MinPET is a patented new technology under development at the University of Johannesburg, providing the first ever high-throughput 3D imaging of locked diamonds within kimberlite rocks up to 15cm in diameter.
All aspects of the technology have been demonstrated in the laboratory.
MinPET is a novel combination of two reliable, widely deployed and actively researched technologies:
- Electron accelerators to activate rock
- Medical PET scanners to image diamonds.
MinPET is commercially attractive
Large diamond hook
MinPET is financially feasible in some mines purely as a method to prevent the breakage of large stones mines during crushing.
Run of mine
If MinPET is configured to find all diamonds, it will eliminate the need to process 99% of incoming material, promising massive cost, environmental and land savings.
Other roles
MinPET can be deployed in other roles, including auditing diamond content in ore streams, re-processing tailings and drill core analysis in prospecting.
Diamond price trends
Long term diamond price trends are promising.
MinPET works
- MinPET repurposes established, reliable technology in an novel setting. This technology is constantly improving, making MinPET an ever more attractive option.
- MinPET has significant advantages in activation efficiency and image creation over previous attempts to image diamonds.
- MinPET is backed by compelling laboratory results, theoretical work and computer simulation.
- CERN connections: We have leveraged our CERN partnership to create cutting edge, low cost PET detector electronics that reliably find diamond simulants.
- MinPET is safe to operate, and does not measurably damage diamonds.
The MinPET technique
MinPET steps:
- Activate material with gamma beam
- Hold rock for 20 minutes in hopper
- Find diamonds between two planar PET detector arrays
Research groups
Technology partners
Past collaborators
Contact details
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