The article presents investigation on the grinding rate constant. A selection function was measured for different raw materials using a ball mill, and effects of the grinding ball diameter and feed particle sizes on the materials grinding rate constant were investigated. The study was conducted for the mill on a semi-technical scale. The process was carried out periodically using several sets of grinding media. Relations for all investigated materials were expressed by the modified Snow equation. Additionally, the descriptions of the grinding rate was examined. The tendency in the variation of the grinding rate constant with the particle size was similar for all materials used, and was independent of the ball diameter. The author used two selection functions derived theoretically by Tanaka.