Speaker
Mr
Thendo Nemakhavhani
(University of Johannesburg)
Description
MinPET is a technology for diamond discovery in rock, specifically, the online, high throughput, quantitative, 3D imaging of local carbon concentration distributions in kimberlite. In the MinPET process, a high-energy photon beam of some tens of MeV irradiates a kimberlite rock stream, exciting the Giant Dipole Resonance. This transmutes especially some of the light stable isotopes within the kimberlite to become transient positron emitters, or Positron Emission Tomography (PET) isotopes. PET imaging of the rock is performed in an online run-of-mine scenario after a hold hopper, which delays detection for 20 minutes. After this time, 11C is the dominant PET isotope. All non-diamond sources of carbon have a much lower carbon concentration than diamond, or they are diluted and finely dispersed within the kimberlite. Diamond is therefore evidenced by reconstructing the 3D quantitative carbon density distribution map. This talk reviews the current status of the R&D towards a Mine Test Unit.
Main supervisor (name and email)<br>and his / her institution
SH Connell
University of Johannesburg
Level for award<br> (Hons, MSc, <br> PhD, N/A)?
PhD
Apply to be<br> considered for a student <br> award (Yes / No)?
Yes
Would you like to <br> submit a short paper <br> for the Conference <br> Proceedings (Yes / No)?
Yes
Primary author
Mr
Thendo Nemakhavhani
(University of Johannesburg)
Co-authors
Mr
Doomnull Attah Unwuchola
(University of Johannnesburg)
Mr
Martin Cook
(University of Johannesburg)
Dr
Richard Andrew
(University of Pretoria)
Prof.
Simon Connell
(University of Johannesburg)
