Evaluation of the Alternatives for Gold Ore Grinding Circuits by Using of Laboratory Studies Results and Simulation Method; Case Study: Iranian Gold Co.

Abstract

In this study, simulation aided design of grinding circuit for a gold mine in Iran is presented. The main parameters for the design of the grinding circuit are the ore specifi cations and the considered operating conditions. Ore specifi cations were characterized by grinding tests, which included the Drop-weigh test (A, b), the abrasion test (t a) and the Bond Work Index test (W i). For this study, the operating conditions for the processing plant are the ability to process clayey minerals and the plant throughput and the d 80 of the hydrocyclone overfl ow (leaching tank feed), which are 125 tons per hour and 45 μm, respectively. Simulation operations were performed using grinding parameters (A, b, t a , W i), operating constraints (plant capacity, d 80 of the hydrocyclone overfl ow and ability to work for clayey minerals), existing mathematical models for different types of crushers, mills and separators and JKSimMet software. By completing the simulation process, three different alternatives for the grinding circuit of the considered ore were predicted. These three alternatives have been compared and evaluated with each other in terms of specifi c energy consumption (kWh/t), sensitivity to operational variables and the ability to process clayey minerals. The optimal circuit must have the capability to process clayey minerals and must have the lowest specifi c energy consumption and the least sensitivity to operational variables. By considering all these factors, the Alternative 3 is selected and suggested for an effi cient grinding circuit.

Effects of Various Grinding Aids Dosage on Comminution Efficiency and Cement Characteristics

“…As a result, various types of research have reported different results and interpretations for similar grinding aids. Therefore, the diversity of the materials used and their different effects have hindered the development of a comprehensive understanding and approach (Sverak et al, 2013;Hosseinzadeh Gharehgheshlagh et al, 2021). In general, the impact of grinding aids on the cement industry can be summarized as follows: i) Reducing van der Waals forces due to the addition of grinding aids increases the fluidity of solids, which also directly affects the retention time of materials inside the mill (Mardulier, 1961).…”