A crushing sample is a representative portion of ore or crushed material collected from within the crushing circuit for the purposes of geotechnical characterization, metallurgical testing, quality control, or process optimization. In bauxite, gold, iron ore, and diamond mining, crushing samples are taken at various points in the crushing circuit — including the ROM feed, intermediate stages, and final product — to assess particle size distribution, ore hardness, mineral composition, and liberation characteristics. Sampling at the crusher feed and product enables calculation of the actual crushing ratio, throughput efficiency, and liner performance. In metallurgical programs, crushing samples may be subjected to Bond Work Index testing, JK Drop Weight testing, or other comminution characterization procedures to guide mill design and circuit optimization. Crushing samples collected during mine production are also used for grade reconciliation, ensuring that the material being processed aligns with geological resource model predictions. Proper sampling protocols, including the use of mechanical samplers, correct sample mass, and riffle splitting, are essential to ensure representativeness and data integrity.
