EVALUATION OF THE ENERGY CONSUMPTION AND WEAR IN GRINDING CIRCUITS IN
WHICH THE FEED HAS GONE THROUGH A PRE-CONCENTRATION STAGE
Dr. Maurício Guimarães Bergerman– Professor - Sao Paulo University / Brazil – mbergerman@usp.br
Fernando Casquet – Undergraduate Student – São Paulo University / Brazil - fernando.casquet@usp.br
Dr. Arthur Pinto Chaves – Professor - Sao Paulo University / Brazil - apchaves@usp.br
Dra. Carolina Del Roveri – Professor - Alfenas Federal University / Brazil – carolina.roveri@unifa-mg.edu.br
Dra. Daniela Gomes Horta - Professor - Alfenas Federal University / Brazil – daniela.horta@unifa-mg.edu.br
Dr. Fabiano Cabañas Navarro - Professor - Alfenas Federal University / Brazil – Fabiano.navarro@unifa-mg.edu.br
ABSTRACT
More complex ore comminution and concentration operations have found increasing application in the
mining industry due to lower grades and higher complexity of the ores available. An option to cope with
the higher investment and operating costs of ore processing plants is the use of pre-concentration stages. It
allows removing a significant mass of material with little or no content of the relevant mineral before the
ore is fed into the processing plant, with the consequent reduction in the mass to be processed in
downstream operations. Significant benefits arise out of the use of pre-concentration, such as higher
contained metal output without the need to increase the grinding or flotation capacity, and longer mine life.
Nevertheless, few studies to date have assessed the resulting impacts on ore grinding energy consumption
and wear after the gangue is removed through pre-concentration operations. This study evaluated the
energy consumption and the wear in Brazilian grinding circuits in which the feed has gone through a preconcentration stage. Such assessment was based on different samples of sulphides and oxides ore.
Laboratory tests were carried out to investigate the power consumption and wear of grinding circuits with
and without a pre-concentration stage. Laboratory test results were used to simulate industrial grinding
circuits based on both alternatives and illustrated the environmental and economic benefits of each
alternative.
KEY WORDS
Concentration, Pre-concentration, Comminution, Bond Work index, Wear, Operational costs