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First Quantum was operating the Lonshi mine to the south east
of this deposit, in the Pedicle, so logistically, it was easy for
us to carry out extensive drilling
They are too light to have enough kinetic energy to break rock
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PICTURE FROM INSIDE KANSANSHI’s SAG MILL
NOTE BALLS OF ONE SIZE
EFFECTS OF SOFT CENTRE OF A CAST BALL
uneven wear
EFFECTS OF SOFT CENTRE OF A CAST BALL
dimpled ball
WHAT WAS THE SOLUTION?.....FORGED BALLS
The bar from which a forged ball is made is cut into shots, reheated
and hammered at least 30 times. Compacting and hardening it. The
initial hot rolling of the bar followed by rapid cooling, reheating and
subsequent hammering, also changes the microstructure from one
resembling pearlitic to that closer to martensitic. The steel’s grain
structure aligns and stretches in the forging process, thus creating a
stronger, more compact steel. The balls are then quenched and
reheated for tempering and stress relieving, respectively.
PEARLITIC MARTENSITIC
ECLIPSE FOUNDRY’s FORGED BALL
Although proved to be successful, the volume
of forged balls we required, ECLIPSE was
unable to supply.