A　comparative　study　was　carried　out　to　investigate　the　effect　of　high-pressure　grinding　rolls　(HPGR)　comminution　on　agitation　leaching　of　gold　ore　in　comparison　with　the　conventional　jaw　crusher　(JC)　comminution.　The　HPGR　comminution　products　were　evaluated　in　terms　of　particle　size　distribution,　specific　surface　area　and　average　pore　volume,　and　the　origin　and　density　of　micro-cracks.　HPGR　comminution　produced　finer　particles　with　larger　specific　surface　area　and　average　pore　volume,　more　surficial　and　internal　micro-cracks.　It　was　found　that　intragranular　micro-cracks　were　dominant　in　JC　products　while　intergranular　micro-cracks　were　favored　by　HPGR　products.　Under　optimum　HPGR　conditions　(medium　pressure　of　5.5　N/mm2),　gold　metal　recovery　during　agitation　leaching　was　increased　6.79%–10.93%　while　cyanide　consumption　was　reduced　5.82%–11.11%.　These　results　suggest　that　more　and　narrower　micro-cracks　included　in　HPGR　products　may　enhance　contact　between　the　leach　solution　and　gold　grains　which　contribute　to　the　enhancement　of　gold　agitation　leaching.　However,　excessive　grinding　of　HPGR　products　will　moderate　the　advantage　of　HPGR　comminution.　©　2020　Elsevier　Ltd