The Catoca Diamond Mine in Angola operates one of Africa’s largest diamond processing facilities, requiring high-efficiency crushing and sand-making equipment to optimize ore beneficiation. The plant’s secondary and tertiary crushing stages utilize robust cone crushers and vertical shaft impactors (VSIs) to produce precisely graded feed material for diamond recovery.
| Equipment | Model | Capacity (t/h) | Power (kW) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jaw Crusher | C6X160 | 800-1,200 | 250 |
| Cone Crusher | HPT500 | 450-630 | 500 |
| VSI Crusher | S8-1145 | 300-550 | 440×2 |
| Vibrating Screen | S5X3075-3T | 800-1,000 | 30×2 |
Primary crushed kimberlite (<500mm) undergoes secondary crushing via hydraulic cone crushers set at 50mm CSS. The VSI stage produces cubical particles ideal for dense media separation (DMS), with -25mm material yielding optimal diamond liberation. Polyurethane screen panels ensure accurate sizing with ≤3% oversize.
Q: Why use VSIs instead of conventional roll crushers?
A: VSIs achieve better particle shape (+85% cubicity) while reducing over-crushing of diamonds.
Q: How is equipment wear managed?
A: Tungsten carbide liners in crushing chambers provide 6-8 month service life despite abrasive kimberlite.
The plant’s dry screening system reduces water consumption by 40% compared to traditional washing methods. Dust suppression nozzles installed at transfer points maintain airborne particulate below 5mg/m³,
