The contemporary research article is central to understanding coal structure evaluation and the morphological development impacting its utilization in different applications. Through Mineral Liberation Analysis (MLA) designs high content phyllosilicates minerals and swelling clay minerals were rationalized to provides a novel insight into enhanced coal beneficiation and the benefits of coal by-product re-utilization progressions that encourage safer environments and economic sustainability. This work commences with collection of five (5) different coal samples from the central district region in Botswana, sample characterization deploying Thermogravimetric coal analysis (TGA), x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the Hardgrove Grindability Index (HGI) test that was directed to quantification of the coal hardness and fracture toughness during milling. The cumulative objective was to understand the correlation that exists between the natural composition of the coal sample and their adaptation and application in various carbonaceous products. A solid connection was thus identified in the sulfur and phosphorus weight percentage inclusions in all the coal materials hence higher significance in sphalerite mineral phases (Zn, Fe) S critically increased the fracture toughness and hardness properties. Moreover, mineral amalgams intrinsic to the coal maceral such as aluminum oxides (Al₂O₃), silicate (SiO₂), calcites (CaO), Iron oxide (Fe₂O₃), potassium feldspars (K − AlSi₃O₈), albite (Na − AlSi₃O₈), and anorthite (Ca − Al₂Si₂O₈) compounds in alkali feldspars were detected in larger quantities. The coal industry has attracted much industrial attention to manufacturing foundations producing cement, ceramic tiles, paving bricks, and material synthesis and will continue to supply other economic sectors in the conceivable future. Graphical Abstract

In this article factors that affect the comminution behavior of heterogeneous diorite rocks obtained from two quarry locations in Botswana were investigated. Diorite rocks are in great abundance in Botswana and they are increasingly viewed as a relatively inexpensive and reliable alternative construction material to sustain the infrastructure growth in Botswana. The diorite rock samples collected from both the Central and North-Eastern districts were studied for structural similarities and mineral composition. These two are the main factors that influence material hardness, fracture toughness and particle size distribution (PSD) following breakage, which are important material properties in construction applications (Barry & James, 2016). The aim of the investigation was to comminute and compare the behavior of the rock sample types, under similar experimental conditions in a laboratory jaw crusher as well as in a planetary ball mill. The product PSD was used to theoretically determine and compare power requirements. The experimental results show that the diorite rock sample collected from the central region required 41.58 KWht-1 while the one collected from the north-eastern region required 38.33KWht-1 to fragment from a particle feed in the -50 + 40 mm size range to a product in the -11.2 + 6.3 mm size range, which is a typical construction aggregate size range. The diorite sample collected from the central district was largely characterized by amorphous phase constituents and high silicate/quartz content (12.4%) while the north-eastern diorite was characterized by a high crystalline phase percentage and lower silicate/quartz composition (6.94%). The experimental results show that inherent diorite rock properties play a significant role in determining cost of production and product application in the quarry industry of Botswana.