This paper examines two comminution circuits on a hypothetical gold ore deposit with both small-scale (1,000 short tons per day) and large-scale (35,000 short tons per day) production rates. The most appropriate circuit is dependent on the highest economic performance with a combination of crushing and grinding equipment to achieve the desired product size. The selected circuit is dependent on costs associated with project criteria, equipment selection and ore characteristics. Factors influencing the selection of the comminution circuit require systematic evalution to optimize plant performance and maximize economic return. The small-scale circuit economics responded best to three-stage crushing followed by a single-stage ball mill. The large-scale plant favors a primary crusher followed by SAG milling and ball milling. The conclusions from this paper indicate that each project must be evaluated separately to determine the most economic means of reducing the size of the ore.
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