When it comes to fragmentation, the grinding process is the most significant in terms of energy consumption and can directly affect the viability of mining activities, especially in this new context of energy transition and hard minerals. Over the years, several researchers have presented various procedures for determining grindability. However, in practice, the Bond test remains one of the most widely used methods. The aim is to determine the Bond Work Index (BWI), which would describe the energy consumption to reduce a particle of infinite size to the so-called P 80 (80% passing through 100 µm). However, the Bond test is time-consuming and does not take into account the particle size distribution of the ore during the test; it is only used when passing through the test mesh. Therefore, this study proposed a test similar to Bond, but carried out with a maximum of three grinding cycles, in addition to determining the SWI (Simplified Work Index) by means of a granulometric factor. The Reduction Ratios (RR) or A 80 / P 80 were correlated with the SWI and the SWIop (Simplified Operational Work Index)/SWI ratios or (RWI—Relationship between Work Index: SWIop/SWI). The effect of the particle size distribution of the feed in restricted size ranges was also verified. The results showed that the SWI estimated by the new methodology showed relative differences of less than 12% when compared to the BWI values. And that the particle size distribution of the feed influenced the results. The correlations (RR, SWI) and (RR, RWI) are strong, with R 2 very close to 1.
KeywordsGrindingBond Standard AssayBreakage CharacteristicsHarder Ores
Nadolski, S., Klein, B., Kumar, A. and Davaanyam, Z. (2014) An Energy Benchmarking Model for Mineral Comminution. Minerals Engineering , 65, 178-186. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2014.05.026
Jose-Luis, P., Abadias, A., Valero, A., Valero, A. and Reuter, M. (2019) The Energy Needed to Concentrate Minerals from Common Rocks: The Case of Copper Ore. Energy , 181, 494-503. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2019.05.145
Nikolić, V., García, G.G., Coello-Velázquez, A.L., Menéndez-Aguado, J.M., Trumić, M. and Trumić, M.S. (2021) A Review of Alternative Procedures to the Bond Ball Mill Standard Grindability Test. Metals , 11, Article 1114. https://doi.org/10.3390/met11071114
Magdalena, R., Valero, A. and Calvo, G. (2023) Limit of Recovery: How Future Evolution of Ore Grades Could Influence Energy Consumption and Prices for Nickel, Cobalt, and PGMs. Minerals Engineering , 200, Article 108150. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2023.108150 https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/minerals-engineering
Bond, F.C. (1961) Crushing and Grinding Calculation Part I and II. British Chemical Engineeri ng , No. 6, 378-548.
Von Rittinger, P.R. (1867) Lehrbuch der aufbereitungs kunde. Ernst and Korn.
Hukki, R.T. (1962) Proposal for a Solomonic Settlement between the Theories of Von Rittinger, Kick, and Bond. Transactions of the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers , No. 223, 403-408.
Napier-Munn, T.J., Morrell, S., Morrison, R.D. and Kojovic, T. (1996) Mineral Comminution Cicuits—Their Operation and Optimisation. JKRMC (Austrália).
Austin, L.G., Klimpel, R.R., Luckie, P.T. and Rogers, R.S.C. (1982) Simulation of Grinding Circuits for Design. In: Mular, A.L. and Gerald II, V.J., Eds., Design and Installation of Comminution Circuits , American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers, Inc., 301-324.
Morrell, S., Napier-Nunn, T.J. and Andersen, J. (1992) The Prediction of Power Draw for Comminution Machines. In: Kawatra, Ed., Comminution : Theory and Practice , AIME, 405-426, 233-248.
Morrison, R. and Freeman, N. (1990) Grinding Control Development at ZC Mines. Proceedings AusIMM , 295, 45-49.
Austin, L.G. and Luckie, P.T. (1972) Methods for Determination of Breakage Distribution Parameters. Powder Technology , 5, 215-222. https://doi.org/10.1016/0032-5910(72)80022-6
Ballantyne, G.R., Peukert, W. and Powell, M.S. (2015) Size Specific Energy (SSE)—energy Required to Generate Minus 75 Micron Material. International Journal of Mineral Processing , 136, 2-6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.minpro.2014.09.010
Eloranta, J. (1997) The Efficiency of Blasting Versions Crushing and Grinding. Proceeding 23 rd Annual. Conference , International Society of Explosives Engineers , New York, 12-15 January 1997, 2-10.
Eloranta, J. (2014) Non-Ideal Blasting for Ideal Grinding—Part Two . Journal of Explosives Engineering , 31, 1-7.
Gy, P. (1982) Sampling of Particulate Materials Theory and Practice. Elsevier.
Jankovic, A., Suthers, S., Wills, T. and Valery, W. (2015) Evaluation of Dry Grinding Using HPGR in Closed Circuit with an Air Classifier. Minerals Engineering , 71, 133-138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2014.10.023
Kelly, E.G. and Dawe, G.A. (1989) Modified Bond Method for the Evaluation of Crusher Efficiency. Mining , Metallurgy & Exploration , 6, 14-17. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf03402519
Menéndez-Aguado, J.M., Coello-Velazquez, A.L., Tijonov, O.N. and Rodríguez Díaz, M.A. (2006) Implementation of Energy Sustainability Concepts during the Comminution Process of the Punta Gorda Nickel Ore Plant (Cuba). Powder Technology , 170, 153-157. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.powtec.2006.09.004
Saeidi, N., Noaparast, M., Azizi, D., Aslani, S. and Ramadi, A. (2013) A Developed Approach Based on Grinding Time to Determine Ore Comminution Properties. Journal of Mining and Environment , 4, 105-112.
Magdalinović, N. (1989) A Procedure for Rapid Determination of the Bond Work Index. International Journal of Mineral Processing , 27, 125-132. https://doi.org/10.1016/0301-7516(89)90010-0
Magdalinovi’c, N. (2003) Abbreviated Test for Quick Determination of Bond’s Work Index. Journal of Mining and Metallurgy , 39, 1-10. https://scindeks.ceon.rs/article.aspx?artid=1450-59590304001M
Ahmadi, R. and Shahsavari, S. (2009) Procedure for Determination of Ball Bond Work Index in the Commercial Operations. Minerals Engineering , 22, 104-106. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2008.04.008
Ford, E. and Sithole, V. (2015) A Comparison of Test Procedures for Estimating the Bond Ball Work Index on Zambian/DRC Copper-Cobalt Ores and Evaluation of Suitability for Use in Geometallurgical Studies. Copper Cobalt Africa , Incorporating the 8th Southern African Base Metals Conference , Livingstone, 6-8 July 2015, 65-68.
Todorovic, D., Trumi’c, M., andric, L.J. and Milosevic, V. (2017) A Quick Method for Bond Work Index Approximate Value Determination. Physicochemical Problems of Mineral Processing , 53, 321-332.
Alves, V.K., Mazzinghy, D.B., Rosa, M.A.N., Mendonça, A.M., Machado, L.C., Oliveira, G.O.D., Souza, M.G., et al. (2013) Aplicação de método simplificado de determinação de wi na previsão de desempenho dos moinhos de bolas da usina do sossego. Tecnologia em Metalurgia Materiais e Mineração , 10, 318-323. https://doi.org/10.4322/tmm.2013.051
Duque, T.F.M.B., Schneider, C.L., Mazzinghy, D.B. and Alves, V.K. (2014) BWI em função da malha de teste. Holos , 3, 112-121.
Jauregui, R.O. (1983) Simplified Bond Work Index determination. In: Encontro Nacional de Tratamento de Minérios e Hidrometalurgia . 9, Gráfica e Editora NSB, 358-367.
Menéndez-Aguado, J.M., Dzioba, B.R. and Coello-Valazquez, A.L. (2005) Determination of Work Index in a Common Laboratory Mill. Mining , Metallurgy & Exploration , 22, 173-176. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf03403133
Mwanga, A., Rosenkranz, J. and Lamberg, P. (2017) Development and Experimental Validation of the Geometallurgical Comminution Test (GCT). Minerals Engineering , 108, 109-114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2017.04.001
Nematollahi, H. (1994) New Size Laboratory Ball Mill for Bond Work Index Determination. Minerals Engineering , No. 46, 352-353.
Yap, R.F., Sepulveda, J.L. and JaureguI, R. (1982) Determination of the Bond Work Index Using an Ordinary Batch Ball Mill. In: Mular, A.L. and Jergensen, G.V., Eds., Design and Installation of Comminution Circuits , Aime, 176-203.
Deniz, V., Sütçü, N. and Umucu, Y. (2003) The Effect of Circulating Load and Test Sieve Size on the Bond Work Index Based on Natural Amorphous Silica. 18 th International Mining Congress and Exhibition of Turkey - IMCET , Antalya, 10-13 June 2003, 517-522.
Kaya, E., Fletcher, P.C. and Thompson, P. (2003) Reproducibility of Bond Grindability Work Index. Mining , Metallurgy & Exploration , 20, 140-142. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf03403146
Menéndez, M., Gent, M., Torno, S. and Crespo, N. (2017) A Bond Work Index Mill Ball Charge and Closing Screen Product Size Distributions for Grinding Crystalline Grains. International Journal of Mineral Processing , 165, 8-14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.minpro.2017.05.011
Menéndez, M., Muñiz Sierra, H., Gent, M. and de Cos Juez, F.J. (2018) The Comminution Energy-Size Reduction of the Bond Mill and Its Relation to Vickers Hardness. Minerals Engineering , 119, 228-235. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2018.01.017
Mosher, J.B. and Tague, C.B. (2001) Conduct and Precision of Bond Grindability Testing. Minerals Engineering , 14, 1187-1197. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0892-6875(01)00136-4
Smith, R.W. and Lee, K.H. (1968) A Comparison of Data from Bond Type Simulated Closed Circuit and Batch Type Grindability Tests. Transactions of the Metallurgical Society of AI ME , No. 241, 91-99.
Tüzün, M.A. (2001) Wet Bond Mill Test. Minerals Engineering , 14, 369-373. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0892-6875(01)00009-7
Griffith, A.A. (1921) The Phenomena of Rupture and Flow in Solids. Philosophical Transactions , Series A , 221, 163-198.
Nikolić, V. and Trumić, M. (2021) A New Approach to the Calculation of Bond Work Index for Finer Samples. Minerals Engineering , 165, Article 106858. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2021.106858
Nikolić, V., Doll, A. and Trumić, M. (2022) A New Methodology to Obtain a Corrected Bond Ball Mill Work Index Valid with Non-Standard Feed Size. Minerals Engineering , 188, Article 107822. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2022.107822
Bergerman, M.G., Pamparana, G., Junior. H.D. and Klein, B. (2023) Development of a Simplified Test for Determination of the Bond Ball Mill Work Index Using a Modified Hardgrove Test. Minerals Engineering , 203, Article 108359.
Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas (1990) Moinho de bolas, determinação do índice de trabalho: NBR 11376.
Montgomery, D.C. (2013) Design and Analysis of Experiments. 8th Edition, John Wiley & Sons.
Bond, F.C. (1960) Confirmation of the Third Theory. AIME Transaction s , 217, 139-153.
Moura, L.P., Costa, L.V., Koppe, J.C. and Souza, V.C.G. (2025) Otimização operacional—Impactos do fragcom na eficiência da lavra e beneficiamento de uma mina em cajati. Revista foco , 18, e7876. https://doi.org/10.54751/revistafoco.v18n2-154
King, R.P. (2001) Simulation of Ore Dressing Plants. Butterworth Heinemann.
Santos, B.C.D., Pimentel, B.J.E., Guzzo, P.L. and Machado, A.O.D. (2006) Determinação da energia específica de moagem de feldspatos da província pegmatítica do seridó-borborema pelo método de bond. IV Congresso de Engenharia Mecânica , Recife-PE, 22-25 August 2006, 2-10.