Method and apparatus for the classification of matter

One aspect of the invention concerns a method of classifying particles according to their composition. In the method the particles (12) are irradiated with electromagnetic radiation, typically X-radiation, at respective first and second energy levels. First and second values are derived which are re...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors ULF ANDERS STAFFAN TAPPER, JACEK GUZEK, SUDHIR NUNDHLAL SURUJHLAL
Format Patent
LanguageEnglish
Published 02.04.1998
Edition6
Subjects
INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIRCHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
MEASURING
PERFORMING OPERATIONS
PHYSICS
POSTAL SORTING
SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS
SORTING
SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTEDPIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING
TESTING
TRANSPORTING
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Summary:One aspect of the invention concerns a method of classifying particles according to their composition. In the method the particles (12) are irradiated with electromagnetic radiation, typically X-radiation, at respective first and second energy levels. First and second values are derived which are representative of the attenuation of the radiation by each particle. A third value is then derived as the difference between or ratio of the first and second values, and the particles are classified according to whether the third value is indicative of the presence in the particles of a particular substance. In one application of the method it can be used to classify diamondiferous kimberlite into a fraction consisting of kimberlite particles containing diamond inclusions and a fraction consisting of barren kimberlite particles. A rotatable gantry (22) carries the source (24) and the spaced detectors (26) to allow tomograms to be taken by a CAT or laminographic technique.
Bibliography:Application Number: AU19950010054