APPLICATION OF A NEW STIRRED MILL TO REGRINDING OF LAYERED MINERALS
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Hongxin Zhang1, Hongchao Li1, Ansheng Feng1, Zhenxu Guo1, Yahui Zhang2
1. Zhengzhou Institute of Multipurpose Utilization of Mineral Resources CAGS, National Engineering
Center for Multipurpose Utilization of Non-Metallic Mineral Resources, Key Laboratory for Polymetallic
Ores' Evaluation and Utilization, MLR, Zhengzhou, China 450006.
2. Department of Process Engineering, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, Canada
ABSTRACT
A new stirred mill with shearing and abrasion as main grinding forces was designed. It is composed of a
cylinder shell, stirrer, shear blade, distribution disc and other components. The stirrer, vertical shear blade
and horizontal distribution disk are assembled as a whole inverse cone shaped agitator through a stirring
shaft gear. With the rotating of stirrer, the grinding media and material were driven to do radial motion
under the guiding of shear blade. Its application in the regrinding of typical layered minerals, such as
graphite and molybdenite, has been studied. It could achieve better liberation of layered minerals,
compared with ball mills and rod mills. By regrinding with the new stirred mill followed by two-stage
cleaning flotation, a low grade graphite concentrate containing 84.59% fixed carbon could be refined to a
high quality concentrate containing 98.62% fixed carbon with a recovery of 94.15%; and a molybdenite
concentrate with 47.45% Mo could be upgraded to 58.39% Mo with a recovery of 77.83%. The new stirred
mill is suitable for selectively grinding of layered minerals, and may have extensive application areas.
KEYWORDS
New type stirred mill, Shearing, Grinding, Graphite, Molybdenite
* Corresponding author. Tel.: +1-587-589-2477.
E-mail address: yahuizhangcan@gmail.com