Mineral Viability

• Factors that affect mining viability


  -ore purity

  -chemical form

  -depth

  -economic viability

  -transport costs

  -market economics
• Ore purity


  the purity of ore affects the financial cost of exploitation and environmental impacts caused by mining

  low grade ore:

  -more rock will be mined

  -more waste material

  -more energy needed

  -more pollution
• Chemical form of ore


  affects the ease of chemical extraction of the metal
• Overburden


  Layer of soil and rock overlying a mineral deposit.
• hard overburden


  Requires blasting which increases cost
• Loose overburden


  may increase risk of landslides
• Hydrology


  Higher precipitation or impermeable rocks below increase drainage costs
• Depth


  cost rises rapidly as depth increases

  -more water gathers as the depth increases, increasing pumping cost
• Economic viability


  must be a difference between production cost and income
• COOG


  Lower ore grades can be mined as technology improves and market prices fluctuate
• Transport costs


  variables effecting

  -distance to market

  -ease of bulk transport

  -presents of suitable existing transport
• Market economics


  market demand and sale value of minerals control the economic viability of exploitation
• Market price


  Controlled by the demand, how much is produced and costs of processing and extraction