PJSC “MMC “Norilsk Nickel”, Polar Division, Norilsk, Russia:

D. O. Midyukov, Scientific and Technical Department, Chief Specialist, tel.: 8 (3919) 24 47 45
A. A. Umysheva, Lead Engineer of the Center for Engineering Support of Production
D. E. Chikildin, Deputy Chief Engineer — Head of the department of Talnakh concentrator

LTD “Metso”, St. Petersburg, Russia:

Yu. A. Smirnov, Department of Sales and Technical Support of Mining Projects, Head of Shredding Equipment Department

Ore feed preparation at Talnakh Concentrator was switched to semi-autogeneous grinding within the framework of Phase II of the large-scale project aimed at expansion and shifting to a new technology. Previously the grinding equipment comprised ten 4.56.0 pebble universal ball mills with grate discharge and two 5.56.5 ball mills with central discharge, thus, it was a challenge to keep the identical parameters at each unit. When designing Phase II of the project, Metso 10.365.18 SAG mill was chosen by ZAO Mechanobr Engineering for the first grinding stage and consequently confirmed by NMSU Gorny with the help of JKSimMet program. By the time of Phase II commissioning the composition of the feed had changed (Oktyabrsky Mine disseminated ore of higher hardness exceeding design basis was involved into processing) which made it difficult to reach the design capacity of Phase II. To overcome it, influencing factors (raw material physical and mechanical properties, process water supply, etc.) were comprehensively tested. To reach the design capacity specialists of Polar Division was arranged as comprehensive exercise a separate cycle for disseminated ore re-crushing in Nordberg HP-700 crushers in order to minimize oversized product circulation.

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