Step 1: Concept
Different crushers apply different mechanical forces (impact, shear, or pressure) to break rocks.
Step 2: Meaning
Compression involves squeezing the material between two surfaces until it fractures.
Step 3: Analysis
A gyratory crusher consists of a conical head moving eccentrically inside a fixed bowl, creating a squeezing (compression) motion.
Step 4: Conclusion
The primary mechanism of size reduction in a gyratory crusher is compression.
Final Answer: (C)