KDMine Group
Mining Engineering & Economics
Mining Engineering & Economics
KDMine Group delivers AACE 47R-11 compliant capital and operating cost estimates for open pit, underground, and process plant projects — from Class 5 order-of-magnitude to Class 1 definitive estimates. Powered by CostMine 2026 pricing and Monte Carlo risk analysis.
Every KDMine CAPEX estimate is structured to AACE 47R-11 with full line-item transparency — from direct field costs to owner's costs and contingency.
Our LOM OPEX model covers all operating cost categories with unit rates benchmarked against CostMine 2026 and regional data for 12 mining jurisdictions.
All costs to mine and deliver ore to the ROM pad, including drilling, blasting, loading, hauling, and grade control.
All costs to process ore from the ROM pad to final product, including energy, reagents, grinding media, labour, and maintenance.
General and administrative costs including site management, camp, security, environmental monitoring, and sustaining capital.
We combine four complementary pricing methodologies to maximise accuracy at each AACE estimate class — from factored screening to vendor-quoted definitive estimates.
Scale costs from analogous projects using capacity-based scaling factors (0.6 exponent rule). Used for Class 4–5 estimates. KDMine database: 200+ analogous projects.
Price individual equipment items from CostMine 2026 database (850+ items) with installation factors, freight, and commissioning allowances. Primary method for Class 3–4.
Obtain budgetary quotes from OEM vendors for major equipment (SAG mills, HPGR, autoclaves, large pumps). Required for Class 2–3. KDMine maintains active vendor relationships globally.
10,000-iteration Monte Carlo simulation with PERT/triangular distributions and correlation matrix to generate P50/P80/P90 contingency outputs. Replaces fixed-% contingency for Class 3+.
Reference benchmarks from KDMine's proprietary database of 200+ completed feasibility studies. Use for early-stage screening and sanity-checking your estimates.
| Commodity / Process | Throughput | CAPEX Range (2026) | CAPEX Intensity | OPEX Range | C1 Cash Cost | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cu Open Pit Flotation |
50–150 Mtpa | $800M – $5.0B | $16–28/t annual capacity | $8–16/t ore | $1.8–3.2/lb Cu | Porphyry, 0.3–0.8% Cu |
Cu SX-EW Heap Leach |
20–80 Mtpa | $400M – $2.0B | $18–32/t annual capacity | $5–10/t ore | $1.4–2.4/lb Cu | Oxide ore, arid climate |
Au CIL Open Pit |
5–20 Mtpa | $200M – $1.2B | $22–45/t annual capacity | $18–35/t ore | $900–1,400/oz Au | Free-milling, 0.8–2.5 g/t |
Au Refractory (POX) |
3–10 Mtpa | $600M – $2.5B | $80–180/t annual capacity | $45–80/t ore | $1,200–1,800/oz Au | Autoclave CAPEX premium |
Fe Magnetite Concentrate |
10–40 Mtpa | $1.5B – $6.0B | $45–90/t annual capacity | $25–45/t ore | $55–90/dmt Fe | HPGR + mag sep circuit |
Li Spodumene (SC6) |
2–6 Mtpa | $300M – $1.0B | $55–120/t annual capacity | $30–60/t ore | $350–600/t SC6 | DMS + flotation |
Ni HPAL Laterite |
30–60 Mtpa | $3.0B – $8.0B | $80–160/t annual capacity | $35–65/t ore | $8,000–14,000/t Ni | Highest CAPEX intensity |
Zn/Pb Poly-metallic |
2–8 Mtpa | $150M – $800M | $30–70/t annual capacity | $20–40/t ore | $0.40–0.80/lb Zn eq | Differential flotation |
Source: KDMine proprietary database + CostMine 2026. All figures in 2026 USD. Ranges reflect project scale, location, and complexity.
Understanding cost escalation by category is critical for accurate CAPEX and OPEX estimates. KDMine tracks escalation quarterly across all major cost categories.
Location significantly impacts CAPEX and OPEX. KDMine applies jurisdiction-specific adjustment factors for labour, logistics, energy, and regulatory compliance costs.
Download KDMine's free cost estimation tools — used by 8,000+ mining engineers globally.
42-worksheet AACE 47R-11 compliant template with CostMine 2026 pricing, Monte Carlo module, and BoE document.
Browser-based CAPEX/OPEX calculator. Input throughput, commodity, and location — get instant Class 5 estimate with regional adjustment.
Browser-based 10,000-iteration Monte Carlo CAPEX risk simulator. Upload your cost estimate, set distributions, and generate P50/P80/P90 outputs instantly.
Contact KDMine Group for a fixed-price cost estimation proposal within 5 business days. We'll recommend the right AACE class, pricing methodology, and deliver a fully transparent, audit-ready estimate.