3
EVALUATION OUTCOMES
Feasibility Studies Summary
Table 1 summarises the number of samples tested per proj-
ect by year. The annual average varied from 18 to 47
samples.
Figure 1 provides an overview of the primary commod-
ities covered in the feasibility studies, classified into three
categories for simplicity. Most reports identified precious
metals as their main commodity, with gold being the domi-
nant focus within this group. Base metals, predominantly
copper, were also significant, with smaller contributions
from lead and zinc projects. Notably, many base metal proj-
ects included gold as a secondary product, making it the
commodity associated with over 70% of all projects. The
remaining 8% of studies are grouped under “other,” com-
prising mainly iron projects and a few related to platinum
group metals (PGMs).
Figure 2 presents the geographical distribution of the
feasibility studies. Most projects were in North America,
with Canada having the highest number of projects with a
wide range of commodities and a small portion of projects
located in Mexico. Africa followed with projects scattered
across the continent. South America was the third major
group, with most projects distributed between Brazil and
Chile, with a large portion focused on copper and gold.
Building on the geographical distribution, the next
phase of the analysis focused on the number of comminu-
tion samples and tests conducted in each study. This was
compared with the number of geochemical assays collected
and the proportion of the project’s capex allocated to com-
minution testing. Instead of detailing each comminution
test, the analysis categorized the combinations of tests to
establish grinding circuit design criteria.
Table 1. The average number of samples by the project by
year
Year
Number of
Projects
Comminution Samples
per Project per Year
2014 5 27
2015 16 46
2016 21 47
2017 27 23
2018 23 35
2019 16 19
2020 6 20
2021 16 2
2022 24 36
56%
36%
8%
Precious metals Base metals Other
Figure 1. Commodities distribution
25%
7%
40%
20%
4%
4%
Africa Europe North America
Latim America Asia Australia
Figure 2. Geographical distribution
52%
7%
3%
38%
SMC +Bond JKDWT +Bond SPI +Bond Other
Figure 3. Comminution test type distribution
EVALUATION OUTCOMES
Feasibility Studies Summary
Table 1 summarises the number of samples tested per proj-
ect by year. The annual average varied from 18 to 47
samples.
Figure 1 provides an overview of the primary commod-
ities covered in the feasibility studies, classified into three
categories for simplicity. Most reports identified precious
metals as their main commodity, with gold being the domi-
nant focus within this group. Base metals, predominantly
copper, were also significant, with smaller contributions
from lead and zinc projects. Notably, many base metal proj-
ects included gold as a secondary product, making it the
commodity associated with over 70% of all projects. The
remaining 8% of studies are grouped under “other,” com-
prising mainly iron projects and a few related to platinum
group metals (PGMs).
Figure 2 presents the geographical distribution of the
feasibility studies. Most projects were in North America,
with Canada having the highest number of projects with a
wide range of commodities and a small portion of projects
located in Mexico. Africa followed with projects scattered
across the continent. South America was the third major
group, with most projects distributed between Brazil and
Chile, with a large portion focused on copper and gold.
Building on the geographical distribution, the next
phase of the analysis focused on the number of comminu-
tion samples and tests conducted in each study. This was
compared with the number of geochemical assays collected
and the proportion of the project’s capex allocated to com-
minution testing. Instead of detailing each comminution
test, the analysis categorized the combinations of tests to
establish grinding circuit design criteria.
Table 1. The average number of samples by the project by
year
Year
Number of
Projects
Comminution Samples
per Project per Year
2014 5 27
2015 16 46
2016 21 47
2017 27 23
2018 23 35
2019 16 19
2020 6 20
2021 16 2
2022 24 36
56%
36%
8%
Precious metals Base metals Other
Figure 1. Commodities distribution
25%
7%
40%
20%
4%
4%
Africa Europe North America
Latim America Asia Australia
Figure 2. Geographical distribution
52%
7%
3%
38%
SMC +Bond JKDWT +Bond SPI +Bond Other
Figure 3. Comminution test type distribution