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OPTIMIZATION OF THE SAG MILL CIRCUIT AT

KINROSS PARACATU BRAZIL

Conference Paper January 2010

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 OPTIMIZATION OF THE SAG MILL CIRCUIT AT
KINROSS PARACATU BRAZIL
Marcos Paulo Gomes, Luiz Tavarez Junior, Edis Siqueira Nunes Filho, Juliana Colacioppo
Alex Jankovic and Walter Valery

Kinross Paracatu, Brazil

Metso Process Technology and Innovation

ABSTRACT

Kinross Paracatu and Metso Process Technology and Innovation (PTI) have reviewed and
optimized the operating strategies for the SAG mill circuit at Paracatu operation in Brazil. The
focus of this project was to reach design throughput and final grinding product size, conditions
which have not been achieved since commissioning in the beginning of 2009.

For the first time a full circuit survey was conducted followed by a complete mass balance and
model fit, and these have been utilized to investigate possible circuit changes and alternative
operating strategies. This project looked at the process variables, from ore characterization,
through SAG mill practices and finally ball mills and cyclones strategies and resulted in
significant improvement in overall comminution performance of the Kinross Paracatu operation.

Several options were investigated using the currently available equipment. Further simulations
were performed to evaluate a circuit expansion, with the inclusion of a third ball mill.

Keywords: Grinding, simulation, process optimization, SAG milling.

INTRODUCTION

Kinross Paracatu is located in Brazil, 230 km south west of Brasilia in the west portion of the
State of Minas Gerais. The ore deposit is noted for its low grade of 0.44 g/t gold. The Paracatu
deposit is a metamorphic gold system with finely disseminated gold mineralization hosted within
an original bedded sedimentary host (phyllites). Gold grains typically average 50-150 microns in
size.

RPM has two processing plants, an old one constituted of five ball mill lines and a new SAB
circuit (a SAG mill followed by two Ball mill lines). The Run of Mine (ROM) ore sent o the SAG
mill plant is transported from the open pit by trucks and dumped to a grizzly. The oversize goes
to the primary crusher (an MMD sizer with 2x500HP motors), and the grizzly undersize is
combined with the MMD sizer product, conveyed and stockpiled before being fed to the grinding
circuit.
The Kinross Paracatu new grinding circuit consists of one 11.6 x 6.7m (38 x 22) SAG mill with
installed power of 20MW, followed by two 7.3 x 12.2m (24 x 40) ball mills with installed power
of 13MW each in closed circuit with cyclones. Two cyclone clusters have 18 units each with
660mm (26) diameter, 152/165mm (6/6.5) apex and 254mm (10) vortex finder.

The SAG mill product discharges to a trommel with 17 mm slots apertures. The trommel
undersize discharges to a screen with 12.5 mm of aperture. The screen undersize is fed to the
ball mills and the oversize (pebbles) return to the SAG mill. There is no pebble crusher in the
circuit.

The new plant was designed to treat 5087t/h and achieve a final P80 (size at which 80% of the
mass of material will pass through) of 74 m, however six month after the start up the average
throughput rate was around 3000t/h and P80 about 130m. A full optimization project was
conducted to implement changes in the plant to achieve the design throughput and final
product.

ORE CHARACTERIZATION

Representative ore samples were collected in the SAG feed conveyor belt during the full survey
and were sent to Metso Laboratory Centre in Sorocaba, Brazil, for breakage and grinding
characterization tests. Tests conducted were Point Load (PLT), Drop Weight (DWT) and Bond
Ball Mill Work Index (BWi). Table 1 summarizes the PLT, DWT and BWi results for this sample.

Table 1 Results of Point Load Index (I50), Drop Weight Test (A, b), Abrasion test (ta) and Bond
Ball Mill Work Index BWi

Sample Is50 (MPa) A* b A*b ta BWi (kWh/t)

SAG Feed 2,2 57,1 2,0 115,9 2,21 9,1

Additional ore characterisation data were provided by Kinross and they are summarized in
Table 2. The eleven ore samples tested represent the main ore types that will feed to the plant,
according to Kinross Paracatu mining plan, for approximately the next 2 years. Ore competency
varies from medium (A*b~60) to very incompetent (A*b~200). Ore hardness varies from medium
soft (Wi~13 kWh/t) to very soft (Wi~5.5 kWh/t). These ore characterization results were used as
JKSimMet inputs to analyze the effect of the ore variability in the circuit in terms of throughput
and final product.
 Table 2 - Ore Characterisation Data Provided by Kinross Personnel

Number A*b ta BWi UCS*

(kWh/t) (MPa)
1 170.7 2.59 5.42 46.6
2 187.9 2.77 5.57 23.7
3 65.3 1.14 12.3 173.2
4 159.6 1.86 8.85 73.5
5 151.1 2.5 8.31 94.9
6 71.7 1.49 10.33 107.9
7 77.6 1.53 10.61 157.8
8 58 0.96 11.84 145
9 63.8 1.17 13.07 -
10 101.4 1.97 6.52 78.3
11 162 1.44 7.98 90.8
Average 115 1.77 9.16 99.2
Maximum 188 2.77 13.07 173.2
Minimum 58 0.96 5.42 23.7
*UCS calculated from PLT (IS50) results

The relationship between Axb and Bond Work Index for the Kinross Paracatu samples is also
shown in Figure 1, including the SAG mill feed sample collected during the survey. Clear trend
can be observed, although there is significant scatter that commonly occurs when correlating
Drop Weight and Bond Work Indices. More competent ore is also harder and vice versa.

13
12 y = 0.0001x 2 - 0.0763x + 15.535
R = 0.6916
11
10
BWi (kWh/t)

Survey
9
8
7
6
5
4
50 100 150 200
A*b

Figure 1 BWi vs. A*b for the data provided by Kinross

 CIRCUIT SURVEY

One day before the survey, the SAG mill was ground out (i.e., run without feed to grind out the
ore and only retains balls inside the mill) and the ball charge was measured. The measured ball
charge was 18.3% by volume and it remained constant for the survey on the next day.

The standard PTI survey procedure was followed. The operating conditions were observed
during the survey for a period of two hours to ensure SAG mill circuit steady state conditions.

The campaign lasted one hour, during which five samples were taken in fourteen different circuit
points as shown in Figure 2. The samples were composited to reduce the error owing to stream
variance over the sampling period.

Figure 2 Grinding Circuit Sampling Points

All slurry and dry samples collected around the SAG and ball mill circuits were dried and sieved
to determine percent solids and size distributions. After the survey the SAG mill was crash
stopped by cutting the feed, water and stopping the mill simultaneously. Thereafter, internal
dimensions necessary to calculate mill filling and pulp-lifter filling level were measured. The total
load level in the SAG mill was 22.7% by volume and the measurement of pulp level indicated
that it has sufficient capacity to transport higher pulp rates without excessive accumulation of
slurry in the mill and formation of a slurry pool. These measurements, together with the Pins
(plant operating) data and laboratory testwork results were used as inputs for the SAG and ball
mill JKSimMet models.

The circuit mill throughput during the survey was 4704 t/h, the feed size F80 was 89mm and the
final circuit product size P80 was140m. This is compared to the design throughput of 5087 t/h
and final product size P80 of 74 m. The SAG mill was reducing the feed to a trommel undersize
P80 of 3 mm and producing 253 t/h of pebbles. The two ball mills were performing quite similarly
producing a final grinding P80 size of approximately 140 m.

MASS BALANCE AND MODELING

The survey data were mass balanced using JKSimMet to confirm the data quality and estimate
any stream flow rates that could not be measured.

The Kinross Paracatu schematic grinding circuit flowsheet showing the main mass balanced
results is shown in Figure 3, the Solids in the legend refers to tones per hour of dry solids.
Figure 3 Circuit flowsheet and mass balance results obtained using JKSimMet
JKSimMet SAG, screen, ball mill and hydrocyclone models were calibrated based on survey
data collected in July 2009, mass balance results, plant operating data, ore characterisation
tests and historical data from the Metso Mine to Mill Process Integration and Optimisation
Project carried out at Kinross Paracatu in 2005. The models were then used to simulate
different options to improve grinding efficiency and reduce final product size.

OPTIMIZATION TROUGH SIMULATION

Simulations were conducted to assess if a finer final product may be achievable with the current
equipment at the same throughput as obtained in the survey, 4704 t/h. The main options
evaluated were: reduction of the vortex finder, reduction of the grinding media size, ball mill
charge increasing, introduction of a pre-classification stage before the current ball mill circuit, an
option to return portion of cyclone underflow back to SAG mill and reduce SAG screen aperture.
Further simulations were then performed to evaluate a circuit expansion, with the inclusion of a
third ball mill.

A summary of the simulations performed is presented as follow:

Simulation 1 Reduced cyclones vortex finder

A smaller vortex finder of 240mm was simulated and compared to used 260mm size. The
results indicate that the final product P80 could be reduced from the base case (circuit survey)
of 140m to 136m with a corresponding increase in circulating load from 337% to 391%.
Potential benefits from this change were considered modest.

Simulation 2 Reduced ball mill ball size

The 3 inch ball size are considered to big considering soft ore and the SAG mill product size.
The simulation with 2.5 inch balls indicated a reduction in P80 from 140m to 133m.
Simulations with 2 inch balls were also conducted showing a further reduction in P80 to 128m;
industrial trial was proposed to confirm benefits from smaller ball size.

Simulation 3 Increased ball mill ball charge

Another opportunity in the ball mills is to increase ball charge to fully utilize the installed power.
During the survey period, the ball charge was measured as 28% for both ball mills and a total
power draw of 20.5MW, representing 79% of the installed power of 26 MW. Although, there is
available motor power in both ball mills, the balls ejection from the mills is excessive when ball
charge is higher than 28%. Simulations were performed for 33% and 35% of balls and ball
retainers have been evaluated. The simulations indicated that P80 could be decreased from the
base case of 140 m to 131m and to 128m for 33% and 35% of ball load respectively.
Simulation 4 - Introduction of the pre classification stage

A pre classification option was simulated including cyclones of the same dimensions as the
existing ball mill circuit cyclones (26). The combined P80 of pre-classification and ball mill
cyclones was reduced to 132m. This option was not recommended because, although the final
product was reduced, with the inclusion of a pre-classification stage, the water consumption
3 3
increased by 71% to 6729 m /h, compared with 3940 m /h during the survey. This could not be
implemented as the plant is already water limited.

Simulation 5 Replacement 26 for 20 inches cyclones diameter

The existing 26 inch cyclones were not considered appropriate for the design product size P80 of
74 microns. Smaller cyclones are more efficient in obtaining finer cut. As an illustration, the old
Kinross Paracatu plant operates with 20 inch cyclones and the final product target size is
achieved. Simulation results indicated that with 20 inch a P80 of 127m could be achieved. The
water consumption increased by only 13% compared with the base case. The number of
cyclones required increases substantially (64 total) and new cyclone clusters would have to be
installed, however this change is recommended as substantially increases the circuit ability to
produce finer product.

Simulation 6 - Partial split of cyclone underflow back to SAG mill

RPM SAG mill pulp lifter was designed for high capacity and the calculations based on
measurement made during the survey confirmed that the SAG mill would have sufficient
transport capacity to receive part of the cyclones underflow. The ball mills were the bottleneck
of the circuit and therefore returning a part of the cyclone underflow to the SAG mill would
increase circuit capacity by higher utilisation of SAG mill power. Simulation with 10% of
underflow returning to the SAG mill indicated that P80 could be reduced from 140 to 132m. By
increasing it to 20%, P80 could be further reduced to 128m.

Simulation 7 Reduced SAG discharge screen aperture

Two simulations were conducted with 10mm and 8mm apertures. Simulation shows that by
reducing the apertures from 12.5mm to 10mm, screen oversize increased from 284 t/h to 530
t/h, while cyclone overflow P80 was effectively unchanged. With aperture of 8mm, the oversize
increased to 798 t/h, close to the pebble conveyor belt limit, and P80 reduced to 136m.

Simulation 8 - Simulation of cumulative effect of changes

Simulations using the combination of changes described above were conducted. The simulation
using reduced vortex finder of 240mm, 2,5 inches balls, 33% ball mill ball charge, returning 20%
of the cyclone underflow back to SAG were considered feasible to implement in a short term
and indicated a final product size reduction to P80 of 115m. The simulation with 35% ball
charge, 2 balls, return of 20% of cyclone underflow to SAG and 20 inches cyclones
presented the best option, indicating a P80 reduction to 100m. However this option is capital
intensive, as it requires replacement of cyclone batteries and an efficient ball retainer design.

Simulation 9 - Addition of the third ball mill

The simulation of the circuit options showed that the design throughput of 5087 t/h and P80 of 74
m could not be achieved with the existent equipment. Simulations were therefore performed
with the addition of a third ball mill in parallel to existing two. In the first case, the same ball mill
charge as the base case was simulated and the P80 was reduced from 140 to 97m. The
second simulation was performed utilizing almost full ball mill power capacity (36 of 39MW) and
the P80 achieved was 86m.

For all simulations, P80 and throughput were plotted and are presented in Figure 4. For the
simulation without the third ball mill, the throughput was maintained constant and all the
changes aimed at reducing P80. It can be observed in the graph that the smallest P80 obtained
was 100m. This was achieved by simulating cumulative effects of more than one change in the
grinding circuit. For the simulations with the addition of another ball mill the main objective was
still to reduce P80, but to also increase throughput to design.

Figure 4 Throughput and P80 for all the simulations

EFFECT OF HARDNESS IN THROUGHPUT

The influence of the ore hardness variability on circuit throughput was investigated for the
following three scenarios:
 1. Current grinding circuit with no modifications,

2. Optimised circuit (reduced vortex finder of 240mm, 2,5 inches balls, 33% of ball mills
ball charge, returning 20% of the cyclone underflow back to SAG),

3. Circuit with the addition of a third ball mill.

Table 3 shows the simulated throughput for the final product size P80=80m. The Bond Work
Index values were chosen to represent the harder ore expected in next two years (from 8.5 to
13 kWh/t).

For the current grinding circuit, with an ore hardness of 8.5 kWh/t, the estimated throughput was
3800tph to achieve a P80 of 80m, whereas with an ore hardness of 13 kWh/t, the throughput
would be reduced to 2400tph. For a work index of 9.2 kWh/t, the maximum throughput at P80 of
80m would be 3550tph with the current grinding circuit, whilst a throughput of 4800tph is
achievable with the addition of a third ball mill, which is close to design values.

Table 3 Throughput for 3 scenarios and 3 different ore hardness for the same P80 of 80m

Scenarios Throughput (tph)

BWi = 8.5 BWi = 9.2 BWi = 13

1. Current Circuit 3800 3550 2400

2. Optimized Circuit 4200 3900 2700

3. Addition of Third Ball Mill 5100 4800 3400

Based on the simulations and operational analysis, it is concluded that the design throughput of
5087tph and P80 of 80m can only be achieved with the addition of a third ball mill. With the
future ore hardness increases, it will become more difficult to achieve these values even with a
third ball mill.

GOLD RECOVERY IMPROVEMENT

The full survey was completed in June and the recommendations mentioned in this report
began to be implemented in September 2009. Figure 5 shows the average monthly data for
gold recovery and grind product size represented by percentage retained at 200# or 0.075mm
screen size (another indication of the final product size), during the year 2009. It can be seen
that in January and February, the start-up period, the gold recovery was very low due to the
coarse feed to the flotation circuit.
Approximately one year later, the gold recovery increased from 40 to more than 70%, and the
grind size reduced from 40% to 20% retained at 200#, matching the design size. It should be
noticed the SAG average throughput was around 3000tph, which is still significantly bellow
design of 5087tph and a third ball mill would have to be installed in order to achieve the design
targets.

Figure 5 Gold Recovery and Grinding Product Size Average Monthly Data for 2009

CONCLUSIONS

Kinross Paracatu ore is is known to be quite soft, with low resistance to impact breakage.
However, in the next two years ore hardness will increase significantly as mine is going to
deeper levels. For the new SAG mill plant processing plant, the design throughput of 5087t/h
and final product of 74m has not been achieved since commissioning. Considering that ore is
getting harder, it is unlikely that design production levels will be achieved without significant
changes in the grinding circuit.

A complete survey of the grinding circuit was conducted in June 2009, the circuit models were
developed and optimization opportunities were explored through simulation. The following were
found to be the key actions to focus on:

Maintaining and possibly increasing the ball charge in the SAG mill to 20%;

Operating the SAG mill in a optimal speed range (65-75% critical);

 Reducing the ball size in SAG mill from 5 to 4 inches balls;

Returning up to 20% of the cyclone underflow back to the SAG mill;

Reducing the cyclone vortex finder from 260 to 240mm;

Reducing the ball size in ball mills from 3 to 2 inches balls, followed by a further trial of
2 inches balls if successful;

Increasing ball mill ball charge from 28% to 33%;

With majority of these measures put in place, significant improvement in gold recovery was
achieved owing to reduction in grinding circuit product size whilst the SAG average throughput
is maintained around 3000tph. This throughout is still significantly lower compared to the design
of 5087tph. In order to achieve throughput and a final product size close to the original design,
and considering increase in ore hardness in the future, installation of a third ball mill of same
size as the existing ones will be required.

REFERENCES

Napier-Munn, T.J., Morrell, S., Morrison, R.D., and Kojovic, T., 1996, Mineral Comminution
Circuits Their operation and optimisation, Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre,
University of Queensland, Australia.

Powell, M., Valery Jnr., W. (2006) Slurry Pooling and Transport Issues in SAG Mills. SAG2006
Operations and Maintenance. International Conference on Autogenous and Semiautogenous
Grinding Technology, Volume 1, 133 152, Vancouver, Canada.

Powell, M., Condori, P., Smit, I., Valery Jnr., W. (2006) The Value of Rigorous Surveys The
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Tondo L.A., Valery Jnr. W., Peroni, R., La Rosa, D., Silva, A., Jankovic, A., Colacioppo, J.
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