ИСТИНА

Several new technologies of searching, prospecting and exploitation of diamond deposits were developed on an example of the Arkhangelsk diamondiferous province. 1. A new method of a preliminary estimation of diamond grade of kimberlite pipes was offered. The method excludes a necessity of large-volumetric probes and is based on a detailed mineralogical studies. Chemical-genetic classification of diamond’s accompanying minerals was proposed and groups of garnets, spinels, ilmenites, pyroxenes and microcrystal (<0.1 mm) oxides from kimberlite groundmass from high diamond-bearing paragenesis were established. The concentration of minerals from various chemical-genetic groups in kimberlite pipe was quantitatively evaluated by statistical analysis of microprobe data with a discriminate procedure and are devised into high and low diamond-bearing ones. 2. A new method of exploitation of a diamond deposit was offered. The method is based on the application of a new technology of drilling. Drill cores of a large diameter permit to exclude the construction of an open pit with large- volumetric mountain works and such expensive and difficult engineering tools, as mines. 3. The original technique of the utilization of dumps of diamond mining was offered. Mineral and chemical compositions of the rocks were investigated and an experimental fritting was conducted. Laboratory researches have shown, that the rocks were composed with a mixture of saponite (85 %) and calcite (10 %) and are suitable for production of pore materials. The coefficient of distendance maked up to 3.5 at T=1120-1180oC, and received pore materials had a bulk density over 400-450 g/m3.