Ore grading measures which property in a potentially mineable deposit?

Ore grading measures which property in a potentially mineable deposit?

• A. Concentration of diamond
• B. Crystal orientation
• C. Color distribution
• D. Age of host rock

Answer: (A)

Ore grading measures the concentration of diamond in the ore, i.e., how much diamond is present per unit of ore mass. This concentration, often expressed as carats per tonne, drives the economic viability of a deposit because higher grade means more diamonds recovered per ton of ore after processing. The other options describe features that are not what grade captures: crystal orientation is about how crystals are aligned within the rock, color distribution is a quality attribute of diamonds, and the age of the host rock is a geological timeline, not the amount of diamond present. So the property ore grading assesses is the concentration of diamond.

Ore grading measures the concentration of diamond in the ore, i.e., how much diamond is present per unit of ore mass. This concentration, often expressed as carats per tonne, drives the economic viability of a deposit because higher grade means more diamonds recovered per ton of ore after processing. The other options describe features that are not what grade captures: crystal orientation is about how crystals are aligned within the rock, color distribution is a quality attribute of diamonds, and the age of the host rock is a geological timeline, not the amount of diamond present. So the property ore grading assesses is the concentration of diamond.