British Sign Language Glossaries of Curriculum Terms

BSL Environmental Science Glossary - Cut-off ore grade definition

Definition: Cut-off ore grade (COOG) relates to the amount of ore needed in a deposit for it to be mined economically (i.e. profitably). Metal ore like Copper and Gold is present in rocks. These metals are desirable because they can be used to make everyday items. COOG is a term that describes where and when mining these ores is profitable or not. Metal ore can sometimes be found near the surface - this means it needs relatively few people and/or equipment to dig up the rock and extract the metal. This can then be sold for more than the amount spent mining it. But sometimes metal ore is found deeper underground and requires more workers and equipment to get it out of the ground all of which costs more money. In this instance, the amount of money from the sale can be less than the expense of bringing it to the surface - mining of these types of deposits results can be unprofitable. COOG is the amount of ore needed to show a profit which is dependent on how much ore is extracted and from where.