A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Assay
Chemical test of rock samples to determine the metal content.
Bench
Successive steps/horizontal increments mined as an open pit progresses deeper.
By-product
The secondary metal or mineral product recovered in the milling process. E.g. copper and silver.
Carbonaceous
Containing carbon or coal, especially shale or other rock containing small particles of carbon distributed throughout the mass.
Concentrate
Very fine, powder-like product containing the valuable ore mineral with all the waste mineral eliminated.
Contained Ounces
Representing ounces in the ground before reduction of ounces not recovered by applicable metallurgical processes.
Contango
The positive difference between the spot market gold price and the forward market gold price.
Conventional Rotary Drilling
Produces rock chips similar to reverse circulation except that the sample is collected through a single-walled drill pipe.
Core Drilling
Used in mineral exploration, this is drilling with a hollow bit with a diamond cutting rim to produce a cylindrical core that is used for geological study and assays.
Crushing and Grinding
A process where ore is broken into small pieces to prepare it for further processing.
Cut-off Grade
Minimum metal grade at which an ore body can be economically mined used in the calculation of ore reserves.
Cyanidation
Extracting gold or silver by dissolving it in a weak solution of sodium cyanide.
Deferred Stripping Costs
Mining costs associated with waste rock removal and deferred / amortized to operating costs over the life of an open pit mine.
Development
Developing a mineral deposit – shaft sinking, crosscutting, drifting and raising for an underground mine; and removal of overburden for an open-pit mine.
Dilution
The lowering of the recovered due to grade waste or low-grade ore being unavoidably included in the mined ore.
Doré
Gold and silver bullion bars consisting of approximately 90 percent precious metals ready to be further refined to almost pure metal.
Drift
Horizontal tunnel usually driven alongside an ore deposit, from a shaft, to gain access to the deposit.
Exploration
Includes prospecting, sampling, mapping, diamond-drilling and other work involved in searching for ore.
Flotation
Where mineral particles become attached to bubbles and float to allow valuable minerals to be concentrated and separated from the valueless waste which sinks.
Geotechnical Drilling
Diamond drilling targeted and utilized specifically for the collection of information used for mine stability purposes.
Grade
Amount of metal in each ton of ore, in troy ounces per ton or grams per tonne for precious metals and as a percentage for most other metals.
Heap Leaching
Process where gold is extracted by “heaping” broken ore on impermeable pads and continually applying a weak cyanide solution to the heaps which dissolves contained gold, allowing the gold-laden solution to be collected for gold recovery.
In-fill Drilling
Drilling at intervals between existing holes, used to provide greater geological detail and to help establish reserve estimates.
Layback
Single cut in an open pit, consisting of a number of benches, mined to expose the underlying orebody.
Lode
Mineral deposits consisting of a zone of veins or disseminations in rock.
Long-hole Open Stopping
Method of underground mining whereby holes are drilled up to 30 meters or longer into an ore bearing zone, then blasted so the rock falls into the open space with the broken rock being extracted.
Mill
Processing facility where ore is finely ground and then is physically or chemically treated to extract the valuable metals.
Mill-head Grade
Metal content of mined ore going into a mill for processing.
Mining Claim
Mineral lands staked or marked out in accordance with applicable mining laws to acquire the right to explore and extract the minerals under the surface.
Net Profits Interest Royalty
Royalty based on the profit remaining after deducting operating, capital and other costs.
Net Smelter Return Royalty
Royalty less all of the offsite smelting, refining and transportation costs associated with the purification of the economic metals based on a percentage of valuable minerals produced. Settlement is made either in kind or in currency based on the spot sale proceeds received.
Open Pit
Mine where the minerals are mined from the surface.
Ore
Rock that contains metallic or non-metallic minerals that can be mined and processed.
Orebody
Large amount of ore that can be mined economically.
Ounces
Troy ounces of fineness at 999.9 parts per 1,000 parts.
Oxide Ore
Mineralized rock where some of the minerals have been oxidized, which tends to make it easier to dissolve the minute particles of gold with cyanide solutions.
Ramp
Underground mine tunnel that is inclined and provides access to an orebody for exploration, ventilation or exploitation purposes.
Reclamation
Process by which lands which have been disturbed by mining activity are cleaned up to support beneficial land use by contouring, covering and re-vegetation of waste rock and other disturbed areas. Includes removal of buildings and equipment, tailings storage facilities, leach pads and other mine structures.
Reclamation Closure Costs
The cost associated with closing an operating mine. This includes land reclamation, insurance, property holding costs such as taxes, rental and claim fees, and community programs
Recovered Grade
Actual metal content of ore determined after processing.
Recovery Rate
The proportion of valuable material physically recovered in the processing of ore – generally stated as a percentage of the material recovered compared to the total material present.
Reef
An African term for a continuous mineral deposit, usually gold-bearing quartz.
Refining
Final stage of metal production where impurities are removed from the molten metal.
Refractory Material
Gold mineralized material that requires pre-treatment before using conventional cyanide methods. The refractory material can have either silica or sulphide encapsulation of the gold or have naturally occurring carbons present – which reduce gold recovery.
Reserve Grade
Estimated metal content of an orebody, based on reserve calculations.
Reverse Circulation Drilling
Produces rock chips rather than core so that the chips are forced by air to surface through a double-walled drill pipe and are collected for examination.
Roasting
Treatment that removes sulphur, carbon, antimony or arsenic from ore through the use of heat and air, or oxygen enriched air.
Shaft
Vertical passageway to an underground mine for ventilation, moving personnel, equipment, supplies and material including ore and waste rock.
Stope
The area where ore is mined in an underground mine.
Strike Length
Horizontal dimension of a zone of mineralization or an orebody.
Tailings
Material that remains after recoverable precious metals have been removed from the ore during processing.
Tailings Storage Facility
Confined area suitable for depositing the tailings material remaining after the ore processing.
Tons
Short tons – 2,000 pounds.
Total Cash Costs
Calculated in accordance with The Gold Institute Production Cost Standard. This includes site costs for all mining (excluding deferred stripping costs), processing and administration, royalties and production taxes. It is exclusive of amortization, reclamation, financing costs, capital costs and exploration costs.
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