Thanks Ben, I am glad you are finally seeing the light regarding Croc and Semi,
Here is the article that explains what Strip ratio's are, BTW if you were referring to me not being the sharpest tool in the shed, I feel very sorry for you, Nothing like calling the person who is correct an idiot. I do love the misdirection that you see on the WKT thread, Lets call him stupid, everyone will think it is true.
https://investingnews.com/daily/res...ip-ratio-western-copper-gold-nemaska-lithium/Stripping Ratios: What are They and Why are They Important?Amanda Kay - October 30th, 2018
Stripping ratios aren’t often discussed, but they can be an early and important indicator for mining projects. Here’s what investors should know about them.
A strip ratio, or stripping ratio, is an important measurement related to the open-pit mining process. It represents the amount of waste material, also known as overburden, that must be moved in order to extract a given amount of ore.That said,
stripping ratios are not only about the volume of unwanted material present at a site; they also take into account the types of
material that must be removed to reach the ore. After all, moving lightweight material, like sand or dirt, is simpler than moving hard rock.
Ore quality is another consideration in stripping ratios. That’s because if a deposit contains low-quality ore, more of it must be mined in order to achieve a return on investment.
Calculating stripping ratiosAt their most basic,
strip ratios can be calculated by dividing overburden thickness by ore thickness. For example, an overburden thickness of 100 meters and an ore thickness of 50 meters would yield a strip ratio of 2:1. That means mining 1 cubic meter of ore would require mining 3 cubic meters of overburden.
The stripping ratio of a deposit may be used, in part, to gauge how profitable it may be. “The lower the strip ratio the better, as a low strip ratio translates into a lower mining cost,” said Cormark Securities mining equity research analyst Stefan Ioannou.
For instance, a project with a very high strip ratio likely will not be profitable. That’s because a high strip ratio means that the unwanted material is much greater than the amount of ore that can potentially be extracted, making it too expensive to mine. Conversely, a project with a low strip ratio will probably have good prospects for profitability.
“However, every deposit is different, and one that benefits from another factor [or factors], for example high grade, can potentially support a higher strip ratio. Generally speaking, there is an inverse relationship between reserve grade and strip ratio,” Ioannou added.
As a result, mining companies calculate strip ratios for open-pit projects well before they enter development and production, and seek out projects with relatively low strip ratios. Even so, given all the factors involved in calculating a strip ratio, it’s difficult to determine an overall ideal figure.
“In the case of a ‘typical’ large (low-grade)
copper porphyry deposit, a strip ratio below 3:1 is generally considered good,” Ioannou said.
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