It is shown that the presence of two active zones in a grinding mill l
eads to apparent non-first-order breakage of the top feed size in batc
h grinding. The equations to describe the kinetics of the breakage of
the top size and of the total size distribution are obtained, and an a
nalytical solution is given. Parametric analysis shows the influences
of the relative magnitudes of the two active zones, the rates of break
age and the rate of mass transfer between the two active zones on the
mill product. The concepts may be applicable to any type of mill where
two active zones can exist.