3800 XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3
(Lynch &Rowland, 2005). HPGR is capable to addressing
the challenges of (Burchardt et al., 2011):
• Treatment of more competent and harder ore bodies
• Energy savings
• Wear cost savings
• Water limited sites
This work reviews the history, advantages and hurdles, and
future outlooks of HPGR to determine HPGR’s maturity
and capability to ‘go all the way’ as a part of comminution’s
attempts to adapt to its changing circumstances.
TIMELINE OF HPGR
The concept of HPGR was first introduced by Schönert
(Figure 2) as the result of a fundamental study on com-
minution efficiency (Klymowsky 2006 McIvor 1997
Schönert 1988). Early studies revealed that sufficient pres-
sure applied to a bed of particles may result in gains to capac-
ity, energy efficiency, and equipment lifetime (Klymowsky
2006 McIvor 1997). The combination of high financial
investment and the industry’s risk-averse nature often made
the costs and risks of implementing new technology dif-
ficult to justify (Patzelt et al., 2006 L. Thompsen et al.,
1996). The difficultly of justification led to HPGR being
slowly incorporated into mineral processing (Lynch &
Rowland, 2005
The first mineral processing application of HPGR was
for diamonds at the Australian Argyle Diamonds circuit
commissioned in 1986 (Figure 2) (M. J. Daniel &Morley,
2010 Rule et al., 2008). HPGR was chosen for diamond
comminution as a secondary stage crusher because of its
preferential breakage which preserved larger diamonds (M.
J. Daniel &Morley, 2010). This kicked off a niche demand
for HPGR diamond comminution (Davaanyam 2015
McIvor 1997). The application of HPGR then spread from
diamond to iron and hardrocks including copper, gold, and
platinum (Burchardt et al., 2011 M. J. Daniel &Morley,
2010).
In the early 1990s, Newmont Mining Corporation ini-
tiated testing to compare HPGR to AG/SAG milling for
Source: Napier-Munn et al., 1996
Figure 1. View of HPGR (reprinted with permission)
Patzelt et al., 2006).
Figure 2. Summary timeline for HPGR development
(Lynch &Rowland, 2005). HPGR is capable to addressing
the challenges of (Burchardt et al., 2011):
• Treatment of more competent and harder ore bodies
• Energy savings
• Wear cost savings
• Water limited sites
This work reviews the history, advantages and hurdles, and
future outlooks of HPGR to determine HPGR’s maturity
and capability to ‘go all the way’ as a part of comminution’s
attempts to adapt to its changing circumstances.
TIMELINE OF HPGR
The concept of HPGR was first introduced by Schönert
(Figure 2) as the result of a fundamental study on com-
minution efficiency (Klymowsky 2006 McIvor 1997
Schönert 1988). Early studies revealed that sufficient pres-
sure applied to a bed of particles may result in gains to capac-
ity, energy efficiency, and equipment lifetime (Klymowsky
2006 McIvor 1997). The combination of high financial
investment and the industry’s risk-averse nature often made
the costs and risks of implementing new technology dif-
ficult to justify (Patzelt et al., 2006 L. Thompsen et al.,
1996). The difficultly of justification led to HPGR being
slowly incorporated into mineral processing (Lynch &
Rowland, 2005
The first mineral processing application of HPGR was
for diamonds at the Australian Argyle Diamonds circuit
commissioned in 1986 (Figure 2) (M. J. Daniel &Morley,
2010 Rule et al., 2008). HPGR was chosen for diamond
comminution as a secondary stage crusher because of its
preferential breakage which preserved larger diamonds (M.
J. Daniel &Morley, 2010). This kicked off a niche demand
for HPGR diamond comminution (Davaanyam 2015
McIvor 1997). The application of HPGR then spread from
diamond to iron and hardrocks including copper, gold, and
platinum (Burchardt et al., 2011 M. J. Daniel &Morley,
2010).
In the early 1990s, Newmont Mining Corporation ini-
tiated testing to compare HPGR to AG/SAG milling for
Source: Napier-Munn et al., 1996
Figure 1. View of HPGR (reprinted with permission)
Patzelt et al., 2006).
Figure 2. Summary timeline for HPGR development