ABSTRACT
Various mine-to-mill studies have measured increases in mill productivity that are ascribed to improved fragmentation from the blasting operations (Scott et al. 2002, Rantapaa et al. 2005).
Milling energy consumption, primarily based on fossil-fuel derived electricity, dominates the energy and emissions profile of mineral processing operations (Norgate & Hacque 2010). Milling electricity consumption is typically in the range 10-40 kWh per tonne of ore milled (Chauvin et al. 2000). Norgate & Jahanshahi (2007) report
1 INTRODUCTION
In nonferrous metal mining operations it is generally necessary to crush and grind the ore to fine particle sizes to achieve effective mineral liberation. Usually, these comminution processes target particle sizes of the order of tens of microns. Decreasing ore grades are driving the pursuit of higher efficiencies in mineral processing, requiring ever-finer comminution. This constrains mill throughput and hence production rates, as well as increasing the energy consumption and associated Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions per tonne of metal produced (Norgate & Hacque 2010).
