The effects of feed size distribution on a run-of-mine ball mill

Abstract

As there is little published data on the operation of Run-of-Mine Ball Mills a data inspection and modelling exercise was carried out using an Anglo Platinum concentrator plant mill as the subject. The purpose was to establish whether differences in the size distribution of the feed rock had any effects on the mill operation and performance, and to attempt to quantify these effects. Analysis of data enabled correlations to be determined between the feed and product size ranges. It was found that there are good, positive correlations between the feed size and the product size. It was also found that the feed size influences the power drawn by the mill in that increasing quantities of the finer fractions decreases mill power and that increasing quantities of coarse material increases the mill power.