Gold mining remains one of the world’s most economically significant extractive industries, yet its profitability hinges heavily on the cost of processing gold ore—a complex metric influenced by ore grade, mineralogy, processing technology, geographic location, and regulatory requirements. For mining operators, investors, and industry stakeholders, understanding the cost dynamics of processing one ton of gold […]
[Blog] What Is the Cost of Processing One Ton of Gold Ore?
Gold mining remains one of the world’s most economically significant extractive industries, yet its profitability hinges heavily on the cost of processing gold ore—a complex metric influenced by ore grade, mineralogy, processing technology, geographic location, and regulatory requirements.
For mining operators, investors, and industry stakeholders, understanding the cost dynamics of processing one ton of gold ore is critical for feasibility studies, investment decisions, and operational optimization.
The Cost Components Of Processing Gold Ore
Taking a CIL concentrator processing conventional oxidized ore as an example, the processing cost per ton of ore can be broken down as follows (converted at 1 USD ≈ 7.3 RMB, aligned with 2025 global gold beneficiation cost benchmarks):
- Energy Cost (≈ 30–40% of Total Cost)
Grinding Power Consumption (Major Cost Item): $3–$6/ton. To liberate gold particles, ore must be ground to an extremely fine particle size, making this the largest energy expenditure.
Auxiliary Power Consumption (Crushing, Agitation, etc.): $1–$2/ton - Material & Reagent Cost (≈ 25–35% of Total Cost)
Cyanide: $0.68–$2.74/ton. Consumption is highly affected by impurities in the ore, making it a core variable cost.
Steel Balls & Liners: $1–$3/ton. Sustained wear-and-tear during the grinding process.
Activated Carbon, Lime, etc.: $1–$2/ton - Labor, Maintenance & Management Cost (≈ 15–25% of Total Cost)
A relatively fixed operational baseline; automation can optimize the labor cost ratio.