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The DEP mine model for one 100,000 tpd mine at 0.35% Cu. Illustrative; the ore body was made up for the image. It's simple: recovery wins. You want to save the world; it's simple: go to Metso or FLSmidth, buy traditional flotation units, control grind size, and maximize recovery. Brownie points if you direct your metal to a green technology provider near you. Want extra-extra brownie points? Drop the concentrate grade and really maximize your recovery; produce a lower-grade c

When cash costs are 22% of the copper price, it's time to maximize profits by shipping more marginal tonnes, by shifting the grade recovery curve. I understand companies want to avoid appearing bloated. Still, with record-low TC/RCs and high prices, the rational approach is to pursue marginal recovery, drop the con grade, and pay slightly higher TC/RCs; the company will be much more profitable. Going from 100,000 to 102,000 tonnes a year of copper, even if the marginal cost p