Method for X-ray luminescent separation of minerals and X-ray luminescent separator

Abstract

The invention relates to the area of mineral processing, and more particularly to separation of crushed mined material containing minerals, which are luminescent under the action of exciting radiation, into products to be concentrated and tailing products. The invention can be implemented both in X-ray-luminescent sorters at all beneficiation stages and in product inspection devices, like diamondiferous raw materials testing. The method of X-ray-luminescent separation of minerals consists of transportation of the flow of material being separated, irradiation of this material by periodic sequence of exciting radiation pulses within the specified section of the material free falling trajectory, registration of intensity of the mineral luminescence signal during each sequence period, real-time processing, in accordance with the specified conditions for each of the kinetic components of the registered signal, in order to determine the separation parameters, comparison of the parameters obtained to be specified threshold values, and separation of the mineral to be concentrated from the flow of material being transported according to the results of comparison.

Claims

1. A method for X-ray-luminescent separation of minerals comprising the steps of: a) transporting a flow of a plurality of material to be separated along a path which includes a free falling trajectory; b) irradiating the plurality of material by a first sequence of pulses of X-ray radiation within a specified section of the path and continuing irradiation of the plurality of material during transportation along the path until the plurality of material reaches a first point along the path at which a mineral luminescence signal intensity is capable of being detected and recorded; c) registering the mineral luminescence signal intensity during a sequence period within which the plurality of material is in the free falling trajectory simultaneously on an irradiated side and on an opposite side of the plurality of material during the sequence period, the mineral luminescence signal intensity detected on the opposite side of the plurality of material being registered in an irradiated section of the plurality of material in a spectral range of a maximum luminescense of the minerals; d) if a value of a slow component of the mineral luminescence signal intensity registered on the irradiated side of the plurality of material exceeds a first threshold value specified for it then real-time processing of the registered mineral luminescence signal intensity is performed to determine a separation criteria; e) calculating the separation critera, wherein the separation criteria is equal to a first ratio of a first value of the slow component of the mineral luminescence signal intensity registered on the irradiated side of the plurality of material to a second value of the slow component of the mineral luminescence signal intensity registered on the opposite side of the plurality of material; f) comparing the separation criteria with specified threshold values; g) ejecting the minerals from the plurality of material if the result of comparison between the separation criteria and the specified threshold values meets predetermined conditions; h) if, in step d, the slow component of the mineral luminescence signal intensity registered on the irradiated side of the plurality of material does not exceed the first threshold value specified for it, then a third value of a fast component of the mineral luminescence signal intensity registered on the opposite side of the plurality of material is compared with a second threshold value specified for it; i) if the third value of the fast component of the mineral luminescence signal intensity registered on the opposite side of the plurality of material exceeds the second threshold value specified for it, then the separation criteria is equal to a second ratio of a fourth value of the fast component of the mineral luminescence signal intensity registered on the irradiated side of the plurality of material to the third value of fast component of the mineral luminescence signal intensity registered on the opposite side; j) if the separation criteria obtained in step (i) exceeds the specified threshold values, the mineral is ejected from the plurality of material being separated.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein when determining if the value of the slow component of the mineral luminescence signal intensity registered on the irradiated side of the plurality of material exceeds the first threshold value specified for it, such luminescence signal characteristics are determined as a normalized autocorrelation function, a ratio of the total intensity of the fast and slow components of the signal to the intensity of its slow component, and a luminescence decay time constant after termination of the first sequence of pulses.

3. An X-ray-luminescent sorter comprising of a transportation means for transporting a plurality of material to be separated, the transportation means having an end such that after the plurality of material passes the end the plurality of material enters a free falling trajectory, a first source of X-ray radiation located above the plurality of material being transported and capable of irradiating the plurality of material in an irradiation area being at least partially in the free falling trajectory near the end of the transportation means, a first luminescence registration photo-receiving device located on the same side as the first source of X-ray radiation with respect to the plurality of material, wherein an area of registration of luminescence of the plurality of material coinciding with the irradiation area, a unit for setting threshold values for luminescence signal intensity and threshold values for separation parameters, a synchronization unit, a sorting ejector and receiving bins for concentrated and tailing products, a digital luminescence signal processing unit configured to determine the separation criteria, comparing the separation criteria to the threshold values, and generating a command to be issued to the sorting ejector, a second source of X-ray radiation located above the plurality of material, the second source of X-ray radiation radiating the plurality of material at least immediately prior to the plurality of material reaching the end of the transportation means so as to ensure its irradiation before the plurality of material reaches the end of the transportation means, a second photo-receiving device provided with a means for spectral filtration of a range of a maximum intensity of luminescence of the plurality of material to be concentrated and located on an opposite side of the plurality of material with respect to the first luminescence registration photo-receiving device wherein a distance (h) from a centre of a receiving window of the second photo-receiving device to a middle of the irradiation area of the plurality of material in the free falling trajectory meets the following relation:
h=L/2*tg/2 where L is the largest linear dimension of the irradiation area of the plurality of material in the free falling trajectory; is the aperture of the second photo-receiving device; and the digital luminescence signal processing unit is capable of simultaneous real-time processing of luminescence signals from the first luminescence registration photo-receiving device and the second photo-receiving device and is configured to calculate the separation criteria, a first separation criteria being a first ratio of a first value of a slow component of the luminescence signal registered on the irradiated side of the plurality of material to a second value of the slow component of the luminescence signal registered on the opposite side, a second separation criteria being a second ratio of a third value of a fast component of the luminescence signal registered on the irradiated side of the plurality of material to a fourth value of the fast component of the luminescence signal registered on the opposite side.

4. The sorter according to claim 3, wherein the second source of X-ray radiation is a pulsed X-ray radiation generator.

5. The sorter according to claim 3, wherein the second source of X-ray radiation is a constant X-ray radiation generator.

6. The sorter according to claim 3, wherein the means of spectral filtration of the second photo-receiving device is a differential optical filter.

7. The sorter according to claim 3, a field of vision of the second photo-receiving device located on the opposite side of the plurality of material is restricted to the plurality of material located in the free falling trajectory coinciding with the irradiation area, by means of structural elements of the sorter linked with the second photo-receiving device by mutual arrangement.

8. The sorter according to claim 7, the field of vision of the second photo-receiving device is restricted on one side by the end of the transportation means and on the other side by a screen being non-transparent for optical radiation and installed on the opposite side of the plurality of material with respect to the first luminescence registration photo-receiving device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1a shows the timing diagrams of registered mineral luminescence signals where the slow component is intensive.

(2) FIG. 1b shows timing diagrams of registered mineral luminescence signals where the slow component intensity is insignificant.

(3) FIG. 2 shows schematically one of embodiments of the X-ray-luminescent sorter for implementation of the proposed method.

(4) FIG. 2a shows schematically mutual arrangement of the sorter elements in the area of irradiation/registration in the section of free falling of the material being separated.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

(5) The implementation of the proposed method for X-ray-luminescent separation of minerals is performed as follows. The material being separated is transported on a substrate ensuring its movement in the form of a monolayer flow. This material flow is irradiated by exciting X-ray radiation ensuring sufficient occupancy of the long-lived (metastable) states of atoms of the mineral being concentrated during the period of material transportation over the irradiated section of the substrate. As a result, the luminescence of air and minerals from permitted atomic transitions occurs. When the material flow descends from the transporting substrate, it is irradiated by a sequence of pulses t.sub.p of exciting X-ray radiation within the specified section of the material free falling trajectory. The length of this section is selected with consideration for the material transportation velocity, repetition frequency, duration and strength of X-ray radiation pulses, and the section width is limited by the width of incident flow of the material being separated. As a result of mineral exposure to pulses t.sub.p of X-ray radiation (FIG. 1a, b), the luminescence arises, intensity of which is apparently caused not only by the direct inverse occupancy of the corresponding levels of permitted transitions in mineral atoms but also by additional occupancy, which is provided, under stimulating action of pulses t.sub.p of radiation, by radiation-free transitions from metastable atom states occupied earlier to permitted states. During the period of the material passing the irradiated section of trajectory, the slow component (SC) of the signal U(t) of the mineral luminescence manages to blaze up. The intensities of signal U=f(t) of the mineral luminescence are registered simultaneously on the irradiated side U.sub.irr(t) (FIG. 1a, b) and on the opposite side U.sub.opp(t) (FIG. 1a, b) of the material flow during each pulse sequence period T (FIG. 1a, b). In doing so, the intensity of signal U.sub.opp(t) is registered in the wave band where the most intensive spectral lines of the mineral being concentrated are located, and the region of glow being observed during registration is limited by the dimensions of section of the material free falling trajectory. The luminescence signals U.sub.irr(t) and U.sub.opp(t) being registered (FIG. 1a, b) can include both the section T.sub.b of buildup of the fast (FC) and slow (SC) components of the luminescence signal and the section T.sub.d of decay of its slow (SC) component (FIG. 1a,b). The signals U.sub.irr(t) and U.sub.opp(t) being registered can contain the section T.sub.b of buildup of FC and, possible, of SC of the luminescence signal and cannot virtually contain the section T.sub.d of decay of its SC (FIG. 1a, b). All signals U.sub.irr(t) and U.sub.opp(t) being registered will be processed in real time in order to determine the value of each of the specified separation parameters. If signals U.sub.irr(t) and U.sub.opp(t) have the luminescence SC (FIG. 1a), then the value of intensity of signal Usc.sub.irr(t.sub.sc) registered at the specified moment of time t.sub.sc after termination of pulse t.sub.p of exciting radiation is compared with the threshold value Usc.sub.0 specified for it. In case (FIG. 1a) of exceeding this value (Usc.sub.irr(t.sub.sc)>Usc.sub.0), the signals U.sub.irr(t) and U.sub.opp(t) are subjected to further processing in order to obtain, as the separation parameter, the values of ratio of the value of SC of the luminescence signal Usc.sub.irr(t.sub.sc) registered on the irradiated side of the material flow to the value of the SC of the luminescence signal Usc.sub.opp(t.sub.sc) registered on the material flow side being opposite to irradiation (Usc.sub.irr(t.sub.sc)/Usc.sub.opp(t.sub.sc)) as well as the values of kinetic characteristics of the signal U.sub.irr(t) specified as separation parameters for the given case, for example: normalized autocorrelation function (NCF), which is determined as follows:

(6) $\mathrm{NCF}={}_0^{T}F\left(t\right)*F\left(t-\mathrm{Tc}\right)*t/{}_0^{T}F\left(t\right)*F\left(t\right)*t,$

(7) where T.sub.c is the convolution parameter; ratios of the total intensity of the fast and slow components of the luminescence signal Usc.sub.irr(t.sub.p) during the period of effect of the pulse t.sub.p of exciting radiation to the intensity Usc.sub.irr(t.sub.sc) of its slow component at the specified moment of time t.sub.sc (Usc.sub.irr(t.sub.p)/Usc.sub.irr(t.sub.sc)); luminescence decay time constant after termination of the exciting pulse (), which can be determined mathematically from the following expression
F(t)=F.sub.0exp(t/),

(8) where F.sub.0 is the initial value of the exponent in the luminescence decay region (at t>t.sub.p).

(9) The values of separation criterion parameters obtained are compared to the specified threshold values of these parameters, and the mineral to be concentrated is extracted from the material being separated if the separation criterion conditions are met. In such case, a high selectivity of extraction of the mineral to be concentrated is achieved, as the increased intensity of the registered mineral luminescence signals U.sub.irr(t) and U.sub.opp(t), in particular, weakly luminescing ones, allows identification of their kinetic characteristics and, in particular, detection of the presence of SC (Usc.sub.irr(t.sub.sc) and Usc.sub.opp(t.sub.sc)) and performance of their analysis (processing) for conformity to the mineral being concentrated with respect to the separation criterion parameters selected, which take into account, on aggregate, the kinetic and spectral characteristics of the signals U.sub.irr(t) and U.sub.opp(t) of luminescing minerals and transparency of the luminescing mineral for X-ray and optical radiations. Sensitivity of separation (threshold value Usc.sub.0) is determined by the minimum value of the signal Usc.sub.irr(t.sub.sc) at the specified moment of time t.sub.sc being typical for the mineral being concentrated. If the value of signal Usc.sub.irr(t.sub.sc) obtained does not exceed the value of Usc.sub.0 (Usc.sub.irr(t.sub.sc)Usc.sub.0) (FIG. 1b), then the intensity of the luminescence signal FC Ufc.sub.opp(t.sub.p) is determined, which arises at the time t.sub.p of the effect of action of the exciting radiation pulse and registered on the side being opposite to the material flow irradiation side. The value Ufc.sub.opp(t.sub.p) obtained is compared to the threshold value Ufc.sub.0 specified for it (FIG. 1b). In case this value is exceeded (Ufc.sub.opp(t.sub.p)>Ufc.sub.0), the value of ratio of the luminescence signal FC value of Ufc.sub.irr(t.sub.p) registered on the material flow irradiated side to the luminescence signal FC value Ufc.sub.opp(t.sub.p) registered on the side opposite to the material flow irradiation is determined as the separation parameter. The value Ufc.sub.irr(t.sub.p)/Ufc.sub.opp(t.sub.p) of the separation parameter obtained is compared to the threshold value specified for it and the mineral to be concentrated is extracted from the material being separated with the separation criterion conditions being met. In this case, the selectivity of extraction of the mineral to be concentrated also improved due to enhancement of the registration sensitivity. Sensitivity of separation (threshold value of Ufc.sub.0) is determined by the minimum value of the signal Ufc.sub.opp(t.sub.p) during the time t.sub.p of the effect of X-ray radiation pulse, which is ensured by a decrease in the fluctuation and a lower level of intensity of the light signal generated by air, various vapours and rock particles also being registered during the irradiation time t.sub.p, due to shielding of this light signal by particles of materials and associate minerals being non-luminescent and non-transparent in the X-ray and optical ranges and being located in the restricted registration region as well as due to spectral selectivity of the signal Ufc.sub.opp(t.sub.p) being registered, which allows an increase in the sensitivity of its registration by 310 times. So the method proposed takes into account various manifestations of natural peculiarities of not only the material to be concentrated but also of the whole material being separated, such as the structure and the elemental composition, during its interaction with radiation.

Preferred Embodiment of the Invention

(10) The detailed implementation of the above-mentioned method is explained by the example of operation of the X-ray-luminescent sorter proposed in the invention.

(11) The sorter (FIG. 2) by means of which the proposed method is implemented includes means 1 for transportation of the material 2 being separated, sources 3 and 4 of exciting X-ray radiation, devices 5 and 6 for photo receiving the mineral luminescence, unit 7 for digital processing of luminescence signals U.sub.irr(t) and U.sub.opp(t), means 8 for setting the threshold values of Usc.sub.0 and Ufc.sub.0 of the intensity of luminescence signals Usc.sub.irr(t.sub.sc) and Ufc.sub.opp(t.sub.p), respectively, and threshold values of the separation parameters specified, synchronisation unit 9, actuator 10, receiving bins 11 and 12, respectively, for the mineral to be concentrated and the tailing product.

(12) Transportation means 1 is made in the form of a sloping chute and is designed for transportation, at the required velocity (for example, at the velocity within the range from 1 to 3 m/s), of the flow of material 2 being separated through the areas of irradiation, registration and separation (cut-off). Sources 3 and 4 are made in the form of X-ray radiation generators and are designed for irradiation of the flow of material 2 being separated. Photo receiving devices (PRD) 5 and 6 are designed for converting the mineral luminescence into electrical signals U.sub.irr(t) and U.sub.opp(t), respectively. Unit 7 for digital processing of signal U(t) is designed for processing signals U.sub.irr(t) and U.sub.opp(t) from PRD 5 and 6, respectively, for determining the values of separation parameters specified, for comparing the parameter values obtained to the corresponding specified threshold values and for generating a command to actuator 10 to separate the mineral being concentrated according to the result of comparison. Unit 9 is designed for synchronization of the required operating sequence of assemblies and units included in the sorter. Source 3 is located above chute 1 and is designed for irradiation of the flow of material 2 being on chute 1. Source 3 can be made in the form of an X-ray radiation generator or in the form of a constant X-ray radiation generator. Source 4 is made in the form of a generator producing continuous sequence of X-ray pulses and located above the flow of material 2 being separated; it is designed for irradiation of flow 2 in the section of free falling trajectory of material 2 near the place of its descent from chute 1. PRD 5 and PRD 6 are installed on different sides with respect to the surface of flow 2 being irradiated by source 4. PRD 5 is installed above the surface of flow 2 being irradiated by source 4 for registration of luminescence from the section of its free falling trajectory, which coincides with the irradiation region (excitation/registration area). PRD 6 is installed on the opposite side of the irradiated surface of flow 2 with the possibility of restriction of its field of vision to the section of free falling trajectory of material 2, which is irradiated by source 4 (excitation/registration area). Distance h from the centre of receiving window of PRD 6 to the middle of the section of free falling trajectory of material 2, which is irradiated by source 4, can be determined by the following relation:
h=L/2*tg/2 where

(13) L is the largest linear dimension of the irradiated section of the material free falling trajectory;

(14) is the aperture of the photo receiving device.

(15) The field of vision of PRD 6 (FIG. 2, 2a) is limited in the direction of motion of flow 2 by the edge of chute 1, on the one side, and, on the other side, by shield 13 made from a material non-transparent for optical radiation. PRD 6 is provided with means 14 for filtration of the spectral range of maximum intensity of luminescence of the material to be concentrated, which is made in the form of a differential filter. Receiver 11 for the mineral being concentrated can be made, for example, in the form of two chambers separated with a partition for separate collection of minerals being different in type.

(16) The sorter (FIG. 2) functions as follows. Before feeding material 2 to be separated, the synchronization unit 9 gets started and issues excitation pulses with the duration being sufficient for excitation of the luminescence SC (for example, 0.5 ms with the period of 4 ms), to X-ray sources 3 and 4 and digital processing unit 7. By means of setting device 8, the numerical values of thresholds Usc.sub.0 and Ufc.sub.0 and numerical values of thresholds for the separation criterion parameters are entered into unit 7 (in voltage units): K1for PRD; K2for (Ufc.sub.irr(t.sub.p)/Usc.sub.irr(t.sub.sc)); K3for ; K4for (Usc.sub.irr(t.sub.sc)/Usc.sub.opp(t.sub.sc)) and K5for (Ufc.sub.irr(t.sub.p)/Ufc.sub.opp(t.sub.p)). Then the feed of material being separated is started. During motion over sloping chute 1, the flow of material 2 intersects the section of irradiation from source 3 and the section including section L of the free falling trajectory of material 2 at the descent from chute 1, on which it gets into the excitation/registration area where it is irradiated by periodic pulses with the duration t.sub.p of period T (FIG. 1a, b) from X-ray radiation source 4. Under the action of X-ray radiation sources 3 and 4, some part of minerals being in the flow of material 2 luminesces, and the volume of air getting into the irradiation areas of sources 3 and 4 luminesce also. In addition, the light reflected from the surface of non-luminescent materials of flow 2 also makes its contribution into the intensity of glow. The light signal excited by the X-ray radiation pulses of source 4 in the excitation/registration area L will be registered by PRD 5 and 6, which convert it into electrical signals coming to processing unit 7. In each period T of the sequence of exciting pulses of source 4 (FIG. 1a, b), unit 7 will register the light signals. If there are no luminescing minerals in the excitation/registration area L (FIG. 1a, b), then unit 7 will register the background light signals Ub.sub.irr and Ub.sub.opp from PRD 5 and 6, respectively, and, in case where a statistically true number of these signals is obtained, will determine the average values, respectively, for signals Ub.sub.irr and Ub.sub.opp in the excitation/registration area L (no determination of the luminescence characteristics is performed in such case), which are used for stabilisation of the zero level of PRD 5 and 6, respectively.

(17) As a luminescing mineral appears in the excitation/registration area L, the characteristics of light signals coming from PRD 5 and 6 to processing unit 7 are changed. Unit 7 will first determine the values of Usc.sub.irr(t.sub.sc) and Usc.sub.opp(t.sub.sc) of the intensity of signals U.sub.irr(t) and U.sub.opp(t) to be registered at the moment of time t.sub.sc after termination of the effect of pulse t.sub.p, compare the value of Usc.sub.irr(t.sub.sc) obtained to the specified threshold value of Usc.sub.0 and, if Usc.sub.irr(t.sub.sc)>Usc.sub.0 (FIG. 1a), determine the values of characteristics of the luminescence signal U(t) specified by the separation criterion: NCF, (Ufc.sub.irr(t.sub.p)/Usc.sub.irr(t.sub.sc)), and (Usc.sub.irr(t.sub.sc)/Usc.sub.opp(t.sub.sc)). Then the processing unit 7 will perform comparison of the characteristics obtained with their threshold values of K1, K2, K3 and K4 and, in case of positive result of the comparison, will issue a control signal to actuator 10. Actuator 10 will deflect the mineral to be concentrated to the corresponding chamber of receiver 11, and the remaining material will go to receiver 12 of the tailing product.

(18) In case where unit 7, in comparing the value of Usc.sub.irr(t.sub.sc) to the specified threshold value of Usc.sub.0, detects that Usc.sub.irr(t.sub.sc)Usc.sub.0 (FIG. 1b), it will determine the luminescence signal FC value Ufc.sub.opp(t.sub.p) arising during the time of t.sub.p of the effect of exciting radiation pulse of source 4 and registered by PRD 6. Unit 7 compares the value of signal Ufc.sub.opp(t.sub.p) to the threshold value Ufc.sub.0 specified for it (FIG. 1b). In case of exceedance of this value (Ufc.sub.opp(t.sub.p)>Ufc.sub.0), it will determine, as the separation parameter, the value of ratio of the luminescence signal FC value of Ufc.sub.irr(t.sub.p) to be registered on the irradiated side of the flow of material 2, to the luminescence signal FC value of Ufc.sub.opp(t.sub.p) to be registered on the side of the flow of material 2 being opposite to irradiation (Ufc.sub.irr(t.sub.p)/Ufc.sub.opp(t.sub.p)). The processing unit 7 will compare the parameter value of Ufc.sub.irr(t.sub.p)/Ufc.sub.opp(t.sub.p) obtained to its threshold value of K5 and, in case of positive result of comparison, will issue a control signal to actuator 10. Actuator 10 will deflect the mineral to be concentrated to the chamber of receiver 11 designed for minerals of another type, and the remaining material will go to receiver 12 of the tailing product.

(19) The mutual arrangement of sources 3 and 4 in the sorter ensures an increase in intensity of signals U(t) of weakly luminescing minerals in the flow of material 2 being separated not only due to an increase in the strength of X-ray radiation acting on material 2 but also due to the duration and sequence of its effect. In this process, the conditions for registration and processing of signals U(t) developed in the sorter by means of PRD 5, PRD 6 and unit 7 ensure a considerable reduction of the intensity and fluctuation of the background luminescence signal Ub.sub.opp during the action of X-ray radiation pulses from source 4. So the sorter provides the enhancement of sensitivity of registration of all mineral luminescence signals U(t) including minerals with a low luminescence intensity. In addition, the sequence of operations and the set of separation criterion parameters specified for processing these signals in device 7 ensure not only the selectivity of extraction of all types of minerals to be concentrated but also the possibility of their separation by types during one cycle. For example, the sorter makes it possible, in selective extraction of diamonds from the flow of material 2, to separate diamonds being present in material 2 into diamonds of type I having a sufficient intensity of luminescence signals Usc.sub.irr(t.sub.sc) and Usc.sub.opp(t.sub.sc), and diamonds of type II where SC is practically missing in the luminescence signals U.sub.irr(t) and U.sub.opp(t).

(20) Synchronisation unit 9 and digital signal processing device 7 can be combined and made on the basis of a personal computer or microcontroller with a built-in multichannel analogue-to-digital converter. Device 8 for setting the threshold values can be made on the basis of a group of switches or a numerical keyboard connected to the microcontroller. Synchronisation unit 9 can also be made as a generator of pulses with the duration t.sub.p and period T on TTL logic IC of K155 or K555 series. PRD 5 and 6 can be made in the form of multichannel devices on the basis of photomultipliers of FEU-85 or R-6094 (Hamamatsu) type. The number of channels in PRD 5 and 6 is determined by the width of flow of material 2 being transported, which is necessary for ensuring the required production capacity of the sorter as well as specified sensitivity of PRD. Actuator 10 can be made in the form of a multichannel device on the basis of pneumatic valves of VXFA type manufactured by SMG, Japan, or mechanical damper devices. Means 14 for filtration of the spectral range of luminescence of the mineral to be concentrated in concentration of the diamond-containing material can be made in the form of light filters installed in-line and manufactured on a serial basis, for example SZS20 and ZhS10 according to GOST 9411-91. The method for X-ray-luminescent separation of minerals and the X-ray-luminescent sorter proposed in the invention meets the industrial applicability criterion.

(21) The X-ray-luminescent sorter version shown in FIG. 2 and made on the basis of X-ray-luminescent sorter of LS-20-09 type according to specification TU 4276-074-00227703-2007, manufactured serially by Burevestnik Science & Production Enterprise Open Joint-Stock Company, has been tested in concentration of the diamond-containing material in the conditions of the concentrating mill. During testing we managed to achieve 100% extraction of diamonds with simultaneous identification of diamonds of type I and diamonds of type II.

(22) Thus, the proposed method for X-ray-luminescent separation of minerals and the X-ray-luminescent sorter for carrying out the method not only ensure enhancement of the selectivity of extraction of any types of minerals to be concentrated from the flow of material being separated, including minerals with low luminescence intensity, but also allow simultaneously separating them by types.