Introduction
Mining is an important industry that produces innumerable necessary products used in everyday life. Consequently, the analysis of ore grades and ore quality is of paramount importance in the industry. Ore grade is a measure of the amount of a mineral in a given ore. For example, the grade of gold ore is usually expressed as grams of gold per tonne of ore (g/t). Ore quality, sometimes referred to as ore type, is a measure of the purity or concentration of a given ore. Mineral processors must assess both the grade and quality of the ore that they are working on. This assessment is used to determine the recovery rate, the ore processing method and the feed rate that will be used during extraction and treatment of the ore.
The extent to which a ore is concentrated is known as mineralization. If the concentration of a mineral is sufficient to make mining economically viable, the ore is deemed mineralized. In other words, ore quality is a measure of its mineralization, i.e. how concentrated the ore is. Factors such as weathering, erosion and other natural disturbances can affect ore quality.
Having evaluated the grade and quality of the ore, a mineral processor will then set the mining cut-off grade. This is the minimum grade of ore that is deemed economically viable to mine. Ore below the cut-off grade will be left in the ground, while ore above it will be mined.
After mining the ore, it is then processed and subjected to various treatments. The extracted ore is usually crushed and assigned a recovery rate based on the grinding size, mineralogical characteristics and other factors. The ore is then subjected to a primary beneficiation process to separate the valuable minerals from the gangue material. Depending on the complexity of the processing and possible ore types, subsequent processing steps may be needed.
Once the ore is extracted and beneficiation is completed, the mineral processor will then assign a Head Grade and Tail Grade to the mined ore. A Head Grade is the grade of the ore when it is first extracted. It is the highest grade of ore that the miner unearthed. The Tail Grade, on the other hand, is the grade of the ore when it leaves the mine. It is the lowest grade of ore that has been extracted. Both Head Grade and Tail Grade have a significant impact on the profitability of the mine. They are also used to judge the performance of the mineral extraction process. High Head Grade and Tail Grade mean better ore quality, which usually leads to higher profits.
Conclusion
Mining ore and understanding ore grades and ore quality is essential for mineral processors. A proper assessment of the ore grade and ore quality must be conducted in order to determine the most suitable recovery process and feed rate. The miner will then set their cut-off grade, extract the ore and assign a Head Grade and Tail Grade to the mined ore which will help to determine the profitability of the mine. By understanding and assessing ore grades and ore quality, mineral processors can maximize the profits of their operations.
