Effects of Ball Milling Conditions on Breakage Response of Baban Tsauni (Nigeria) Lead-Gold Ore.

Abstract

An empirical model of the ball milling response of Baban Tsauni (Nigeria) lead-gold ore was developed in this work by applying factorial experimental design. The four factors considered were, mill speed, steel ball diameter, grinding time and the ratio of mass of ball to mass of ore samples. The factors were treated at two levels and the measurable ball milling response was the size reduction ratio. The student t-test was used for determining the significance of the factors. All the factors were found to have both main and interactive effect on ball milling response. Predicted values calculated using model equation were in good agreement with experimental values of the response (R 2 = 0.997). The mathematical model indicated that ball milling output increased with increase in grinding time, ball mass to ore sample mass ratio and very slowly with increase in mill speed. The response decreased with increase in ball size. This work established a model for selecting the parameters required for a desired size reduction ratio. The work also indicated that ball milling response is a function of the feed particle size.