This paper presents the results of an experimental study undertaken to demonstrate the feasibility of using silica sand as a grinding media in stirred ball mills for ultra-fine coal grinding. Laboratory butch as well as bench scale continuous tests indicate that when fracturing silica sand is substituted for steel media, then superior energy savings on the order of 50% and more can be realized. Moreover, this approach has been found to eliminate the disadvantages observed with grinding using steel media such as high replacement cost, contamination of coal through media wear, greater degree of coal oxidation due to higher slurry temperature and greater level of noise dissipation. Additionally, coal-sand attrition system reduces the manpower time because steel media after grinding needs precautionary measures to be taken such as thorough cleaning and their storage in inert atmosphere to avoid rust and corrosion problems.