hi Mike. With the copper price around 70 cents a pound, what % copper ore and deposit size requirements do we need for an economical deposit these days? What is the best size/% copper deposit can we hope for in Chile?
Hope for at least 2% copper, be happy with 1% copper, be concerned with .6% copper! The difficulty with a deposit of "size" these days is public perception and understanding. If it is marketed as a copper/gold porphry, then it is assumed to be primarily copper with gold credits. A gold/copper porphry is the reverse. Obviously in times of high copper prices, the word copper appeared indellibly marked into the project, today ( avoiding the present gold rally) companies are not sure which should go first. If gold sustains and I believe it will, then marketing the property will not be a problem.........unless it is predominantly copper, then it is lumped in with a whole bunch of "good copper projects" that are not being progressed because of low copper prices!!
Referring back to my favorite, Cerra Casale (Bema) was a marketing nightmare, copper isn't shiny and Gold was a word used in the "busang", so it consistently failed the shareholder, to the point that it is truly a shadow of its former self!! Bema $12.00 to $1.47
To give you an example of "fame" and how it affects share price, how many people are aware of Arequipa property, pre Barrick buyout? How many are aware of Los Pelambres?
Two sites to visit
1999 outlook for copper-bearish!
metalprices.com
nickelalloy.com
the Chief
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