The “grade” of a gold mine refers to the quality or quantity of gold contained in the ore. It is often used to measure the economic value and mining potential of a gold mine. It is one of the most important indicators for evaluating the quality of gold resources.

Gold grade is a key indicator for measuring the value and mining efficiency of gold mines, typically expressed in grams per ton (g/t). It is generally classified into the following categories:

Lean Ore
• Definition: Low-grade gold ore, generally considered to be those with a grade below 1-2 g/t.

• Characteristics and Mining: Mining and beneficiation costs are high, resulting in relatively poor economic returns. However, with technological advances and rising gold prices, some lean ores are now worth mining.

Medium-Grade Ore
• Definition: Medium-grade gold ore, typically between 2-5 g/t.

• Characteristics and Mining: Relatively common in the market, with a reasonable profit margin from mining and beneficiation. Many gold mining companies routinely mine these ores, and gold can be efficiently extracted through appropriate processing.

Rich Ore
• Definition: High-grade gold ore, typically between 5-10 g/t.

• Characteristics and Mining: High mining value, relatively low mining and beneficiation costs, and good economic returns make them popular with gold mining companies.

Ultra-Bonus Ore
• Definition: Extremely high-grade gold ores, exceeding 10 grams per ton. Some high-quality ultra-bonus ores can reach grades of tens of grams per ton or even higher.

• Characteristics and Mining: Extremely rare, with extremely high mining value. Discovery attracts significant attention and investment, but these gold deposits are extremely rare globally.