Comminution_of_Minerals.pptx the slides on minerals processing

Comminution_of_Minerals.pptx the slides on minerals processing

1. Comminution of Minerals Based on Wills' Introduction to Mineral Processing Presented by: [Your Name]

2. Introduction to Comminution What is Comminution? • Comminution is the process of reducing the size of minerals to liberate valuable components. • It involves crushing and grinding to achieve the desired particle size. • Essential for efficient mineral separation in subsequent processes (e.g., flotation, gravity separation).

3. Importance of Comminution Why is Comminution Important? • Liberation of valuable minerals from gangue materials. • Prepares the ore for subsequent processing (beneficiation). • Influences the efficiency of separation processes like flotation and leaching. • Reduces energy consumption by optimizing particle size.

4. Stages of Comminution Crushing • The initial stage of size reduction. • Typically uses jaw crushers, gyratory crushers, and cone crushers. • Reduces large chunks of ore to sizes suitable for grinding. Grinding • Follows crushing to reduce particle size further. • Ball mills and rod mills are common. • Produces fine particles required for mineral liberation.

5. Crushing – Types of Crushers Types of Crushers: • Jaw Crusher: Primary crusher for large pieces of ore. • Gyratory Crusher: Provides high throughput for coarse crushing. • Cone Crusher: Secondary crushing; delivers finer particles.

6. Grinding – Equipment • Ball Mill: Cylindrical device filled with steel balls. • Rod Mill: Similar to ball mills but uses rods for grinding. • Autogenous (AG) and Semi-Autogenous (SAG) Mills: Ore itself is used as the grinding medium.

7. Energy Considerations in Comminution Energy Efficiency: • Comminution is highly energy-intensive, consuming up to 50% of a mineral processing plant's energy. • Strategies for Efficiency: - Optimizing mill performance. - Using advanced control systems. - Reducing over-grinding to minimize energy loss.

8. Factors Affecting Comminution Ore Characteristics: • Hardness: Harder ores require more energy for crushing and grinding. • Grain Size: Affects the efficiency of comminution. Comminution Equipment: • Choice of equipment depends on ore type, size, and required product size. Operating Conditions: • Speed, load, and feed rate affect efficiency and energy consumption.

9. Comminution Circuits • Open-Circuit: Ore passes through the crusher or mill once. • Closed-Circuit: Ore is re-circulated for further size reduction.