received by the International Bureau on 22 January 2015 (22.01 .2015)

We Claim:

1. An aqueous mineral ore slurry composition comprising a mineral ore wherein the mineral ore is at least about 30% by weight of the aqueous slurry and a hydrolyzed starch wherein the hydrolyzed starch is from about 0.005% to about 1.0% by dry weight of the aqueous slurry.

2. The mineral ore slurry of claim 1 , wherein the hydrolyzed starch is selected from the group consisting of dextrin, maltodextrin, com syrup solids and combinations thereof.

3. The mineral ore slurry of claim 1, wherein the mineral ore comprises a component selected from the group consisting of a precious metal, a base metal, coal, phosphate and combinations thereof.

4. The mineral ore slurry of claim 1 , wherein me mineral ore comprises a mineral selected from the group consisting of gold, aluminum, silver, platinum, copper, nickel, zinc, lead, molybdenum, iron and combinations thereof.

5. The mineral ore slurry of claim 1 , comprising about 0.01 % to about 0.4% of the grinding aid by dry weight of the mineral ore.

6. The mineral ore slurry of claim 1, wherein the aqueous phase has a mineral ore content of at least about 50% by weight

7. The mineral ore slurry of claim 1, wherein the aqueous phase has a mineral ore content of about 60% by weight to about 80% by weight.

8. A method of wet grinding a mineral ore comprising providing an aqueous mineral ore slurry having a solids concentration of at least about 30% by dry wt. of the slurry; adding from about 0.005% to about 1.0% by dry weight of the slurry a hydrolyzed starch; and comminuting the mineral ore.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the hydrolyzed starch is selected from the group consisting of dextrin, maltodextrin, corn syrup solids and combinations thereof.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the mineral ore comprises a component selected from the group consisting of a precious metal, a base metal, coal, phosphate and combinations thereof.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the mineral ore comprises a mineral selected from the group consisting of gold, aluminum, silver, platinum, copper, nickel, zinc, lead, molybdenum, iron and combinations thereof.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the grinding aid is added to the aqueous slurry in an amount of about 0.01% to about 1.0% by dry weight of the mineral ore.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the grinding aid is added to the aqueous slurry in an amount of about 0.01% to about 0.40% by dry weight of the mineral ore.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the aqueous slurry has a mineral ore content of least about 50% by weight.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein the aqueous phase has a mineral ore content of about 60% by weight to about 80% by weight.

16. The method of claim 8, wherein the means for comminuting the mineral ore is selected from the group consisting of a ball mills, rod mills, autogenous mills, semi-autogenous mills, pebble mills, high pressure grinding mills, burhstone mills, vertical shift impactor mills and tower mills.