Mining Glossary
A comprehensive guide to mining industry terminology
A
Adit
A horizontal passage leading into a mine, typically built into the side of a hill or mountain for access or drainage.
Alloy
A metallic substance composed of two or more elements, at least one of which is a metal. Common examples include steel (iron and carbon) and bronze (c...
Assay
The testing of a metal or ore to determine its ingredients and quality, particularly the proportion of precious metals. Essential for determining the ...
B
Backfill
Material used to refill an excavated area, such as waste rock, sand, or tailings. Used to provide ground support and reduce surface subsidence.
Beneficiation
The process of separating valuable minerals from waste rock (gangue) through crushing, grinding, and concentration methods like flotation or gravity s...
Blasting
The use of explosives to break rock in mining operations. Controlled blasting techniques are used to fragment ore and waste rock for removal.
Block Caving
An underground mining method that uses gravity to break and move ore. The ore body is undercut, causing it to collapse under its own weight.
Bullion
Precious metals in bulk form, typically gold or silver bars or ingots, valued by weight and purity rather than face value.
Byproduct
A secondary product recovered during the mining or processing of a primary commodity. For example, silver is often a byproduct of copper mining.
C
Concentrate
The product of mineral processing that contains a high proportion of valuable minerals. Concentrates are typically shipped to smelters for further pro...
Core Sample
A cylindrical section of rock obtained through diamond drilling. Core samples are analyzed to determine the geology, mineralization, and grade of a de...
Critical Minerals
Minerals deemed essential to economic and national security, with supply chains vulnerable to disruption. Examples include rare earth elements, lithiu...
Cut-off Grade
The minimum grade of mineralization that can be economically mined. Material below the cut-off grade is considered waste.
D
Dilution
The mixing of waste rock or low-grade material with ore during mining, reducing the overall grade of the extracted material.
Dore
Semi-pure alloy of gold and silver, typically produced at mine sites before being sent to a refinery for final purification.
Drift
A horizontal underground passage that follows the ore body or vein. Also called a drive or tunnel.
Drilling
The process of boring holes into rock for exploration (to obtain samples) or for production (to place explosives or extract minerals).
E
Exploration
The search for mineral deposits through geological surveys, geophysical methods, geochemical sampling, and drilling programs.
Extraction
The process of removing ore or minerals from the earth through mining methods, or the chemical process of separating metals from ore.
F
Feasibility Study
A comprehensive technical and economic study that evaluates whether a mining project is viable. Includes detailed engineering, cost estimates, and fin...
Flotation
A mineral processing method that separates valuable minerals from waste by exploiting differences in surface properties. Air bubbles selectively attac...
G
H
Heap Leaching
A mineral processing method where crushed ore is stacked on a lined pad and irrigated with a chemical solution (often cyanide for gold or acid for cop...
Host Rock
The rock formation that contains a mineral deposit or ore body. Understanding host rock geology is essential for exploration and mining.
I
In-Situ Mining
Mining method that extracts minerals without removing the ore from the ground, typically by injecting solutions to dissolve minerals and pumping the s...
Indicated Resource
A mineral resource with sufficient geological evidence to assume geological and grade continuity, estimated from drilling and sampling data.
Inferred Resource
A mineral resource estimated with limited geological evidence and sampling. The lowest confidence category of mineral resources.
L
Leaching
The process of extracting metals from ore using chemical solutions. Common methods include heap leaching, vat leaching, and in-situ leaching.
Lode
A deposit of metalliferous ore in the form of a vein or seam, typically found in rock fissures. Often used to describe gold-bearing quartz veins.
M
Measured Resource
The highest confidence category of mineral resource, with detailed geological evidence from closely spaced drilling and sampling.
Metallurgy
The science and technology of extracting metals from ores and preparing them for use. Includes physical and chemical processing methods.
Milling
The process of crushing and grinding ore to liberate valuable minerals, typically followed by concentration processes like flotation.
Mine Life
The estimated duration of mining operations based on known reserves and planned production rates. A key factor in project economics.
Mineral Deposit
A natural concentration of minerals in the earth's crust that may be economically viable for extraction. Deposits are classified by their geological c...
Mineral Processing
The techniques used to extract valuable minerals from ore, including crushing, grinding, concentration, and metallurgical treatment.
Mineral Rights
Legal rights to explore for, extract, and sell minerals from a property. Mineral rights can be separated from surface rights.
Mining Claim
A legal right to explore for and extract minerals from a specific area of land. Claims are registered with government authorities and must be maintain...
O
Open-Pit Mining
A surface mining method that extracts ore from an open pit or borrow. Used for deposits near the surface with low strip ratios.
Ore
Rock or sediment containing sufficient minerals to be economically extractable. The economic viability depends on grade, mining costs, and commodity p...
Ore Body
A continuous mass of ore distinct from the surrounding rock, large enough to be mined profitably.
Ore Reserve
The economically mineable portion of a measured or indicated mineral resource, demonstrated by a feasibility study. Classified as Proven or Probable.
Overburden
The soil, rock, and other material that lies above a mineral deposit and must be removed to access the ore in surface mining.
P
Placer Deposit
A deposit of sand, gravel, or soil containing particles of valuable minerals (especially gold) concentrated by water action.
R
Reclamation
The process of restoring mined land to a natural or economically usable state. Required by law in most jurisdictions.
Refining
The final stage of metal production that removes impurities to produce high-purity metal suitable for commercial use.
Royalty
A payment to the owner of mineral rights or government, typically calculated as a percentage of revenue or production value.
S
Shaft
A vertical or inclined excavation providing access to an underground mine. Used for transporting personnel, equipment, and ore.
Smelting
A pyrometallurgical process that extracts metal from ore by heating with a reducing agent, producing molten metal and slag.
Stockpile
A reserve of ore, concentrate, or finished product stored for future processing or sale. Used to manage production flow and market timing.
Stope
An underground excavation from which ore has been extracted. The method of creating stopes defines many underground mining techniques.
Strip Ratio
The ratio of waste rock to ore that must be removed in surface mining. A key factor in determining mining economics.
Stripping
The removal of overburden and waste rock to expose ore in surface mining operations.
T
Tailings
The waste material remaining after ore processing, typically stored in engineered tailings storage facilities (TSFs). Managing tailings safely is a cr...
U
Underground Mining
Mining methods used to extract ore from beneath the earth's surface through shafts, tunnels, and other excavations. Used for deeper deposits.
V
Vein
A tabular or sheet-like body of minerals deposited in a fracture or fissure in rock. Often contains valuable minerals like gold or silver.
W
Waste Dump
An area where waste rock and overburden from mining operations are deposited. Modern mines carefully engineer dumps for stability and environmental pr...
Waste Rock
Rock that must be removed to access ore but contains insufficient mineralization to be economically processed. Stored in waste dumps.