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Britannia Mining - Mining terms Category: Agriculture and Industry > Mining terms Date & country: 10/11/2016, UK Words: 280

Open pit
A mine that is entirely on surface. Also referred to as open-cut or open-cast mine.

Ore
A natural aggregate of one or more minerals that can be mined and profitably sold under current conditions, or from which one or more minerals can be profitably extracted.

Ore body
A mass or vein of ore.

Ore reserves
The portion of a mineral deposit that can be profitably mined. Use of this term implies both an appropriate detailed knowledge of all the geological, engineering, economic and environmental parameters that might affect on profitability of the operation. For a new mining project or for the mining of new zones in an existing mine, a formal feasibility study is conducted to evaluate all parameters of the project.

NI 43-101
(National Instrument 43-101) A set of reporting and disclosure standards imposed by regulators on Canadian listed mining and exploration companies that govern how issuers report scientific and technical information about their mineral projects to the public anywhere in the world. It covers oral statements as well as written documents and websites, and it requires that all disclosure be based on advice by a `qualified person`.

Net Smelter Return
(NSR) A royalty payment made by a producer of metals based on gross metal production from the property, less deduction of certain limited costs including smelting, refining, transportation and insurance costs.

Mining Rock Mass Rating
(MRMR) A rock mass classification scheme developed for use in mining, particularly block caving, applications.

Minable reserves
Ore reserves that are known to be extractable using a given mining plan.

Mineral
A naturally occurring homogeneous substance having definite physical properties and chemical composition and, if formed under favorable conditions, a definite crystal form.

Mining right
Upon a specific piece of ground, a right to enter upon and occupy the ground for the purpose of working it, either by underground excavations or open workings, to obtain from it the mineral ores which may be deposited therein.

Mining method
Any of the systems employed in the exploitation of coal seams and orebodies. The method adopted depends on a large number of factors, mainly, the quality, shape, size, and depth of the deposit; accessibility and capital available.; stoping methods.

Mining lease
Legal contract for the right to work a mine and extract the mineral or other valuable deposits from it under prescribed conditions of time, price, rental, or royalties.

Mini-Mills
Steel production plants that rely on steel scrap as a base material rather than ore. Products do not have the tight chemical composition of integrated plants and have narrower product lines

Mining
The science, technique, and business of mineral discovery and exploitation. Strictly, the word connotes underground work directed to severance and treatment of ore or associated rock. Practically, it includes opencast work, quarrying, alluvial dredging, and combined operations, including surface and underground attack and ore treatment.

Mineral stockpiles
Stockpiles of magnetite typically occur as a result of mining operations discarding mined magnetite ore when mining for other commodities.

Mineral Resource
A concentration or occurrence of natural, solid, inorganic or fossilized organic material in or on the Earth’s crust in such form and quantity and of such a grade or quality that it has reasonable prospects for economic extraction. The location, quantity, grade, geological characteristics and continuity of a Mineral Resource are known, estimated or interpreted from specific geological evidence and knowledge.

Mineral processing
Activity whose purpose is the extraction, concentration, smelting of economic minerals from a mineral deposit. It includes exploration (in the strict sense), development of mineral deposits, constructing the mine and mining, i.e. extracting and processing the ore or tailings.

Mineral Reserve
the economically mineable part of a Measured or Indicated Mineral Resource demonstrated by at least a preliminary feasibility study. This study must include adequate information on mining, processing, metallurgical, economic and other relevant factors that demonstrate, at the time of reporting, that economic extraction can be justified. A Mineral Reserve includes diluting materials and allowances for losses that may occur when the material is mined.

Mineral exploration
Activity undertaken to determine the presence of geological formations which may contain deposits such as precious metals, base metals, gemstones, coal or other minerals, as well as to determine the extent, geometry and grade of such deposits. Drilling, pitting, trenching and surface stripping are common activities undertaken during mineral exploration. Temporary work camps and docks are often established to support mineral exploration activities.

Mineralisation
The process of mineralizing, or forming a mineral by combination of a metal with another element; also, the process of converting into a mineral, as a bone or a plant – mineralization.

Mine agent
A person who acquires finance for the mining operation.

Mineral deposit
Mineralized mass that may be economically valuable, but whose characteristics require more detailed information. An ore body being mined may be called a deposit.

Mine
A plant built to extract an ore or mineral substance either underground or from the surface. When the ore is extracted underground, the mine needs a system of excavations in the rock to gain access to the ore areas. When the ore is mined from surface, the ore is extracted from one or several pits.

Mill/concentrator processing plant
A processing plant which crushes and treats ore for the purpose of upgrading the mineral content into a higher grade product called a concentrate, or to produce metal. Surface plant facilities for ore treatment allow for the recovery and removal of metals or the concentration of valuable minerals for smelting and refining.

Metallurgy
The study and practice of removing valuable metals from an ore and refining the extracted raw metals into a purer form.

Metamorphism
Changes over time, in the composition and structure of rocks caused by pressure and temperature.

Metallurgy
The study of extracting metals from their ores.

Metamorphic rocks
Rocks which have undergone a change in texture or composition as the result of heat and/or pressure. (ex. Sandstone becomes quartzite)

Mineralogy
The study of the chemistry and physical properties of ore and gangue minerals within mineral deposits.

Magmatic segregation
An ore-forming process whereby valuable minerals are concentrated by settling out of a cooling magma.

Magnetite
Black, magnetic iron ore, an iron oxide.

Metallurgical analysis
The study of metals and the metalworking process through the examination of finished products, manufacturing waste, tools and equipment connected with manufacture, and the raw materials used.

Magnetic Separation
A process in which a magnetically susceptible mineral is separated from waste or undesirable minerals by applying a strong magnetic field; ores of iron are commonly treated in this way.

Magnetite
Fe3O4, Iron Oxide – a dense metallic grey ore mineral of iron.

Mafic
Igneous rocks composed mostly of dark, iron- and magnesium-rich minerals.

Magma
The molten material deep in the Earth from which rocks are formed.

Level
A tunnel driven to gain access to the minerals within a mine.

Magnetic anomaly
In geophysics, a magnetic anomaly is a local variation in the Earth's magnetic field resulting from variations in the chemistry or magnetism of the rocks. Mapping of variation over an area is valuable in detecting structures obscured by overlying material. The magnetic variation in successive bands of ocean floor parallel with mid-ocean ridges is important evidence supporting the theory of seafloor spreading, central to plate tectonics. These layers are used for dating rocks.

Kidney ore
A particular form of iron ore that appears as rounded red masses with a metallic sheen.

Lead
A heavy soft malleable ductile but inelastic bluish white metallic element found mostly in combination and used in pipes, cable sheaths, batteries, solder, type metal, and shields against radioactivity.

Iron oxide
A reddish-brown compound of iron and oxygen, commonly known as rust, and seen on the surface of iron objects.

Ironmaking
During ironmaking, iron ore, coke, heated air and limestone or other fluxes are fed into a blast furnace to produce molten iron that is free from impurities.

Joint Ore Reserves Committee
(JORC) The Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves. The JORC Code provides minimum standards for public reporting to ensure that investors and their advisers have all the information they would reasonably require for forming a reliable opinion on the results and estimates being reported.

Iron master
The proprietor of ironworks or mines.

Iron ore
Rocks or deposits containing compounds from which iron can be madeA solid naturally-occurring mineral aggregate from which metal may be recovered via a treatment process.

Iron ore mineralization
In geology, mineralization is the hydrothermal deposition of economically important metals in the formation of ore bodies or 'lodes'. The first scientific studies of this process took place in the English county of Cornwall by J.W.Henwood FRS and later by R.W. Fox, FRS.(1)The term can also refer to the process by which waterborne minerals, such as calcium carbonate (calcite), iron oxide (hematite or limonite) or silica (quartz), replace organic material within the body of an organism that has died and was buried by sediments.(2) Mineralization may also refer to the product resulting from the process of mineralization. For example, mineralization (the process) may introduce metals (such as iron) into a rock. That rock may then be referred to as possessing iron mineralization.

Intermediate rock
An igneous rock containing 52% to 66% quartz.

Intrusive
A body of igneous rock formed by the consolidation of magma intruded into other rocks, in contrast to lavas, which are extruded upon the surface.

Iron
A ductile and malleable greyish white metal used in making steel. An element (chemical symbol Fe), the most widely used of all the metals.

Incline
A tunnel driven at an angle usually between 33 and 45 degrees or a tramway for lowering material down a slope.

Induction Furnaces
Induction furnaces are the most widely used type of furnace for melting iron and are increasingly popular for melting non-ferrous metals (USEPA, 1992). They are popular because they provide excellent metallurgical control and are relatively pollution free.

Infrastructure
Construction necessary for mining, such as certain buildings, gas pipes, water lines, sewage and water systems, telephone cables and reservoirs. It may also include roads, railways, airports and bridges, as well as transmission lines, electrical cables, pylons and transformers.

Igneous rocks
Rocks formed by the solidification of molten material from far below the earth's surface.

Horse level
A main tramming level where the tubs were removed by horse.

Host rock
The rock surrounding an ore deposit.

Hydrometallurgy
The treatment of ore by wet processes, such as leaching, resulting in the solution of a metal and its subsequent recovery.

Hydrothermal
Relating to hot fluids circulating in the earth's crust.

Headgear
The rigging for hauling or lifting located at the head of a mine shaft.

Hematite
An oxide of iron, and one of that metal's most common ore minerals.

High grade
Rich ore. As a verb, it refers to selective mining of the best ore in a deposit.

Head frame
Head frame

Hematite Deposit
Deposits of hematite are found in banded iron formations. Gray hematite is typically found in places where there has been standing water or mineral hot springs, such as those in Yellowstone National Park in the United States. The mineral can precipitate out of water and collect in layers at the bottom of a lake, spring, or other standing water. Hematite can also occur without water, however, usually as the result of volcanic activity.

Haulage way
A level along which tubs of ore are pulled.

Haematite
(hematite) A red-coloured form of iron ore (chemical symbol Fe2O3) that occurs in crystalline, massive or granular forms. It is the commonest form of iron ore.

Grinding
Means of reducing ore into very small particles by means of pressure or impact. Different types of grinders are used in the processing plant to obtain the desired dimension.

Grab sample
A sample from a rock outcrop that is assayed to determine if valuable elements are contained in the rock. A grab sample will not provide a representative picture of the value of a deposit, only an indication.

Grade
The value of a mineralized deposit. Precious metals are usually expressed as ounces per tonne or grams per tonne. Base metals and uranium are expressed as a percent. Diamond values are expressed as value/carat/hundred tonnes.

Grade
The metal content of ore measured in grams per tonne or per cent. For example, a grade of 40% iron implies 400kg of contained iron for each 1,000kg of ore.

Gold leases
When someone owning gold lets someone else borrow it, on the promise that it will be returned in the future.

Gold exploration rights
The process of acquisition of land for exploration or mining varies throughout the world. The process can involve the negotiation of agreements with existing private owners, the outright purchase, the staking of lands, or acquisition from the government of these rights under a licence or other form of permit.

Geophysics
The use of geophysical techniques to search for mineral deposits. Common geophysical surveys include: magnetic, electromagnetic, induced polarization, resistivity and gravity

Geothermal
Pertains to the heat of the Earth's interior.

Gin
A horse-powered capstan for drawing ore up a shaft.

Gold
A very ductile and malleable brilliant yellow precious metal that is resistant to air and water corrosion.

Geiger counter
An instrument used to measure the radioactivity that emanates from certain minerals by means of a Geiger-Mueller tube.

Geophysical survey
A scientific method of prospecting that measures the physical properties of rock formations. Common properties investigated include magnetism, specific gravity, electrical conductivity and radioactivity.

Geology
Science devoted to the study of the structure and evolution of the earth’s crust.

Geophysics
Study of the various physical properties of the earth and the composition and movement of its component layers of rock. Geophysics is applied to mining exploration to detect zones characterized by their physical properties such as magnetism, gravity or conductivity (electromagnetism).

Gabbro
A dark, coarse-grained igneous rock.

Geochemistry
The study of the chemical components of the earth’s crust and mantle. Geochemistry is applied to mining exploration to detect sites that indicate abnormal concentrations either of the elements being sought or of their more readily detected associate elements. Depending on circumstance, geochemical exploration samples soils, rock and lake and stream sediments.

Flow-through shares
Shares in an exploration company that allow the tax deduction or credits for mineral exploration to be passed to the investor.

Forge
A place where iron or other metals are wrought by heating in a furnace or special hearth, followed by hammering.

Foundry/smelter
A pyrometallurgical plant where the concentrate is chemically reduced in order to extract the metal or metals it contains.

Gangue
The worthless minerals in an ore deposit.

Flats
Horizontal vein working.

Flotation
A concentration process in which valuable mineral particles are induced to attached themselves to bubbles and float away from the waste particles in a solid/solution pulp. Specific chemicals are added to either float (foam off) particular minerals or to depress the flotation of other minerals. Several stages of processing are generally involved with rough bulk flotation products being subjected to additional flotation steps to increase product purity.

Ferrous
Containing iron

Fines
Material that passes through a standard screen on which coarser fragments are retained.

Fault
A break in the Earth's crust caused by tectonic forces which have moved the rock on one side with respect to the other.

Feasibility Study
(Bankable Feasibility Study) A detailed engineering study which defines the technical, economic, social and legal viability of a mining project with a high degree of reliability, identifying and quantifying any risks and providing sufficient information to determine whether or not the project should be advanced to the final engineering and construction stage. A bankable feasibility study forms the basis on which banks and other lenders provide the capital necessary to build the mine(s).

Erosion
Wearing away and transformation of the earth’s crust caused by water (rain, sea), ice and atmospheric agents (wind).

Exploration
In the broad sense, the whole range of mining activity from searching for and developing mineral deposits to developing the mine. In the strict sense, the search for mineral deposits up to discovery and includes the deliniation of the deposit by means of drilling and sampling.

Extraction
Mining activity that consists of removing the rock from an underground or open-pit mine.

Exploration
Prospecting, sampling, mapping, diamond drilling and other work involved in searching for ore.

Epithermal deposit
A mineral deposit consisting of veins and replacement bodies, usually in volcanic or sedimentary rocks, containing precious metals or, more rarely, base metals.

EM survey
A geophysical survey method which measures the electromagnetic properties of rocks.

Energy Optimizing Furnace
(EOF) EOF was developed to replace the electric arc and other steelmaking furnaces. The EOF is an oxygen steelmaking process. Carbon and oxygen react to preheat scrap metal, hot metal and/or pig iron.

Environmental baseline studies
The environmental monitoring work completed before a production decision is taken on a mining project, examining the existing state of the environment and the potential effects that proposed mining activities will have on the natural surroundings. The studies will include ground water (lakes, streams, rivers etc), wildlife (plants and animals), potential noise levels from construction and mining operations, potential impacts from on-going mining operations such as dust and vibration levels etc.

Dyke
A long and relatively thin body of igneous rock that, while in the molten state, intruded a fissure in older rocks.

Electric Arc Furnaces
(EAFs) Electric arc furnaces are often used in large steel foundries and steel mills. The metal is charged into the furnace, with additives to make recovery of slag easier, and heat to melt the metal is produced with an electric arc from three carbon or granite electrodes. Frequently mills producing steel with EAF technology are called mini-mills.