What is the average gold mining grade?

The grade of ore refers to the proportion of gold contained in the ore of a particular mine and is quoted in grams per tonne (g/t). The type of mine depends on the depth and grade of the ore. At a rough estimate, the larger, better quality South African underground operations are around 8-10g/t (Anglogold), while the marginal South African underground mines run at around 4-6g/t. Many of the operations elsewhere in the world are open pit mines, which run at lower grades, from as little as 1g/t up to around 3-4g/t. A more significant piece of information than average gold mining grade is cost per ounce, which is a combination of grade (grams/tonne) and operating costs (USD/tonne).

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