Low-grade ore

A low-grade ore contains a smaller percentage of the useful metal than a high-grade ore. To obtain the same amount of copper from a lower-grade ore, more material must be processed. Traditional mining involves digging, moving and disposing of large amounts of rock, which can damage landscapes and destroy habitats.

A low-grade ore contains a relatively small proportion of the useful metal. Conventional extraction may cost too much for the amount recovered. Biological methods can recover metals such as copper from low-grade material and mining waste, with less need for extensive digging and movement of rock.