Gold Quality Parameters
2. An overview of gold quality parameters, focusing on the gold grade as the primary measure of gold quality.
| Gold Grade (Au) | The concentration of pure gold within the raw rock (ore). Higher values mean more gold content. g/t (grams per tonne) or thousands of troy ounces (koz). Example: 5 g/t means 5 grams of gold per tonne of ore. |
Gold quality is a critical factor in determining the value of gold mining operations. The primary measure of gold quality is the gold grade, which indicates the concentration of pure gold within the raw rock (ore). Higher gold grades mean more gold content, and being the primary determinant of the ore value, it also directly impacts the economic viability of gold mining operations.
| Ore Grade | Gold Grade (g/t) | Description |
|---|---|---|
| High | >10 g/t >0.29 oz/t | Contains a high concentration of gold, often found in veins or lodes. |
| Medium | 5-10 g/t 0.15-0.29 oz/t | Contains a moderate concentration of gold, often found in disseminated deposits. |
| Low | 1-5 g/t 0.03-0.15 oz/t | Contains a low concentration of gold, often found in bulk-tonnage deposits. |