When you’re in the mining and aggregate processing industry, for crushing diamond ore, a common mistake operators make is trying to use a hammer crusher.
This article will break down why hammer crushers are not suitable for diamond ore and which machines are designed to handle this ultra-hard material efficiently.
Brief introduction to hammer crusher and diamond ore
1.1 What is a hammer crusher?
A hammer crusher is an impact-based crushing machine that relies on high-speed rotating hammers to strike and break materials. It works well for medium-hard, brittle materials like coal, limestone, gypsum, and soft rock.
1.2 What is diamond ore?
Diamond ore is the natural rock containing raw diamonds, one of the most challenging materials to process. While incredibly hard, diamond has relatively low impact toughness. It means diamond ore can fail under sustained, controlled compression.
2. Why can’t Hammer Crushers Cannot Crush Diamond Ore?
2.1 Severe Hardness Mismatch
The wear parts of a hammer crusher are typically made of high-manganese steel or alloy steel, having a Mohs hardness of around 5-6, while diamond ore is Mohs 10. So if you use a hammer crusher to crush diamond ore, it will be rapidly worn down, deformed, or even shattered.
2.2 Impact Crushing vs Diamond’s Toughness
The impact-based crushing principle of a hammer crusher is fundamentally incompatible with diamond ore, for diamond will absorb and deflect impact energy rather than fracturing from it. What’s more, the hammers simply bounce off or embed diamond fragments into the crusher liners. It not only damages the machine but also risks contaminating the ore feed with broken metal parts.
3. The Right Crushers for Crushing Diamond Ore
To process diamond ore safely and efficiently, crushers should have compression or laminated crushing abilities. Here are the top choices for each stage of processing:
3.1 Jaw Crusher (Primary Crushing)
The jaw crusher is the first stage of diamond ore processing. Its high crushing force and robust construction are perfect for handling the hardest ores.
3.2 Cone Crusher (Secondary & Tertiary Crushing)
A cone crusher uses a rotating mantle within a concave bowl to apply continuous, high-pressure compression. So the laminated crushing action reduces the ore by squeezing it between particles, minimizing wear and producing a more cubical product.
3.3 Double Roller Crusher
Using compression and shearing to break the ore, it makes them suitable for medium-hard to hard materials like diamond ore.
Hammer crushers are excellent for many applications, but diamond ore processing is not one of them. The extreme hardness of diamond and the impact-based mechanism of hammer crushers are fundamentally incompatible, leading to excessive wear, high costs, and operational risks.
We are a professional crusher machine manufacturer in China. If you’re looking for a reliable crusher solution for your diamond ore processing plant, contact us immediately. We can find the perfect equipment for your operation.
