Energy and natural resources
Recovery rate (mining)
The share of metal in the ore that processing actually captures.
Last reviewedWhat does Recovery rate (mining) mean?
Recovery rate is the metal recovered by the processing plant divided by the metal contained in the ore fed into it. The rest ends up in the waste (tailings). Example: ore containing 6,000 tonnes of copper is processed at an 88 percent recovery rate, producing 5,280 tonnes of copper in concentrate. Recovery depends on the type of ore and the process, and a few points of improvement can add a lot of metal at little extra cost, which is why mines invest in better processing. Metal produced = ore tonnes x grade x recovery rate.
Where does it come up in case interview prep?
Related terms
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