Dilution and ore loss are closely connected concepts in mining, both impacting the quantity and quality of ore ultimately processed.
Dilution occurs when waste material is unintentionally mixed with ore during mining operations. This reduces the overall grade of the mined material because the added waste rock lowers the concentration of valuable minerals in the material sent to the mill. When dilution levels are high, more waste is processed alongside the ore, leading to increased processing costs and decreased economic value of the recovered ore(Understanding the Operation of Grinding Mills in the Mining and Mineral Processing Industry – NEWS – SMMVIK Machinery, n.d.).
Ore loss, on the other hand, refers to the portion of ore that remains in the ground or is discarded unintentionally during mining. Ore loss results in a reduction of the total amount of ore extracted, directly decreasing the mine’s production volume(Xingwana, 2016).
The relationship between dilution and ore loss is essentially a trade-off: efforts to reduce ore loss by mining more material can increase dilution by including more waste rock, while minimizing dilution by being more selective can result in higher ore loss. Both factors reduce the overall ore recovery and impact mining profitability(Estimating Mining Factors (Dilution and Ore Loss) in Open Pit Mines, n.d.).
Have you encountered challenges balancing dilution and ore loss in your operations?
What strategies have you found most effective in minimizing both without compromising safety or productivity? Let’s share insights your experience could help others in the field!
Reference:
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Estimating Mining Factors (Dilution and Ore Loss) in Open Pit Mines. (n.d.). Retrieved October 13, 2025, from https://www.ausimm.com/publications/conference-proceedings/sixth-large-open-pit-mining-conference-2007/estimating-mining-factors-dilution-and-ore-loss-in-open-pit-mines/
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Understanding the operation of grinding mills in the mining and mineral processing industry—NEWS – SMMVIK Machinery. (n.d.). Retrieved September 17, 2025, from https://www.millvik.com/news/understanding-the-operation-of-grinding.html
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Xingwana, L. (2016). Monitoring ore loss and dilution for mine-to-mill integration in deep gold mines: A survey-based investigation. Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 116(2), 149–160. https://doi.org/10.17159/2411-9717/2016/v116n2a6
