Next-Generation Circuits: Size Reduction, Concentration, and Dewatering in Mineral Processing

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue of Minerals invites leading researchers and industry experts to contribute their latest findings, innovations, and critical reviews focused on the integrated circuit of three fundamental, yet rapidly evolving, stages of mineral processing: Size Reduction (Comminution), Concentration (Separation), and Dewatering.

The increasing complexity of ore bodies, the need to process lower-grade ore, and stringent environmental regulations demand a new generation of processing circuits that are highly efficient, energy-conscious, water-optimized, and sustainably operated. This issue will provide a vital, high-impact platform to share advancements shaping the future of our industry's critical path.

Scope and Themes

We seek high-quality submissions covering theoretical, experimental, and industrial applications within, but not limited to, the following core themes:

1. Size Reduction (Comminution) Innovation and Optimization

The transition towards energy-efficient grinding and liberation.

• Next-Generation Technology: Breakthroughs in high-pressure grinding rolls (HPGR), stirred mills, vertical roller mills, and fine/ultra-fine comminution.
• Energy Efficiency and Specific Energy Consumption: Novel modeling, control, and operational strategies to minimize specific energy consumption in comminution circuits.
• Integrated Geometallurgical Approaches: Ore-specific circuit design and control, linking ore characterization directly to comminution strategy.
• Circuit Optimization and Modeling: Advanced control strategies, modeling, and simulation (DEM, SPH) for dynamic circuit behavior and throughput maximization.

2. Concentration (Separation) Circuit Design and Maximizing Value

This theme focuses on maximizing recovery and grade under fluctuating feed conditions.

• Circuit Optimization: Cleaner, scavenger, and regrinding loop optimization, including grade-recovery trade-off analysis.
• Advanced Separation Technologies: Innovations in flotation (e.g., column flotation, pneumatic cells), magnetic separation, dense media separation, and sorting (e.g., sensor-based sorting).
• Reagent Chemistry and Control: Tailoring reagent schemes for complex or low-grade ores and novel methods for online reagent management.
• Process Mineralogy and Diagnostics: Utilizing advanced analytical techniques (e.g., QEMSCAN, MLA) to inform real-time circuit control and decision-making.

3. Dewatering and Sustainable Water Management

This area looks at driving sustainability through water conservation and high-solids processes.

• High-Rate Dewatering: Advances in thickeners, clarifiers, filtration, and centrifuge technology for high-solids concentration.
• Integrated Water Recirculation: Modeling and strategies for maximizing water recovery, managing process water chemistry, and mitigating the impact of water quality on flotation and other upstream processes.
• Tailings Management: Innovations in dry stacking, paste backfill, and minimizing the environmental footprint of residue disposal.
• Process Water Chemistry and Reagent Management: Understanding and mitigating the deleterious effects of recycled water on mineral recovery and consumption of primary reagents. 

Why Publish in This Special Issue?

• High Visibility and Indexed Impact: Minerals is a highly respected, peer-reviewed international journal ensuring your work reaches a broad and relevant audience of industry leaders and academic researchers.
• Defining the Future: Your research will directly contribute to scalable solutions for global challenges in energy consumption, water stewardship, and the sustainable supply of critical minerals.
• Timeliness and Maximum Citation Potential: This topic is at the apex of current industry investment and research focus, ensuring maximum visibility and citation potential for groundbreaking work that addresses modern operational and environmental pressures.

We invite you to submit impactful research that will shape the future of mineral processing. Join us in redefining the efficiency and sustainability standards for this industry's critical path.

Prof. Dr. Luis A. Cisternas
Dr. Yesica Botero
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Minerals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.