Ok, Let's back-track to the main point (and I don't mean how stupid either of us are). Gitreal's argument highlights a common misunderstanding regarding the relationship between the mass reduction in concentration and the increase in mineral concentration. Let's attempt to clarify this once again:
Differentiating Between Mass Reduction and Concentration Factor:
Gitreal is mixing up two different concepts: the mass reduction rate and the gold concentration rate. These are related but not directly proportional in the way he suggests.
Mass Reduction vs. Gold Concentration Rate:
Mass reduction refers to how much smaller the sample gets in terms of physical size or weight (e.g., from 100 pounds to 1 ounce).
Gold concentration rate refers to how much more concentrated the gold becomes in the remaining material.
Clarifying the Examples:
If you start with a 100-pound sample and concentrate it down to 1 ounce, while the mass reduction is significant, it does not directly dictate the gold concentration rate. The concentration rate depends on the gold content in the original sample and in the concentrate. Similarly, for the 500-pound or 2000-pound examples, the mass reduction is massive, but the gold concentration rate still depends on the change in gold grade from the original ore to the concentrate.
Understanding the 40-Fold Factor:
The 40-fold increase in gold concentration is derived from comparing the gold grades before and after concentration: from 2.925 oz/ton to 117 oz/ton. This is not directly tied to the mass reduction factor. It's about how much denser the gold becomes in the remaining material.
Misconception in the Argument:
Gitreal's argument assumes a direct and proportional relationship between the mass reduction rate and the gold concentration rate, which is not accurate. The concentration factor (in terms of gold grade) is not simply the inverse of the mass reduction factor.
Concentration Assays vs. Original Sample Assays:
Concentrate assays do not equal the assays of the original bulk sample. They are higher because the concentration process removes non-gold materials, leaving a smaller mass with the same amount of gold, thus increasing its concentration.
In summary, the 40-fold increase in gold concentration is based on the change in gold grade, not the mass reduction rate. It's crucial to distinguish between these two concepts to understand how the concentration process works and how it affects the assay results of the concentrated sample.
