The effect of breakage method on the shape properties of an iron-oxide hosted copper–gold ore

Abstract

Using a mineral liberation analyser (MLA), the shape properties of an iron-oxide hosted copper–gold ore following comminution in either a hammer mill or a piston–die compression unit were examined. It was found that particle angularity distributions were able to be fitted to the beta distribution, providing a convenient way to quantify changes in particle shape properties as a function of the breakage method employed. Particles discharged from the hammer mill were less angular than particles discharged from the piston–die compression unit. This was attributed to attrition breakage mechanisms, whereby topographical features are chipped off parent particle surfaces. The results suggest that the quantification of shape properties is a convenient method for obtaining insight into the nature of breakage events that take place inside comminution devices.