Metallrikt

Metallrikt is a Swedish adjective used in geology and mining to describe rocks, ore bodies, or deposits that contain a high concentration of metals, making them potentially economical to extract. The term is typically applied to ores with metals such as iron, copper, nickel, zinc, gold, silver, and platinum.

Metal richness is commonly expressed as ore grade, the amount of metal per unit of rock. A higher grade generally improves mining economics because it yields more metal per ton processed. However, economic viability also depends on metal prices, processing costs, and metallurgical recoveries.

Metallrikt deposits can form through several geological processes, including magmatic differentiation, hydrothermal activity, and sedimentary exhalation. Rich zones are often localized and may occur in specific districts or geological settings, with variable distribution within a single deposit.

Exploration for metallrikt targets uses geochemical surveys, geophysical methods, and drilling to define high-grade zones. Mining strategies adapt to the distribution of richness and the metallurgy of the ore to optimize extraction and processing.

The term is context-dependent and may be relative; what is metallrikt in one setting may be considered modest in another. See also ore grade, metallogenic province, and mining economics.