Abstract: The high energy consumption issue in the grinding process has emerged as a critical bottleneck restricting the sustainable development of the mineral processing industry. To address this challenge,a systematic study was conducted on the energy-saving mechanisms and industrial application potential of nano-ceramic balls as a novel grinding medium. Research findings indicate that:in the production phase,the full-life cycle carbon emission intensity of nano-ceramic balls is reduced by over 40% compared to traditional steel balls;In terms of grinding kinetics,their expanded motion trajectory range enhances ki-netic energy conversion efficiency by 150%,while the high-frequency low-impact collision mode effectively mitigates over-crushing,reducing specific grinding energy consumption between 35% to 70%. With their superior properties of high hardness,high strength,and low wear,ceramic balls achieve comprehensive energy and medium cost reductions exceeding 50% in both ferrous and non-ferrous metal mines. However,current ceramic ball grinding technology still faces limitations such as insuffi-cient density,poor compatibility with mill structures,and inadequate process chain coordination. By developing high-density ce-ramic balls（3. 8～5. 7 g/cm³）,designing next-generation lightweight energy-saving mills,and establishing a new low-carbon comminution process,ceramic ball grinding could become the core of next-generation low-carbon crushing technology,doubling energy efficiency and significantly reducing crushing costs.