CuEq Metal Equivalent Calculator for Mining Results

By Staff @ Geology for Investors / First Published: January 23, 2014 / Last Update: July 31, 2023

About this Calculator

Metal equivalent calculations are often used to compare similar deposits with slightly different metal ratios: CuEq (copper equivalent) and AuEq (gold equivalent) are most common in copper porphyry deposits. Silver equivalent (AgEq) may be used in a silver mine with lead and zinc or other base metal credits. A nickel deposit may have PGE, gold or other minor constituents. Use this simple metal equivalents calculator to calculate common (and uncommon) equivalences. For each metal select the grade and the market price to be used in the calculations. You may also select a metallurgical recovery % and smelter return rate if known.

When using the calculator be sure to select the appropriate pricing units (oz. or lbs.) and the assay units (% or grams per tonne). You can calculate Eq for up to 5 precious or base metals using this calculator. Note that g/t is the same as ppm.

We’ve updated this calculator! It now factors in metallurgical recovery rates and smelter returns using industry standard calculation methods.

Primary Metal

Metal

Grade

Price

Metallurgical Metal Recovery Rate %

Smelter Return %

Accessory 1

Metal

Grade

Price

Metallurgical Metal Recovery Rate %

Smelter Return %

Accessory 2

Metal

Grade

Price

Metallurgical Metal Recovery Rate %

Smelter Return %

Accessory 3

Metal

Grade

Price

Metallurgical Metal Recovery Rate %

Smelter Return %

Accessory 4

Metal

Grade

Price

Metallurgical Metal Recovery Rate %

Smelter Return %

Results

Calculated Results:

Results are calculated using the following formula:

MetalEq (percent) = G_pri + (G_pri × [∑_i R_iS_i V_i G_i ]/(R_priS_priV_priG_pri))
where R is the respective metallurgical metal recovery rate, S is the respective smelter return rate,
V is metal price/tonne, and G is the metal commodity grade for the suite of potentially recoverable commodities (i) relative to the primary metal (pri)

AgEq, AuEq, copper equivalent, CuEq, gold equivalent, metal equivalents, premium, silver equivalent, tools

Subscribe for Email Updates

5 thoughts on “CuEq Metal Equivalent Calculator for Mining Results”

Pingback: Can Prophecy Platinum Predict the Return of Decent Nickel Prices? | Geology for Investors
Pingback: Endeavour Silver Looking to Revitalize El Cubo in a Hurry | Geology for Investors
Pingback: The Ox could become Gold Reach’s copper crown | Geology for Investors
OilandGasGuy
June 20, 2015 at 7:32 AM

This is really useful!..
Going to send this to my friend who will use it every day. Juts a quick note, maybe it’s only me, but seems to be a bit buggy in Firefox browser? Pushes down the screen a little bit when you calculate results.
Exiliadoenelcaribe
May 31, 2017 at 6:45 PM

I would really like to know the formula used to do these calculations. Specially how dealt with all the different units and ratios involved (grams, ponds, tonnes, ppm, percents…).

Comments are closed.