Characterization of the effect of micro-properties of rock on the correlation between Point Load strength index and comminution index tests

采矿业是一个能源密集型行业。采矿业消耗的大部分能源用于破碎岩石，以便从脉石中释放出有价值的矿物。为了提高采矿作业的能源效率，了解矿体破碎特性的异质性和空间变异性是至关重要的。矿体的粉碎特性(即可磨性指数)缺乏分辨率可导致磨矿设计不当，从而导致能耗增加。 本研究旨在通过点载荷、岩石强度指数与粉碎指数特性之间的相关性来研究矿体几何特征的空间变异性的量化。点载荷试验(PLT)是一种简单、便携、易于重复的测试方法，用于表征整个矿山的矿石样品的岩石强度特性。PLT指数已被证明与矿石破碎特性相关，这是磨机设计和建模所必需的。更具体地说，目前的研究旨在确定岩石微观性质(即颗粒大小、形状、面理等)的影响。磨矿过程中PLT强度指标与矿石粉碎特性的相关性研究 这项研究将利用Kinross Gold运营的九个金矿的地质、岩土和粉碎数据。将对这些不同的地质和地质力学信息进行统计分析，以研究基本岩石组构变量(如各向同性、裂隙)与不同矿岩类型和性质的岩石破碎特征之间的潜在关系。使用离散单元结合颗粒模型(BPM)的数值模拟方法将被用来模拟完整岩石的粉碎和PLT试验。

Mining is an energy intensive industry. The majority of the energy consumed in mining industry is used for rock breakage in order to liberate valuable minerals from the gangue. In order to improve the energy efficiency in a mining operation, it is of vital importance to understand the heterogeneity and spatial variability of comminution characteristics of an orebody that is feeding the mill. A lack of resolution in the orebody's comminution characteristics (i.e. grindability index) can lead to inappropriate mill design, resulting in increased energy consumption. This research project aims to investigate the quantification of the spatial variability of orebody geometallurgical characteristics through correlations between Point Load rock strength index and comminution index properties. The Point Load test (PLT) is a simple, portable and easy to repeat testing method for characterizing the rock strength property of ore samples throughout a mine. The PLT index has been shown to correlate to ore breakage characteristics, which are required for design and modeling of mills. More specifically, the current study aims to determine the influence of rock micro-properties (i.e. grain size, shape, foliation, etc.) on the correlation between the PLT strength index and the comminution characteristics of ore in milling process. The study will utilize geological, geotechnical and comminution data from nine gold mines operated by Kinross Gold. This diverse set of geological and geomechanical information will be subjected to a statistical analysis to study the potential relationships between fundamental rock fabric variables (e.g. isotropy, fractures) and rock breakage characteristics for the different mine rock types and properties. A numerical modelling approach using the discrete element bonded particle model (BPM) will be utilized to simulate comminution and PLT tests of intact rocks.