Designation: E 389 – 03

Standard Test Method for

Particle Size or Screen Analysis at No. 4 (4.75-mm) Sieve
and Coarser for Metal-Bearing Ores and Related Materials1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 389; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope analysts capable of performing common laboratory practices

1.1 This test method covers the determination of the size skillfully and safely. It is expected that work will be performed
distribution by screen analysis of metal-bearing ores and in a properly equipped laboratory and that proper waste
related materials at No. 4 (4.75-mm) sieve and coarser. disposal procedures will be followed. Follow appropriate
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the quality control practices such as those described in Guide
safety problems, if any, associated with its use. It is the E 882.
responsibility the user of this standard to establish appropriate 6. Apparatus and Materials
safety and health practices and determine the applicability of
regulatory limitations prior to use. 6.1 U.S. Standard Sieves, conforming to the requirements of
Specification E 11.
2. Referenced Documents 6.2 Sieve Shaker, mechanical or manual.
2.1 ASTM Standards: 6.3 Drying Oven, of approximate size and capable of
E 11 Specification for Wire-Cloth Sieves for Testing Pur- maintaining a uniform temperature at 110 6 5°C.
poses2 6.4 Sample Splitter or Riffle, with openings not less than
E 276 Test Method for Particle Size or Screen Analysis at three times the size of the largest particle.
No. 4 (4.75-mm) Sieve and Finer for Metal-Bearing Ores 6.5 Scales and Weights, of adequate accuracy.
and Related Materials3 6.6 Pans, for holding samples.
E 882 Guide for Accountability and Quality Control in the 6.7 Brushes, for cleaning sieves and pans.
Chemical Analysis Laboratory3
7. Sample Preparation
3. Terminology 7.1 If necessary, reduce the sample by means of a sample
3.1 Definitions: For definitions of terms in this test method, splitter or riffle, or by coning and quartering, or by the
refer to Terminology E 135. alternate-shovel method. Dry at 110 6 5°C to constant weight.
NOTE 1—The size of the sample is very important in sieve analysis
4. Summary of Test Method because the number of particles on a sieve surface affects the probability
4.1 The sample is passed through a bank of standard sieves of any one particle passing through the sieve at a given time. The more
by agitation. The screening technique described in this proce- particles there are on a sieve, the greater probability that any one particle
dure may be used on any solid particles that can be dried so that is hindered from getting into a position to pass through the opening. Avoid
overloading the sieves.
sieve blinding does not occur.
7.2 Screen the test sample from 7.1 on a No. 4 (4.75-mm)
5. Significance and Use sieve. Weigh the material passing the sieve and, if desired,
5.1 This test method is intended to be used for compliance screen in accordance with Test Method E 276.
with compositional specifications for particle size distribution.
It is assumed that all who use this procedure will be trained 8. Procedure
8.1 Clean the sieves and apparatus by brushing.
8.2 Nest the selected sieves and fit a pan to the bottom sieve.
1
Place the material which was retained on the No. 4 (4.75-mm)
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E01 on
Analytical Chemistry for Metals, Ores, and Related Materials and is the direct sieve from 7.2 in the top sieve. Cover and clamp in the
responsibility of Subcommittee E01.02 on Ores, Concentrates, and Related Metal- mechanical shaker and shake for the length of time as specified
lurgical Materials. in 8.3.
Current edition approved June 10, 2003. Published October 2003. Originally
approved in 1969. Last previous edition approved in 1998 as E 389 – 93 (1998).
8.3 Length of Screening Time or End Point—The screening
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 14.02. time or end point is when additional periods of shaking fail to
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 03.05. change the results on any sieve used in the test by more than

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

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 E 389 – 03
0.3 %. For highly friable material the 0.3 % specification may 10.2 Present the data of a screen analysis graphically as a
be meaningless and an acceptable end point shall be deter- cumulative direct plot or a cumulative logarithmic plot. From
mined experimentally. the plots, the percentages remaining on any set of openings
8.4 Weighing—Remove the clamp and cover. Transfer the other than those of the testing sieves used, can be found by
contents of each sieve to a tared pan, tapping and brushing the interpolation and in this way redistribution of the same material
sieves to remove any lodged particles (Note 2). Record the by any assumed set of openings can be determined.
weight of each sieve fraction.
NOTE 2—For sieves 2 in. (50 mm) and larger, the probability of a piece 11. Standardization of Sieves
of material passing through the sieve is related to its shape. Retained
particles approximating the size of the sieve openings should be adjusted 11.1 Calibrate the sieves by use of calibrated glass spheres.
by hand to see if they will pass through. For sieves smaller than 2 in., Standard glass spheres are available through the National
gently shake by hand to determine if screening is complete. Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)4 and other
international standardization organizations.
9. Calculation
9.1 Sum the weights of each sieve fraction including the 12. Precision and Bias
weight of the material passing the No. 4 sieve in 7.2. The total
shall be within 1 % of the weight of the original test sample or 12.1 Precision—It is generally agreed that the selection of
the analysis must be repeated from 7.1 with another test the sample, loading of the sieves, sieves themselves, or the
sample. The weight of the test sample used for calculation is final weighing, all influence the reproducibility and accuracy of
the total of the sieve fractions. Calculate the percent retained screening. Some particle wear occurs but is usually insignifi-
on each sieve as follows: cant. Brittleness or hardness of the ore and the mode of
Material retained, % 5 ~Wr/Wt! 3 100 (1) operation of the mechanical shaker influence slightly the
results of the test. The size and shape of the particles
where: significantly influence the probability of passing when screen
Wr = mass retained on each sieve, and or sieve aperture and particle size are close. Screening time is
Wt = total mass of all sieve fractions. important, but it cannot be said that a specific time of screening
Calculate the percent passing the finest sieve as follows: should be used for all types of materials. End point or time of
Material passing, % 5 ~Wp/Wt! 3 100 (2) screening for different materials is to be established by experi-
mentation.
where:
Wp = mass passing the finest sieve, retained on a pan or 12.2 When fines form clusters of agglomerates or adhere to
filter, and coarse particles, wet screening may be required or be desirable,
Wt = total mass of all sieve fractions. depending upon each user’s needs.

Obtain the percent cumulative by adding each percent retained 13. Keywords
on each sieve as the series progresses.
13.1 analysis; ores; particle; screen; size
10. Report
10.1 Report the following data: sieve size, weight retained
on or passing through sieve, percent retained on sieve, and 4
Available from National Institute of Standards and Technology, U.S. Depart-
percent cumulative. ment of Commerce, Gaithersburg, MD 20899.

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 E 389 – 03

APPENDIX

(Nonmandatory Information)

X1. SUMMARY OF U.S. SIEVE, TYLER SCREEN, AND ISO EQUIVALENTS

U.S. Standard Sieve Tyler Screen Number ISO Designation, mm

5 in. 125
4.24 in. 106
4 in. 100
31⁄2 in. 90
3 in. 75
21⁄2 in. 53
2 in. 50
13⁄4 in. 45
11⁄2 in. 37.5
11⁄4 in. 31.5
1.06 in. 1.05 in. 26.5
1 in. 25.0
7⁄8 in. 0.883 in. 22.4
3⁄4 in. 0.742 in. 19.0
5⁄8 in. 0.624 in. 16.0
1⁄2 in. 12.5
7⁄16 in. 0.441 in. 11.2
3⁄8 in. 0.371 in. 9.5
5⁄16 in. 21⁄2 mesh 8.0
0.265 in. 3 mesh 6.7
1⁄4 in. 6.3
No. 31⁄2 31⁄2 mesh 5.6
No. 4 4 mesh 4.75

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