Which term refers to testing the size, shape, clarity, and color of diamonds in a deposit based on 500 tons of rock?

• A. Geochemical Testing
• B. Ore Grade
• C. Character Sampling
• D. Microdiamond Testing

Answer: (C)

Character sampling is about evaluating the actual diamonds recovered from a representative bulk sample to determine their size, shape, color, and clarity. When you test a deposit based on 500 tons of rock, you’re performing bulk sampling to capture the distribution of diamond attributes across the ore. This approach directly informs what kinds of diamonds the deposit contains and how valuable the ore might be, which is different from simply measuring how many carats of diamond are present per ton.

Geochemical testing looks at the rock’s chemistry rather than the diamonds themselves. Ore grade focuses on the concentration of diamonds in ore (carats per ton) but doesn’t describe the quality attributes like size or color. Microdiamond testing centers on the presence or properties of tiny diamonds, not on the overall size, shape, color, and clarity distribution in a bulk sample.