The metal recovery rate, also known as the mineral recovery percentage, indicates the percentage of valuable metals that are expected to be available for sale after the refining process. You can find the metal recovery rate in a mining company’s National Instrument 43-101 or a similar applicable international reporting standard.
Example: When you read a press release where a mining company announces a resource of 500 million tonnes of 1% copper with a mineral recovery rate of 80%, you should interpret this as the company announcing 500 million tonnes of (1% * 80% =) 0.8% sellable copper.
