RE: What was promised Vs delivery4 Apr 2026 14:29
Industry Standards: For large-scale commercial extraction, copper deposits typically need to be in excess of 0.5%, with 0.7% often cited as the average for major porphyry copper mines worldwide.
Comparison to Key Mines: Many large, profitable mines operate around or below this level, including those in Chile that hover around 0.6% to 0.74%.
Viability: Ore with 0.7% copper is high enough to be processed economically via conventional beneficiation and froth flotation, which concentrates the material to 25%–30% copper before smelting.
Context of Demand: Because high-grade deposits are increasingly scarce, 0.7% is considered economically attractive, and it is higher than the average for many new, lower-grade projects under development, which often average 0.39% or less.
SolarPACES
SolarPACES
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However, "good" also depends on factors other than grade:
Depth: Surface (open-pit) mines can operate profitably at 0.7% or lower, while deeper underground mines usually require higher grades (over 1%–2%) to cover higher mining costs.
Mineralogy: The type of copper mineral (sulfide vs. oxide) determines the processing cost.
By-products: If the ore contains significant gold, silver, or molybdenum, a 0.7% copper grade is even more valuable.
Wikipedia
Wikipedia
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