This is a post by UFX a GEO on the FNT thread that is interesting.
I believe a similar thing may unfold with Crater Mountain.
While Crater Mountain may be primarily a gold deposit with some small base metal credits UFX's post indicates that you don't need high grades for a mega economic deposit you just need it to be economic and the more tonnages the more economic it becomes.
This is essentially what the big boys are after economic grades with large tonnages.
Here is what UFX wrote.
I do agree that copper / gold grades can be higher in for example VMS deposits. But specifically in Porphyry Copper Gold deposits they are low grade. They can have zones which are enriched for example secondary enrichment zones near the water table can cause higher grades in these deposits.
Some Porphry copper- Gold deposits in SE Asia for example with size in equivalent ounces.
From highest grades to the lowest.
Far South East 0.8% Cu 1.6g/t gold 30moz Wafi Golpu 0.9 0.85 82 Grasberg 0.8 0.8 478 BIG Ridgeway 0.5 0.95 12 Ok tedi 0.7 0.6 43 Oya Tolgu 1.0 0.3 214 big Cadia NSW 0.25 0.45 90 Frieda River 0.6 0.3 62 North Parkes 0.75 0.3 11 Batu Hijau 0.45 0.35 56 Reko Diq 0.6 0.2 189 Panguna 0.4 0.25 52 Tampakan 0.6 0.2 101 Namosi 0.4 0.15 52
GOA Price at posting:
2.1¢ Sentiment: LT Buy Disclosure: Held