Some Considerations for the Comminution of Ores

Speaker

Dr Randolph Pax

Abstract

Comminution is a very important operation for most mineral processing applications. Because of the extreme environment inside the unit operations, such as tumbling mills, it is difficult to measure the internal optimum operating conditions for the breakage of ore. Instead, considerable effort has been expended over many years to elucidate internal mechanisms using empirical and physics-based models together with actual plant survey data. This approach has had a significant degree of success, within constraints and the use of proxies for desirable operation. In contrast, this presentation will introduce and discuss the use of microphone arrays to explore the internal real-time dynamic operation of a mill and some of the new findings that challenge current thinking. 

Bio

Randolph Pax has a PhD in Physics specialising in Solid State Physics/Materials Science. After graduating he joined Lysaghts (BHP) as a Research Scientist where he developed image processing, AI and signal process techniques for the determination of real time process operation. Before Joining the JKMRC in 1998 he had academic interests at Australian universities, Aerospace (US) and the Australian sugar industry. Randolph has specific interests in Mathematical modelling of processes and measurement, spectroscopy, and control. Whilst at the JKMRC he was part of and led projects in mineral sands beneficiation and comminution. He has pioneered the use of non-contact acoustics for the determination of in-mill measurement.