Solid Particulates Operations

Summer Semester 2021-2022

Tafila Technical University
Dr. Ashraf Alsafasfeh

1
CH.1 Introduction
Basic definitions

It is important to know the definitions of mineral, rock and ore as they represent
different product values and partly different process systems.

Artificial minerals
“Man made” minerals are not minerals by definitions. But from processing point of view, they
are similar to virgin minerals and are treated accordingly (mainly in recycling processes).

2
The process frame of minerals
The goal in Solid Particulates Operations is to produce maximum value from a given raw material.
This goal can be a crushed product with certain size and shape or maximum recovery of metals
out of a complex ore. The technologies to achieve these goals are classical, complementary, and
well defined. Below they are presented in the Process Frame of Minerals, classified according to
their interrelations in product size and process environment (dry or wet).

Drilling (and blasting) is the technology of achieving primary fragmentation of “in situ” minerals.
This is the starting point for most mineral processes with the exception of natural minerals in the
form of sand and gravel.
Crushing and screening is the first controlled size reduction stage in the process. This is the main
process in aggregate production and a preparation process for further size reduction.
Grinding is the stage of size reduction (wet or dry) where the liberation size for individual
minerals can be reached. By further size reduction filler (mineral powder) is produced.
Slurry processing includes the technologies for wet processing of mineral fractions.
Pyro processing includes the technologies for upgrading of the mineral fractions by drying,
calcining, or sintering.
Materials handling includes the technologies for moving the process flow (dry) forward by
loading, transportation, storage and feeding.
Compaction of minerals includes the technologies for moving and densifying minerals by
vibration, impaction, and pressure, mainly used in construction applications.

3
Mineral processing and hardness
All deposits of minerals, rock or ores have different hardness depending on the chemical
composition and the geological environment .
Mohs numbers are a simple classification:

Note: In operation we naturally need more information about our feed material.

Size and hardness

All operations have different process environments due to mineral hardness and size range. It is
important to know in which “range” we are operating as this will affect many process parameters,
(wear rate, uptime, operation costs etc.). Size and hardness together give interesting information.

4
The stress forces of rock mechanics
Beside size and hardness, the classical stress forces of rock mechanics are the fundamentals in
most of what we do in mineral processing. They guide us in equipment design, in systems layout,
in wear protection etc. They are always around, and they always have to be considered.