The IsaMill is challenging the way that plants are designed and operated. This paper challenges existing designs of concentrator flow sheets, particularly focusing on magnetite circuits._x000D_
From what has started out as a small scale ultra fine grinding mill in the pharmaceutical and pigment industries, it has been redesigned and improved upon for mineral processing, and has been the mainstay of fine grinding applications for over ten years. These applications have required energy efficient grinding to succeed, and have been predominately in the base metals industry._x000D_
Further development of the IsaMill has now resulted in the machines being able to treat larger tonnages, with higher capacity motors. This development, along with the introduction of purpose designed ceramic media, has allowed the mill to treat courser feed sizes. At the same time, the mill still offers highly efficient grinding, and has enabled it to be operated in coarser tertiary and secondary grinding applications._x000D_
The acceptance of the mill in coarser applications, predominately in base metals and PGM applications, has enabled the IsaMill to be a serious contender for beneficiation in other minerals. One such application is the potential for IsaMills to be part of magnetite flow sheets, which are being considered in Australia to meet the growing iron demand of China. The high energy efficiency of the IsaMill compared to conventional technologies, as well as the smaller infrastructure requirements, provides a great opportunity to reduce the power intensity of magnetite circuits._x000D_
This paper will examine the use of IsaMill technology in conventional grinding applications, including recent testwork in a primary grinding base metal circuit, as well as testwork on magnetite ore comparing a lab scale IsaMill with a lab scale Tower Mill._x000D_
The growing demand for minerals over the next decade, coupled with higher energy cost, will result in energy efficient technology, such as the IsaMill, being included in standard circuit design._x000D_
FORMAL CITATION:Burford, B D and Niva, E, 2008. Comparing energy efficiency in grinding mills, in Proceedings MetPlant 2008, pp 45-64 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).