dion Lusinga, sorting business development manager at IMS Engineering.

“In collaboration with Letšeng, we have over the years continued to enhance the diamond recovery process at the mine through continuous improvement initiatives,” Lusinga adds.

Through partnership agreements with some leading global brands, IMS has been on the forefront of the sorting industry for several years. Its cutting-edge sensor sorting solutions have enjoyed massive success across commodities – mainly in diamonds, gold, lithium, and industrial minerals – since 2012.

Besides the X-ray transmission based XSS and XTS sorters that utilise a dual energy system and are used for large diamond recovery, bulk diamond and final concentrate recovery, Steinert also offers a wide range of other ore sorting equipment including near infra-red sorters, which can be used to remove waste from Kimberlite, in the initial stages of the diamond beneficiation process. Also included in the technology suite is the combined sensor sorter, which can integrate dual energy X-ray technology with colour, laser/3D and metal induction sensors in one unit, to effectively upgrade various ores containing chrome, copper, zinc, gold, silver, coal, fluorspar and polymetallic ores.

A common feature of all Steinert sorting systems is that every individual particle in the material flow is recognised and classified. The long, fast-running belt ensures that the particles are singulated and homogeneously distributed. While they pass the sensors, they are recognised and classified in a fraction of a second according to pre-set criteria programmed in the flexible system software.