MATERIALS HANDLING
DIAMONDS DEALING IN
How one global diamond producer uses sorting technology and digital solutions to recover unbroken diamonds
Mothae Diamonds is an open pit mine located in the Maluti Mountains of Lesotho, Africa G
lobal diamond producer Lucapa Diamonds owns 70% of Mothae Diamonds, an open-pit mine located
in the Maluti Mountains of Lesotho, Africa. The mine started commercial operation in 2019 following the commissioning of its kimberlite processing plant. The mine is known for producing large, high-quality diamonds, and has had signifi cant gem-quality recoveries including a 215 carat D-colour Type IIa, a 204 carat Type IIa, and rare pink, blue and yellow diamonds.
DELIVERING SORTING EFFICIENCY When planning the recovery plant, Mothae turned to TOMRA Mining for a solution: “We wanted to recover large diamonds at the highest sorting eff iciency with the highest throughput, and TOMRA met Mothae’s requirements with its modern and innovative technology,” says Macobone Semelane, recovery superintendent. The recovery plant operates two
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TOMRA COM Tertiary XRT 1200 sorters: one for fi ne materials from 10mm to 20mm, and the other for coarse materials from 20mm to 45mm. The ore extracted from the mine is treated through primary crushing, scrubbing and screening, then transferred to the recovery area: “That’s where the TOMRA sorters separate diamonds from the ore,” explains Kothalo Matoli, a recovery mechanician at the mine. “TOMRA sorters help us to recover large diamonds prior to secondary and tertiary crushing, hugely reducing the risk of breakages, and our throughput is high, with 98% eff iciency.”
UNLOCKING THE POWER OF DATA The two TOMRA XRT sorters at Mothae are connected to the TOMRA Insight cloud-based data platform that turns the machines into connected devices generating valuable data and helping operators to control the sorting process. They also feature the TOMRA ACT user
interface, which helps optimise the workfl ow and improve productivity. Macobone Semelane explains: “As
a relatively small and low-grade mine, we are always investigating the latest technologies. With our sorters operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, we wanted to ensure they were connected to the latest compatible software and hardware.” “We also wanted to ensure our
operators could interact with the sorters and so needed a user-friendly portal. The TOMRA ACT user interface provides a clear view of events and alarms as well as images of belt occupancy. It also shows ejection activity, which is useful.” “TOMRA Insight has changed the
way we run our production because we can monitor our sorters remotely as well as access reports from both machines in one interface,” says Kothalo Matoli. “All the alarms and events are logged on the sorter in real time, allowing us to troubleshoot very fast. My troubleshooting skill has improved a lot.”
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