Mining industry standard conversions: weight, precious metals, concentrate, grade, currency
Weight
1 Metric Tonne (t)2,204.62 lbst to lbs: x 2,204.62
1 Metric Tonne (t)1.10231 Short Tons (st)t to st: x 1.10231
1 Metric Tonne (t)0.98421 Long Tons (lt)t to lt: x 0.98421
1 Short Ton (st)2,000 lbsst to lbs: x 2,000
1 Long Ton (lt)2,240 lbslt to lbs: x 2,240
1 Kilogram (kg)2.20462 lbskg to lbs: x 2.20462
1 Pound (lb)0.453592 kglb to kg: x 0.453592
Precious Metals
1 Troy Ounce (oz)31.1035 gramsg/t to oz/t: divide by 31.1035
1 Troy Ounce (oz)0.0311035 kg
1 Kilogram32.1507 Troy Ounceskg to oz: x 32.1507
1 gram per tonne (g/t)0.02917 oz per short tong/t to oz/st: x 0.02917
1 g/t over 1 tonne0.03215 troy ozg/t x tonnes / 31.1035 = oz
Concentrate & Moisture
DMT (Dry Metric Tonne)Tonne at 0% moistureBase for TC/RC charges
WMT (Wet Metric Tonne)Tonne including moistureBase for freight charges
WMT to DMTDMT = WMT x (1 - moisture%/100)e.g. 8% moisture: WMT x 0.92
DMT to WMTWMT = DMT / (1 - moisture%/100)e.g. 8% moisture: DMT / 0.92
Conc Tonnes/t ore(ore_grade% x recovery%) / conc_grade%e.g. 2% Cu, 85% rec, 25% conc = 0.068 t/t
Grade & Recovery
% to fractionDivide by 100e.g. 2.1% Cu = 0.021
Payable metal (lbs)conc_grade x payable% x 2,204.62per DMT of concentrate
Recovered metal/t oregrade% x recovery%e.g. 2.1% Cu x 85% = 1.785% Cu recovered
Cu equivalent gradeCuEq% = Cu% + (Zn_factor/Cu_factor) x Zn%...See /sensitivity for factors
NSR per tonneSum of (payable metal x price) - TC - RC - freightPer tonne of ore processed
Currency & Price
Cu price $/lb to $/t$/lb x 2,204.62 = $/te.g. $4.20/lb = $9,259/t
Zn price $/lb to $/t$/lb x 2,204.62 = $/te.g. $1.30/lb = $2,866/t
Au price $/oz to $/g$/oz / 31.1035 = $/ge.g. $2,350/oz = $75.56/g
Ag price $/oz to $/g$/oz / 31.1035 = $/ge.g. $30/oz = $0.965/g
Volume & Area
1 cubic metre (m3)1.30795 cubic yards
1 Bank Cubic Metre (BCM)In-situ rock volumeBefore blasting
1 Loose Cubic Metre (LCM)BCM x swell factorAfter blasting (typically 1.3-1.5x)
Bulk density (t/m3)Typically 2.5-3.0 for sulphide oreBCM x density = tonnes
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