Lab-scale continuous semi-autogenous (sag) grinding mill

A wet continuous semi-autogenous (SAG) mill system comprising:

• a frame;
• a rotatable cylinder supported within the frame thereby to be rotatable about a generally horizontal rotational axis with respect to the frame, the rotatable cylinder incorporating a plurality of discharge ports about its periphery and an interior spiral blade for coaxing material within the rotatable cylinder that is downstream of the discharge ports upstream towards the discharge ports during rotation;
• a variable speed driving system for driving the rotatable cylinder about the generally horizontal rotational axis;
• and
• a SAG mill removably fastened to the rotatable cylinder upstream of the discharge ports, the SAG mill comprising:
• a grinding chamber barrel within an upstream portion of the rotatable cylinder, the grinding chamber barrel having an inside diameter of about 19.2 inches and a length of about 6.4 inches, wherein the grinding chamber barrel incorporates at least one interior lifter;
• a feed end diaphragm affixed to an upstream end of the grinding chamber barrel, the feed end diaphragm incorporating a central feed port dimensioned to permit crushed material to be passed into the grinding chamber barrel;
• and
• a discharge grate diaphragm removably fastened to a downstream end of the grinding chamber barrel, the discharge grate diaphragm incorporating a plurality of discharge slots each sized and positioned to permit only material that has been milled down to a predetermined size within the grinding chamber barrel to pass therethrough.