Convert Deposit Quantity
Deposit Mass → Kilograms
The calculator first converts the entered deposit quantity into a common mass unit so the grade can be applied consistently.
Contained Resource Calculator
Contained Metal Calculator
Calculate the theoretical amount of metal or mineral contained within a reported ore body or mineral resource using total deposit quantity and grade.
Calculate Contained Material
Enter Resource Data
Calculate Contained Material
Enter the metal or mineral being evaluated.
Example:
1,000,000 metric tonnes of material at 0.8% copper contains
a theoretical 8,000 metric tonnes of copper.
Calculated Result
Copper Contained Resource
The same theoretical contained quantity expressed in several common units.
Metric Tonnes
—
Contained material in metric tonnes.
Kilograms
—
Contained material in kilograms.
Pounds
—
Contained material in pounds.
Troy Ounces
—
Useful for precious-metal reference.
Deposit quantity
—
Entered grade
—
Mass fraction
—
Contained grams
—
How It Works
The Contained Material Calculation
Contained material is the theoretical quantity of a target metal or mineral present within the reported mass of ore or mineralized material.
Convert Grade to a Fraction
Grade → Mass Fraction
Percent, grams per tonne, ppm, and ppb are converted into equivalent mass fractions.
Calculate Contained Material
Deposit Mass × Grade Fraction
The result is the theoretical amount of target material contained before mining or processing losses are considered.
Supported Grade Units
Use the Grade Format Reported for the Resource
Different commodities and deposit types are commonly described using different concentration units.
%
Percent
Common for many base metals and higher-concentration mineral deposits.
g/t
Grams per Tonne
Frequently used for precious metals such as gold and platinum.
ppm
Parts per Million
Equivalent numerically to grams per metric tonne for mass concentration.
ppb
Parts per Billion
Useful for very low concentrations and geochemical reporting.
Worked Example
1 Million Tonnes at 0.8% Copper
Suppose a mineralized resource contains one million metric tonnes of material at an average copper grade of 0.8%.
A grade of 0.8% is a mass fraction of 0.008. Multiplying one million metric tonnes by 0.008 gives a theoretical contained quantity of 8,000 metric tonnes of copper.
That does not mean 8,000 tonnes of copper will ultimately be recovered. Mining losses, processing recovery, dilution, metallurgy, and other factors may reduce the amount that becomes a saleable product.
Copper Contained Material Example
Deposit quantity
1,000,000 t
Copper grade
0.8%
Mass fraction
0.008
Contained copper
8,000 t
Contained kilograms
8,000,000 kg
Contained pounds
≈ 17.64 million lb
Meaning
Theoretical contained copper
Important Context
Contained Material Is Not Recoverable Material
A contained-resource calculation is a useful first step, but it does not show how much material will actually be mined, recovered, processed, sold, or converted into economic value.
01
Recovery
Processing systems usually recover less than 100% of the material theoretically contained in ore.
02
Dilution
Additional waste or lower-grade material can reduce the effective grade of mined material.
03
Mining Losses
Not all geological resource material may be extracted during mining.
04
Cutoff Grade
Some material may fall below the grade required for economic processing.
05
Mineralogy
The form and association of minerals can affect processing and recovery.
06
Economic Value
Contained quantity alone does not determine whether a deposit is economic.
Resource Profiles
Put Contained Material in Context
Use Earth Value Index profiles to understand the geology, grade, supply, processing, markets, and uses behind the calculated quantity.
Related Tools
Continue With Resource Calculations
Educational Use
This calculator provides a simplified theoretical contained-material estimate from user-entered quantity and grade. It does not establish a mineral resource, mineral reserve, recovery rate, economic value, feasibility result, engineering conclusion, or investment value.
Earth Value Index
Contained Material Is the Starting Point
Continue with Earth Value Index calculators and resource profiles to understand grade, recovery, reference value, supply, markets, and the real-world uses behind the resource.