2026-02-02 – Weekly Mining News : First hard-rock HPGR experience

Last week, our community engaged in a series of insightful exchanges over diverse topics in the mining sector. Members discussed the implementation and experiences with high-pressure grinding rolls (HPGR) in hard-rock operations, while others shared strategies for optimizing starter pit sizes. There was also an in-depth exploration of underground gyro drift tolerances, emphasizing precision and reliability. Additionally, operator-friendly SOPs for grinding and flotation were debated, highlighting the balance between efficiency and user-friendliness.


This Week’s Hot Topics

First hard-rock HPGR — Los Colorados or Cerro Verde
The conversation delves into the pioneering use of HPGR technology in hard-rock mining and compares its applications in Los Colorados and Cerro Verde. It’s fascinating to see how this technology is shaping efficiency in mining operations.
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Right-size your starter pit
Examining the importance of correctly sizing starter pits, this discussion provides practical insights that could greatly impact project economics and operational success.
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Gyro drift tolerance underground
A technical deep-dive into managing gyro drift in underground operations, focusing on maintaining accuracy over long durations. It’s a must-read for those involved in underground surveying.
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Operator-friendly SOPs for grind and flotation
This thread highlights the push towards creating SOPs that are not only effective but also easy to understand and implement by operators, enhancing both safety and productivity.
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Under-cover targeting: soils or spectral
A debate on the merits of soil versus spectral methods for under-cover targeting. This discussion could influence your choice of exploration techniques.
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Smallest anomaly that led to a discovery
Explorers share their stories of minor anomalies that resulted in significant discoveries, a testament to the potential impact of meticulous data analysis.
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Froth flotation ruined my coffee
A lighter take on the topic of flotation, this thread humorously connects froth flotation principles with a common coffee mishap.
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Donuts, LOTO, and rookie questions
A supportive space where professionals discuss LOTO safety practices and share their experiences with newcomers’ questions, often over donuts.
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Risk assessment checklist for night shift
The community shares comprehensive checklists to ensure safety and efficiency during night shifts, reflecting the ongoing commitment to worker safety.
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Looking forward to another week of valuable discussions and shared learning. Don’t hesitate to jump into the conversation or start your own thread.

Dialed in HPGR on a hard-rock line last year; first 72 hours were all about feed top-size and skew. “questions, often over donuts.” Same here — what moved the needle was locking F80 under about 40 mm, moisture about 1–2%, and a real tramp-metal program; otherwise you chip studs and chase recirc all shift. Caveat: if your ore carries mica/clay in the wet, plan a dry bypass or you’ll smear the flake and blind the screens.

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First week, pre-crush and screen-out >40 mm spalls; saved roll surfaces. Belt magnets too, but watch wet fines. https://www.mogroup.com/insights/blog/what-is-hpgr/.

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It’s interesting how quickly setups can adapt; I had a similar experience refining feed size with HPGR. The small tweaks can lead to big shifts in efficiency, just like finding the right coffee grind can make or break your morning brew. Curious if anyone’s noticed any unexpected wear patterns over time? @Mogroup has some great insights on this.

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