A mineral grinding plant is an industrial facility that grinds ores or industrial minerals (gold, copper, iron, limestone, phosphate, etc.) into fine particles to liberate valuable minerals through physical or chemical processes. It prepares materials for enrichment, leaching, or other downstream operations by reducing them to micron-level sizes.
Function:

  • Separates valuable minerals from gangue (waste rock).

  • Optimizes particle size for chemical reactions or physical separation.

  • Reduces grinding costs through energy-efficient operations.

  • Minimizes environmental impact with dust control and closed-loop systems.
    How It Works:

  1. Primary Crushing: Ore is crushed to 10-100 mm using jaw or cone crushers.

  2. Grinding:

    • Ball Mill: Uses rotating steel balls to grind material.

    • Rod Mill: Employs steel rods for controlled grinding.

    • Vertical Roller Mill (VRM): Applies pressure via grinding rollers for fine milling.

  3. Classification: Hydrocyclones or screens separate particles by size; oversized material is recirculated.

  4. Dry or Wet Grinding:

    • Dry Grinding: Material is ground without moisture, with dust suppression systems.

    • Wet Grinding: Water is added to enhance efficiency and reduce dust.

  5. Storage: Ground product is stored in silos or stockpiles for further processing.
    Applications:

  • Mining (beneficiation of gold, copper, zinc ores).

  • Cement production (grinding limestone and clay).

  • Chemical industry (processing industrial minerals like feldspar and quartz).

  • Fertilizer production (grinding phosphate rock).

  • Glass and ceramics (raw material preparation).