An investigation on single-particle impact breakage functions of a gold ore by drop-weight technique

Abstract

Impact breakage functions for a gold ore from Bergama region (Turkey) was estimated based on the single-particle impact breakage distributions of particles obtained from drop weight tests. For this purpose, a modified manual version of a JK Tech drop-weight test device was used. Effect of specific comminution energy (Ecs) on impact breakage distributions were investigated. Relationship between specific comminution energy and impact breakage product fineness (t10) parameter was established. Ecs-t10 model given in the literature was successfully fitted to the breakage test results. Ecs-t10 impact breakage model for the gold ore was proposed to be used in breakage function estimation. t-family curve approach was applied to estimate single particle breakage functions of the gold ore. For this purpose, t-family curves were modelled and variations of empirical breakage functions for the gold ore were estimated on different impact energy levels for comminution process modelling.