Results and AnalysisTools

CuEq Metal Equivalent Calculator for Mining Results

About this Calculator

Metal equivalent calculations are often used to compare similar deposits with slightly different metal ratios: CuEq (copper equivalent) and AuEq (gold equivalent) are most common in copper porphyry deposits. Silver equivalent (AgEq) may be used in a silver mine with lead and zinc or other base metal credits. A nickel deposit may have PGE, gold or other minor constituents. Use this simple metal equivalents calculator to calculate common (and uncommon) equivalences. For each metal select the grade and the market price to be used in the calculations. You may also select a metallurgical recovery % and smelter return rate if known.

When using the calculator be sure to select the appropriate pricing units (oz. or lbs.) and the assay units (% or grams per tonne). You can calculate Eq for up to 5 precious or base metals using this calculator. Note that g/t is the same as ppm.

We’ve updated this calculator! It now factors in metallurgical  recovery rates and smelter returns using industry standard calculation methods.

Primary Metal

Metal
Grade  
Price  
Metallurgical Metal Recovery Rate %
Smelter Return %

Accessory 1

Metal
Grade  
Price  
Metallurgical Metal Recovery Rate %
Smelter Return %

Accessory 2

Metal
Grade  
Price  
Metallurgical Metal Recovery Rate %
Smelter Return %

Accessory 3

Metal
Grade  
Price  
Metallurgical Metal Recovery Rate %
Smelter Return %

Accessory 4

Metal
Grade  
Price  
Metallurgical Metal Recovery Rate %
Smelter Return %

Calculated Results:

Results are calculated using the following formula:
MetalEq (percent) = Gpri + (Gpri × [∑i Ri Si Vi Gi ]/(Rpri Spri Vpri Gpri))
where R is the respective metallurgical metal recovery rate, S is the respective smelter return rate,
V is metal price/tonne, and G is the metal commodity grade for the suite of potentially recoverable commodities (i) relative to the primary metal (pri)

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Staff @ Geology for Investors

Geology for Investors seeks to demystify mineral exploration and mining projects for mining company investors. All of our writers and contributors are experienced and educated in geology and the geosciences.

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5 Comments

  1. This is really useful!..
    Going to send this to my friend who will use it every day. Juts a quick note, maybe it’s only me, but seems to be a bit buggy in Firefox browser? Pushes down the screen a little bit when you calculate results.

  2. I would really like to know the formula used to do these calculations. Specially how dealt with all the different units and ratios involved (grams, ponds, tonnes, ppm, percents…).

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