What is the key operational difference between jaw and gyratory crushers, affecting their suitability for different ore types?

The key operational difference between jaw and gyratory crushers is the way they apply compressive force to break the ore, which influences their suitability for different ore types and feed sizes. Jaw crushers operate using a reciprocating motion of a movable jaw against a fixed jaw. Ore is crushed intermittently as it is caught between the two jaws. This intermittent crushing action makes jaw crushers well-suited for handling large feed sizes and abrasive materials. They are commonly used as primary crushers, reducing large rocks from the mine face to a size that can be handled by subsequent crushing stages. Gyratory crushers, on the other hand, operate with a continuously rotating crushing head (mantle) inside a stationary crushing bowl (concave). The crushing action is continuous, as the mantle gyrates and compresses the ore against the bowl. This continuous crushing action allows gyratory crushers to handle higher throughput rates than jaw crushers. However, gyratory crushers are generally less tolerant of very large feed sizes and extremely hard or abrasive materials compared to jaw crushers. They are often used as primary or secondary crushers, depending on the specific application and ore characteristics. In summary, jaw crushers excel at handling large, abrasive feeds due to their intermittent crushing action, while gyratory crushers are better suited for higher throughput rates and less abrasive materials due to their continuous crushing action.