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[May 2006]
Grinding Technology Development for Mining Industry Applications
Xstrata Technology and Magotteaux International SA have signed an agreement to work together in the marketing of Xstrata Technology's IsaMill and Magotteaux Keramax MT1 ceramic grinding beads. For Magotteaux, the agreement opens up a ready market for its ceramic media. For Xstrata Technology the agreement provides a cost effective ceramic media that improves grinding power efficiency and media consumption rates and enables the introduction of IsaMill inert grinding technology to new applications, including coarse mainstream grinding.
Lindsay Clark, Mineral Processing Manager with Xstrata Technology, said: "Until now, ceramic media have been uneconomic for grinding. This has changed with the development of large scale, high intensity stirred milling in the IsaMill combined with Magotteaux Keramax MT1 grinding media. The unique properties of MT1, including low friction, high SG and very low wear rates, mean it can achieve exceptionally high grinding efficiency and low cost for coarse feeds. The very high power intensity of the IsaMill allows small installations - a 3 MW mill has a volume of 10 cubic metres, containing about 7 cubic metres of media. The first industrial application combining Keramax AE MT1 and IsaMill technology was in a 2.6 MW IsaMill commissioned in late 2005".
Michel Devalckeneer, Vice President Magotteaux, said: "For mining applications, Keramax AE MT1 ceramic beads have been extensively tested by Xstrata Technology, supplier of the IsaMill. Significantly better wear and mill performance results compared to other media have led XT to use Keramax AE MT1 as a benchmark for all their testwork and to recommend it to leading players in the industry".
www.xstrata.com
ENDS