Devices Responsive to Diamonds
1. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) detectors: These use X-rays to excite a diamond's atoms, causing them to release secondary X-rays with a signature specific to carbon. The detectors can analyze these signatures to identify diamond material.
2. Photoluminescence detectors: These use ultraviolet light to excite fluorescent emissions from diamonds, which can be detected as a diamond's characteristic luminescence signature. This method is useful for sorting diamonds from other materials.
3. Density gauges: These measure the unique density of diamond crystals (around 3.5 g/cm3) to differentiate them from less dense rock and mineral material. Density gauges can identify diamond material based on this property.
4. Electronic conductivity detectors: Diamonds conduct heat better than most minerals. These detectors pass heat through material and measure conductivity to flag diamonds which transmit heat rapidly.
5. Surface acoustic wave detectors: Sound waves propagate differently through diamond compared to other minerals. These detectors use transducers to generate and analyze acoustic waves to identify diamonds.
6. Raman spectroscopy: This uses laser scattering to excite a diamond's unique vibrational modes. The resulting Raman shift in the laser light is detected and analyzed to confirm diamond's distinct spectroscopic fingerprint. In summary, a variety of techniques relying on X-rays, UV light, density, thermal conductivity, acoustics, and spectroscopy can effectively detect the unique signatures of diamond material. These provide options for diamond discovery and sorting in mining applications. Diamond Detection Technology Engineer?