Mining companies have recognised that characterisation of particle breakage plays an essential role in the design and optimisation of comminution circuits._x000D_
Recently the JKMRC comminution research team has developed a new breakage model incorporating the effect of particle size, and a new breakage characterisation testing device, called the JK Rotary Breakage Tester (JKRBT), which allows rapid testing of particle breakage under high energy single impact and low energy repetitive impact conditions. The latter is believed to be the dominant breakage mechanism in AG/SAG mills. Existing devices, such as the JKMRC Drop Weight Tester, are not suitable for performing repetitive impacts since they are too time consuming. Positive feedback received from mining company sponsors to the new technology has prompted the JKMRC to further validate the device and the model through a formalised experimental test program on professionally designed and manufactured JKRBT machines. The first JKRBT was installed at the Anglo Research laboratory in Johannesburg in March 2007 and four more major mining companies will participate in the project in 2008, with commercial release expected in early 2009. The JKRBT has the potential to revolutionise ore testing, with applications in laboratory impact breakage characterisation of rock samples, drill cores, coal and other materials. It also stands poised to significantly advance the process control of comminution circuits since it is readily adaptable to on-line ore hardness measurement. Can any mine afford to miss out on this technology? FORMAL CITATION:Kojovic, T, Shi, F, Larbi-Bram, S and Manlapig, E, 2008. Julius Kruttschnitt rotary breakage tester (JKRBT) - any ore, any mine, in Proceedings MetPlant 2008, pp 91-104 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).