Author 1:
Name & Surname: Tikhonov N. O.
Company: RIVS Science and Production Association (Saint-Petersburg, Russia)
Work Position: Head of subdivision
Contacts: e-mail: rivs@rivs.ru

Author 2:
Name & Surname: Skarin O. I.
Company: RIVS Science and Production Association (Saint-Petersburg, Russia)
Work Position: Senior Researcher
Scientific Degree: Candidate of Engineering Sciences

Dealing with design and modernization of new and operating ore pre-processing circuits of processing plants, RIVS carries out research and development where the keynote is the optimal crushing and grinding circuits as well as the adequate equipment size. When selecting a standard size of a recommended mill, RIVS uses techniques that include both conventional commercial and semi-commercial trials and expansive laboratory testing of ore strength properties. Upward scaling of the laboratory tests data to the full-size industrial machinery uses mathematical modeling. Currently RIVS designs mills for autogenous and semi-autogenous grinding based on the JK Drop Weight and SMC Test and the Bond indexes. In the former case, the test data are processed using the dedicated computer simulation software package; in the latter case, a much simpler calculation procedure described in the given article is employed. Structurally, the article is composed of sections that acquaint the reader with the current methods of power scale-up for semi-autogenous grinding mills, and with the Bond work indexes and their usability in AG/SAG mill design. In the end, the authors compare the results of the described procedure and industrial test implemented conjointly by RIVS and Sibir-Polymetals, a company of UMMC Holding.

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