A mineral grinding plant is an industrial facility where mined ore is processed and reduced to specific sizes to prepare it for further metal extraction or industrial use.

In mining operations, raw ore is usually too large and irregular to be processed directly. Therefore, after crushing and screening, the material goes through the grinding stage to achieve finer particles.

These plants are essential in various industries, from metal mining to ceramics manufacturing.

2. How Does a Mineral Grinding Plant Work?

The grinding process is carried out in multiple stages:

A. Raw Material Feeding

  • Crushed ore is fed into mills using feeders.

  • The grinding method depends on the ore composition and metal concentration.

B. Grinding Process

Grinding involves breaking down the ore into smaller particles. It consists of two main phases:

1. Primary Grinding

  • Large ore particles are broken down using rod mills or jaw crushers.

  • Particle size is typically reduced to 5 mm - 10 mm.

2. Fine Grinding

  • Ball mills or vertical mills are used to further reduce the material.

  • The particle size can be as small as 0.1 mm – 0.074 mm.

C. Classification and Separation

  • Hydrocyclones and vibrating screens classify the material.

  • Larger particles are sent back for regrinding.

D. Filtration and Storage

  • The ground material is filtered and stored before further processing.

3. Applications of Mineral Grinding Plants

These plants are used in various industries:

  • Mining of gold, silver, copper, iron, and other metals

  • Cement and ceramics production

  • Chemical industry (for mineral-based products)

  • Glass manufacturing

  • Coal and limestone processing