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Adit
A nearly horizontal opening driven into the side of a hill or mountain to provide ventilation, drainage or access to a mineral deposit.
Agglomeration
Process whereby the mined ore is mixed with cement or lime prior to loading on the leach pad to group fine particles to large pieces.
Anomaly
A statistical abnormality discovered by surveying and plotting geochemical or geophysical patterns over an area of ground. An anomaly suggests the possibility of a mineral deposit.
Assay
The chemical analysis of an ore to determine the quantity and quality of any metals it contains.
Autoclave System
Oxidation process in which high temperatures and pressures are applied to convert refractory sulphide mineralization into amenable oxide ore.
Backfill
Mine waste or rock used to refill an excavation after ore has been extracted.
Backfilling
Waste material used to fill the void created by mining an ore body.
Ball Mill
A steel cylinder loaded with steel balls into which crushed ore is fed. The ball mill is rotated, causing the balls to cascade and grind the ore.
Bench
A step or level created in open-pit mining as the excavation becomes deeper.
Bioleaching
The process of using naturally occurring bacteria to accelerate the oxidation of sulfidic minerals that encase some forms of gold and prevent leaching chemicals from reaching the gold. When ore is exposed to large concentrations of these sulfide-consuming organisms, enough of the sulfidic material can be removed to recover the gold using the normal leaching process.
Blast hole
A hole drilled into rock for the placement of explosives.
Byproduct
An additional product recovered during the processing of a primary product; for example, copper might be recovered when milling ore for gold.
Carbonaceous Ore
Ore containing particles of carbon material, which may prevent recovery of dissolved gold from process solutions.
Carbon-in-leach
A recovery process in which a slurry of gold ore, carbon granules and cyanide are mixed together. The cyanide dissolves the gold content and the gold is adsorbed on the carbon: the carbon is subsequently separated from the slurry for further gold removal.
Carbon-in-pulp
Similar to carbon-in-leach process, but initially the slurry is subjected to cyanide leaching in separate tanks followed by carbon-in-pulp. Carbon-in-leach is a simultaneous process.
Cash Operating Costs
Include site costs for all mining (excluding deferred stripping costs), processing and administration, but are exclusive of royalties, production taxes, depreciation, reclamation, financing costs, capital costs and exploration costs.
Collar
The mouth of a mine shaft or a frame of timber or concrete around the mouth.
Concentrate
A powdery product containing the valuable ore mineral from which most of the waste material has been eliminated.
Concentrator
A particular type of milling plant that produces a concentrate of the valuable minerals or metals. The concentrate must then be treated in some other type of plant, such as a smelter, to effect recovery of the metal.
Contained ounces
A measure of ounces of a mineral in the ground, without allowing for the portion of the mineral that will remain unrecoverable after processing.
Contango on gold
Contango on gold is the positive difference between the spot market gold price and the forward market gold price. It is often expressed as an interest rate and is the difference between inter-bank deposit rates and gold lending rates.
Crushing and Grinding
The process by which ore is broken into small pieces to prepare it for further processing.
Cut and Fill Stoping
An underground excavation method in which ore is removed in successive flat or inclined slices, working upward. After each slice is blasted down, all broken ore is removed, and the stope is filled with waste up to within a few feet of the back before the next slice is taken out. Enough space is left between the top of the waste pile and the back of the stope to provide working space.
Cut-and-fill
A method of excavation in which ore is removed in a series of slices, with backfill replacing the extracted ore before the next slice is mined.
Cut-off Grade
The point at which the value of the metal recovered equals the cost of treatment and recovery.
Cyanidation
A leaching process that extracts gold and silver grains from ore by exposing the crushed ore to a weak cyanide solution.
Cyanide Leaching
The process by which cyanide solution, added to ore, dissolves and removes gold from the ore into the solution.
Deferred Stripping Costs
Mining costs associated with waste rock removal that are deferred and charged to income on the basis of the average stripping ratio for the mine. The average stripping ratio is calculated as a ratio of the tons of material estimated to be mined to the estimated recoverable ounces of gold. At the start of a mine's productive life costs on a per-ounce basis are usually higher than in later years as the mining rate is above the life-of-mine stripping ratio. In later years, as the mining rate falls below the life-of-mine stripping ratio, the deferred costs are charged to operating costs.
Development
Underground work carried out for the purpose of opening up a mineral deposit. Includes shaft sinking, crosscutting, drifting and raising.
Diamond drilling
A method of prospecting for mineral deposits in which hollow drill bits set with diamonds cut long, cylindrical core samples for analysis.
Dilution
The unavoidable inclusion of some barren rock along with the ore during the mining process, which reduces the recovered grade of the ore and increases costs.
Disseminated ore
Ore in which small particles of the mineral are distributed throughout the host rock rather than occurring in a concentrated, almost solid form.
Dore Bullion
Bullion produced after initial refining. It frequently has a gold and silver content of 85to 95 percent.
Doré
Unrefined gold and silver bullion bars usually consisting of approximately 90 percent precious metals which will be further refined to almost pure metal.
Drift
Horizontal underground tunnel driven alongside or through an ore deposit, from either an adit or shaft, to gain access to the deposit.
Electrowinning
Recovery of a metal from solution by means of electrochemical processes.
Exploration
Prospecting, sampling, mapping, diamond drilling and other work involved in searching for ore.
Flotation
A process by which some mineral particles are induced to become attached to bubbles and float, and other particles to sink, so that the valuable minerals are concentrated and separated from the worthless gangue.
Foot Wall
The wall or the rock on the underside of a vein or ore deposit.
Grade
The amount of valuable mineral in each ton of ore, expressed as troy ounces per ton or grams per tonne for precious metals and as a percentage for other metals.
Hanging Wall
The wall or the rock on the upper side of a vein or ore deposit.
Heap Leach Pad
A large impermeable foundation or pad used as a base for ore during heap leaching.
Heap/dump Leaching
A process whereby gold is extracted by "heaping" broken ore on sloping impermeable pads and repeatedly spraying the heaps with a recirculating, weak cyanide solution which dissolves the gold content. The gold-laden solution is collected for gold recovery.
Hoist
The machine used for raising and lowering the cage or other conveyance in a shaft.
Host Rock
The rock surrounding an ore deposit.
Hydrographic Basins
One of the 260 Hydrographic Areas recognized within the Great Basin by the United States Geological Survey. These areas are used for management of water resources. The hydrographic areas are defined by watershed boundaries that generally correspond to geographic features.
Infill
Diamond drilling at shorter intervals between existing holes, used to provide greater geological detail and to help establish reserve estimates.
Layback
The amount of material which must be mined for the slope of a pit wall to be at a safe angle.
Leach Pad
A large impermeable foundation several layers thick lined with high density polyethylene that prevents leach solution from leaking out of the gold recovery system and into the ground.
Long-hole Open Stope
A method of mining involving the drilling of holes up to 90 feet long into an ore body and then blasting a slice of rock which falls into an open space. The broken rock is extracted and the resulting open chamber is not filled with supporting material.
Metallurgy
A term of wide meaning, embracing the practice and science of extracting metals from their ores and the refining of crude metal.
Mill
A plant where ore is ground fine and undergoes physical or chemical treatment to extract the valuable metals.
Mill Head Grade
Metal content of mined ore going into a mill for processing. Usually lower than reserve grade because of dilution.
Mill Process
Any of a variety of plants where gold is extracted using crushing, grinding, and chemical processes.
Mill
A plant for the physical or chemical treatment of ore to recover and remove metals or a concentration of valuable minerals for further smelting and refining; to process ore in a mill.
Millhead grade
The grade of mined ore when it comes out of the mine for milling.
Milling Circuit
The combination of various processes and systems which concentrate the valuable minerals.
Mineralization
Rock containing an undetermined amount of minerals or metals.
Mineralized zone
A body of rock containing minerals, especially minerals of commercial value.
Mining Claim
That portion of public mineral lands which a party has staked or marked out in accordance with federal, provincial or state mining laws to acquire the right to explore for and exploit the minerals under the surface.
Net Profits Interest
A royalty based on the profit remaining after recapture of certain operating, capital and other costs.
Net Smelter Return
A royalty based on a percentage of gold produced with settlement made either in kind or in currency based on the spot gold sale proceeds received less the cost of refining at an off-site refinery.
Open-pit mine
A mine open at the surface from which ore is extracted directly, not through tunnels.
Ore
A naturally occurring mixture of rock and minerals from which at least one mineral can be extracted, processed and sold at a profit.
Oxide Ore
Mineralized rock in which some of the original minerals have been oxidized. Oxidation tends to make the ore more porous and permits a more complete permeation of cyanide solutions so that minute particles of gold in the interior of the minerals will be readily dissolved.
Patent
A legal document that conveys title to a mining claim after the assessment has been completed.
Patenting
A process established under the General Mining Law of 1872 which permits the conversion of mining claims on federal lands into full fee ownership, provided certain conditions are met.
Pregnant pond
A pond containing a cyanide solution after it has seeped through crushed ore, extracting gold and silver from the ore.
Pregnant Solution
Gold-bearing cyanide solution which results from the leaching process.
Preg-robbing Ores
Ore containing carbonaceous material which preferentially absorbs (robs) gold from pregnant cyanide solutions, this preventing old recovery.
Probable Ore
Material for which tonnage and grade are computed partly from specific measurements, samples or production data and partly from projection for a reasonable distance on geological evidence: and for which the sites available for inspection, measurement and sampling are too widely or otherwise inappropriately spaced to outline the material completely or to establish its grade throughout.
Proven Ore
Material for which tonnage and grade are computed from dimensions revealed in outcrops, trenches, underground workings or drill holes; grade is computed from the results of adequate sampling; and the sites for inspection, sampling and measurement are so spaced and the geological character so well-defined that size, shape and mineral content are established.
Raise
A vertical or steeply inclined opening in a mine driven upward either to explore or to connect with a level above.
Ramp
An inclined underground tunnel which provides access for exploration or a connection between levels of a mine.
Reclamation
The process by which lands disturbed as a result of mining activity are reclaimed back to a beneficial land use. Reclamation activity includes the removal of buildings, equipment, machinery and other physical remnants of mining, closure of tailings impoundments, leach pads and other mine features, and contouring, covering and revegetation of waste rock piles and other disturbed areas.
Recovered Grade
Actual metal content of ore determined after processing.
Recovery Rate
A term used in process metallurgy to indicate the proportion of valuable material obtained in the processing of an ore. It is generally stated as a percentage of the material recovered compared to the total material present.
Refining
The final stage of metal production in which impurities are removed from the molten metal.
Refractory Material
Gold mineralized material in which the gold is not amenable to recovery by conventional cyanide methods without any pre-treatment. The refractory nature can be either silica or sulphide encapsulation of the gold or the presence of naturally occurring carbons which reduce gold recovery.
Refractory ore
Ore from which the valuable minerals cannot be recovered by conventional methods such as cyanidation because of the way the mineral is distributed in the ore.
Reserve grade
An estimate of the relative quantity of a mineral in an orebody that can be recovered at a profit.
Reserves
That part of a mineral deposit which could be economically and legally extracted or produced at the time of the reserve determination. Reserves are customarily stated in terms of ore when dealing with metalliferous minerals. There are two categories of reserves:
Resource
An estimate of the amount of material in a mineral deposit, based on samples and other supporting data.
Resource/mineralized Material
Mineralization based on geological evidence and assumed continuity. May or may not be supported by samples but is supported by geological, geochemical, geophysical or other data.
Reverse Circulation
Drilling that produces rock chips rather than core. Faster and cheaper than diamond drilling, the chips are forced by air to surface for examination.
Roasting
The treatment of ore by heat and air, or oxygen enriched air, in order to remove sulphur, carbon, antimony and arsenic.
Semi-autogenous grinding (SAG)
A process of grinding ore into a powder using steel balls or rods and larger pieces of the same ore.
Shaft
A vertical or inclined passageway for raising or lowering material or people in an underground mine, or for pumping or ventilation.
Slurry
A thin mixture of insoluble solids and a liquid, specifically the liquid remaining after the initial leaching (cyanidation) that is then treated by carbon-in-pulp.
Smelting
A metallurgical operation in which metal is separated from impurities by a process that includes fusion.
Spot Deferred Contract
A spot deferred contract is a forward sale with a flexible delivery date. The ultimate delivery date and sale price are not fixed on the contract. If it is rolled over, the new contract price is based on the price at maturity in the old contract plus contango.
Stope
An excavation in an underground mine where ore is or has been extracted.
Strike Length
The longest horizontal dimension of an ore body or zone of mineralization.
Stripping Ratio
The ratio of the number of tons of waste material removed to the number of tons of ore removed, used in connection with open pit mining.
Sulphide Ore
A sub-group of refractory ore - mineralized rock in which much of the gold is encapsulated in sulphides and is not readily amenable to dissolution by cyanide solutions - associated with sulphide minerals (primarily pyrite) that have not been oxidized. Some sulphide ore may require autoclaving or roasting prior to cyanidation.
Tailings dam
A structure to contain mine tailings and waste water as heavy metals settle out before the water is returned to the local environment.
Tailings
The waste material left after processing the ore and recovering as much of the valuable minerals as is economically feasible.
Trenching
An exploration technique in which trenches are dug to expose potential ore for geological examination or assays.
Troy Ounce
Troy ounce of a fineness of 999.9 parts per 1,000 parts, equal to 31.1034 grams.
Water Management
The process whereby the groundwater table in the mining area is lowered by pumping water from wells, and the water is conveyed and used or recharged to the groundwater system through infiltration, reinjection or irrigation return.
A nearly horizontal opening driven into the side of a hill or mountain to provide ventilation, drainage or access to a mineral deposit.
Agglomeration
Process whereby the mined ore is mixed with cement or lime prior to loading on the leach pad to group fine particles to large pieces.
Anomaly
A statistical abnormality discovered by surveying and plotting geochemical or geophysical patterns over an area of ground. An anomaly suggests the possibility of a mineral deposit.
Assay
The chemical analysis of an ore to determine the quantity and quality of any metals it contains.
Autoclave System
Oxidation process in which high temperatures and pressures are applied to convert refractory sulphide mineralization into amenable oxide ore.
Backfill
Mine waste or rock used to refill an excavation after ore has been extracted.
Backfilling
Waste material used to fill the void created by mining an ore body.
Ball Mill
A steel cylinder loaded with steel balls into which crushed ore is fed. The ball mill is rotated, causing the balls to cascade and grind the ore.
Bench
A step or level created in open-pit mining as the excavation becomes deeper.
Bioleaching
The process of using naturally occurring bacteria to accelerate the oxidation of sulfidic minerals that encase some forms of gold and prevent leaching chemicals from reaching the gold. When ore is exposed to large concentrations of these sulfide-consuming organisms, enough of the sulfidic material can be removed to recover the gold using the normal leaching process.
Blast hole
A hole drilled into rock for the placement of explosives.
Byproduct
An additional product recovered during the processing of a primary product; for example, copper might be recovered when milling ore for gold.
Carbonaceous Ore
Ore containing particles of carbon material, which may prevent recovery of dissolved gold from process solutions.
Carbon-in-leach
A recovery process in which a slurry of gold ore, carbon granules and cyanide are mixed together. The cyanide dissolves the gold content and the gold is adsorbed on the carbon: the carbon is subsequently separated from the slurry for further gold removal.
Carbon-in-pulp
Similar to carbon-in-leach process, but initially the slurry is subjected to cyanide leaching in separate tanks followed by carbon-in-pulp. Carbon-in-leach is a simultaneous process.
Cash Operating Costs
Include site costs for all mining (excluding deferred stripping costs), processing and administration, but are exclusive of royalties, production taxes, depreciation, reclamation, financing costs, capital costs and exploration costs.
Collar
The mouth of a mine shaft or a frame of timber or concrete around the mouth.
Concentrate
A powdery product containing the valuable ore mineral from which most of the waste material has been eliminated.
Concentrator
A particular type of milling plant that produces a concentrate of the valuable minerals or metals. The concentrate must then be treated in some other type of plant, such as a smelter, to effect recovery of the metal.
Contained ounces
A measure of ounces of a mineral in the ground, without allowing for the portion of the mineral that will remain unrecoverable after processing.
Contango on gold
Contango on gold is the positive difference between the spot market gold price and the forward market gold price. It is often expressed as an interest rate and is the difference between inter-bank deposit rates and gold lending rates.
Crushing and Grinding
The process by which ore is broken into small pieces to prepare it for further processing.
Cut and Fill Stoping
An underground excavation method in which ore is removed in successive flat or inclined slices, working upward. After each slice is blasted down, all broken ore is removed, and the stope is filled with waste up to within a few feet of the back before the next slice is taken out. Enough space is left between the top of the waste pile and the back of the stope to provide working space.
Cut-and-fill
A method of excavation in which ore is removed in a series of slices, with backfill replacing the extracted ore before the next slice is mined.
Cut-off Grade
The point at which the value of the metal recovered equals the cost of treatment and recovery.
Cyanidation
A leaching process that extracts gold and silver grains from ore by exposing the crushed ore to a weak cyanide solution.
Cyanide Leaching
The process by which cyanide solution, added to ore, dissolves and removes gold from the ore into the solution.
Deferred Stripping Costs
Mining costs associated with waste rock removal that are deferred and charged to income on the basis of the average stripping ratio for the mine. The average stripping ratio is calculated as a ratio of the tons of material estimated to be mined to the estimated recoverable ounces of gold. At the start of a mine's productive life costs on a per-ounce basis are usually higher than in later years as the mining rate is above the life-of-mine stripping ratio. In later years, as the mining rate falls below the life-of-mine stripping ratio, the deferred costs are charged to operating costs.
Development
Underground work carried out for the purpose of opening up a mineral deposit. Includes shaft sinking, crosscutting, drifting and raising.
Diamond drilling
A method of prospecting for mineral deposits in which hollow drill bits set with diamonds cut long, cylindrical core samples for analysis.
Dilution
The unavoidable inclusion of some barren rock along with the ore during the mining process, which reduces the recovered grade of the ore and increases costs.
Disseminated ore
Ore in which small particles of the mineral are distributed throughout the host rock rather than occurring in a concentrated, almost solid form.
Dore Bullion
Bullion produced after initial refining. It frequently has a gold and silver content of 85to 95 percent.
Doré
Unrefined gold and silver bullion bars usually consisting of approximately 90 percent precious metals which will be further refined to almost pure metal.
Drift
Horizontal underground tunnel driven alongside or through an ore deposit, from either an adit or shaft, to gain access to the deposit.
Electrowinning
Recovery of a metal from solution by means of electrochemical processes.
Exploration
Prospecting, sampling, mapping, diamond drilling and other work involved in searching for ore.
Flotation
A process by which some mineral particles are induced to become attached to bubbles and float, and other particles to sink, so that the valuable minerals are concentrated and separated from the worthless gangue.
Foot Wall
The wall or the rock on the underside of a vein or ore deposit.
Grade
The amount of valuable mineral in each ton of ore, expressed as troy ounces per ton or grams per tonne for precious metals and as a percentage for other metals.
Hanging Wall
The wall or the rock on the upper side of a vein or ore deposit.
Heap Leach Pad
A large impermeable foundation or pad used as a base for ore during heap leaching.
Heap/dump Leaching
A process whereby gold is extracted by "heaping" broken ore on sloping impermeable pads and repeatedly spraying the heaps with a recirculating, weak cyanide solution which dissolves the gold content. The gold-laden solution is collected for gold recovery.
Hoist
The machine used for raising and lowering the cage or other conveyance in a shaft.
Host Rock
The rock surrounding an ore deposit.
Hydrographic Basins
One of the 260 Hydrographic Areas recognized within the Great Basin by the United States Geological Survey. These areas are used for management of water resources. The hydrographic areas are defined by watershed boundaries that generally correspond to geographic features.
Infill
Diamond drilling at shorter intervals between existing holes, used to provide greater geological detail and to help establish reserve estimates.
Layback
The amount of material which must be mined for the slope of a pit wall to be at a safe angle.
Leach Pad
A large impermeable foundation several layers thick lined with high density polyethylene that prevents leach solution from leaking out of the gold recovery system and into the ground.
Long-hole Open Stope
A method of mining involving the drilling of holes up to 90 feet long into an ore body and then blasting a slice of rock which falls into an open space. The broken rock is extracted and the resulting open chamber is not filled with supporting material.
Metallurgy
A term of wide meaning, embracing the practice and science of extracting metals from their ores and the refining of crude metal.
Mill
A plant where ore is ground fine and undergoes physical or chemical treatment to extract the valuable metals.
Mill Head Grade
Metal content of mined ore going into a mill for processing. Usually lower than reserve grade because of dilution.
Mill Process
Any of a variety of plants where gold is extracted using crushing, grinding, and chemical processes.
Mill
A plant for the physical or chemical treatment of ore to recover and remove metals or a concentration of valuable minerals for further smelting and refining; to process ore in a mill.
Millhead grade
The grade of mined ore when it comes out of the mine for milling.
Milling Circuit
The combination of various processes and systems which concentrate the valuable minerals.
Mineralization
Rock containing an undetermined amount of minerals or metals.
Mineralized zone
A body of rock containing minerals, especially minerals of commercial value.
Mining Claim
That portion of public mineral lands which a party has staked or marked out in accordance with federal, provincial or state mining laws to acquire the right to explore for and exploit the minerals under the surface.
Net Profits Interest
A royalty based on the profit remaining after recapture of certain operating, capital and other costs.
Net Smelter Return
A royalty based on a percentage of gold produced with settlement made either in kind or in currency based on the spot gold sale proceeds received less the cost of refining at an off-site refinery.
Open-pit mine
A mine open at the surface from which ore is extracted directly, not through tunnels.
Ore
A naturally occurring mixture of rock and minerals from which at least one mineral can be extracted, processed and sold at a profit.
Oxide Ore
Mineralized rock in which some of the original minerals have been oxidized. Oxidation tends to make the ore more porous and permits a more complete permeation of cyanide solutions so that minute particles of gold in the interior of the minerals will be readily dissolved.
Patent
A legal document that conveys title to a mining claim after the assessment has been completed.
Patenting
A process established under the General Mining Law of 1872 which permits the conversion of mining claims on federal lands into full fee ownership, provided certain conditions are met.
Pregnant pond
A pond containing a cyanide solution after it has seeped through crushed ore, extracting gold and silver from the ore.
Pregnant Solution
Gold-bearing cyanide solution which results from the leaching process.
Preg-robbing Ores
Ore containing carbonaceous material which preferentially absorbs (robs) gold from pregnant cyanide solutions, this preventing old recovery.
Probable Ore
Material for which tonnage and grade are computed partly from specific measurements, samples or production data and partly from projection for a reasonable distance on geological evidence: and for which the sites available for inspection, measurement and sampling are too widely or otherwise inappropriately spaced to outline the material completely or to establish its grade throughout.
Proven Ore
Material for which tonnage and grade are computed from dimensions revealed in outcrops, trenches, underground workings or drill holes; grade is computed from the results of adequate sampling; and the sites for inspection, sampling and measurement are so spaced and the geological character so well-defined that size, shape and mineral content are established.
Raise
A vertical or steeply inclined opening in a mine driven upward either to explore or to connect with a level above.
Ramp
An inclined underground tunnel which provides access for exploration or a connection between levels of a mine.
Reclamation
The process by which lands disturbed as a result of mining activity are reclaimed back to a beneficial land use. Reclamation activity includes the removal of buildings, equipment, machinery and other physical remnants of mining, closure of tailings impoundments, leach pads and other mine features, and contouring, covering and revegetation of waste rock piles and other disturbed areas.
Recovered Grade
Actual metal content of ore determined after processing.
Recovery Rate
A term used in process metallurgy to indicate the proportion of valuable material obtained in the processing of an ore. It is generally stated as a percentage of the material recovered compared to the total material present.
Refining
The final stage of metal production in which impurities are removed from the molten metal.
Refractory Material
Gold mineralized material in which the gold is not amenable to recovery by conventional cyanide methods without any pre-treatment. The refractory nature can be either silica or sulphide encapsulation of the gold or the presence of naturally occurring carbons which reduce gold recovery.
Refractory ore
Ore from which the valuable minerals cannot be recovered by conventional methods such as cyanidation because of the way the mineral is distributed in the ore.
Reserve grade
An estimate of the relative quantity of a mineral in an orebody that can be recovered at a profit.
Reserves
That part of a mineral deposit which could be economically and legally extracted or produced at the time of the reserve determination. Reserves are customarily stated in terms of ore when dealing with metalliferous minerals. There are two categories of reserves:
Resource
An estimate of the amount of material in a mineral deposit, based on samples and other supporting data.
Resource/mineralized Material
Mineralization based on geological evidence and assumed continuity. May or may not be supported by samples but is supported by geological, geochemical, geophysical or other data.
Reverse Circulation
Drilling that produces rock chips rather than core. Faster and cheaper than diamond drilling, the chips are forced by air to surface for examination.
Roasting
The treatment of ore by heat and air, or oxygen enriched air, in order to remove sulphur, carbon, antimony and arsenic.
Semi-autogenous grinding (SAG)
A process of grinding ore into a powder using steel balls or rods and larger pieces of the same ore.
Shaft
A vertical or inclined passageway for raising or lowering material or people in an underground mine, or for pumping or ventilation.
Slurry
A thin mixture of insoluble solids and a liquid, specifically the liquid remaining after the initial leaching (cyanidation) that is then treated by carbon-in-pulp.
Smelting
A metallurgical operation in which metal is separated from impurities by a process that includes fusion.
Spot Deferred Contract
A spot deferred contract is a forward sale with a flexible delivery date. The ultimate delivery date and sale price are not fixed on the contract. If it is rolled over, the new contract price is based on the price at maturity in the old contract plus contango.
Stope
An excavation in an underground mine where ore is or has been extracted.
Strike Length
The longest horizontal dimension of an ore body or zone of mineralization.
Stripping Ratio
The ratio of the number of tons of waste material removed to the number of tons of ore removed, used in connection with open pit mining.
Sulphide Ore
A sub-group of refractory ore - mineralized rock in which much of the gold is encapsulated in sulphides and is not readily amenable to dissolution by cyanide solutions - associated with sulphide minerals (primarily pyrite) that have not been oxidized. Some sulphide ore may require autoclaving or roasting prior to cyanidation.
Tailings dam
A structure to contain mine tailings and waste water as heavy metals settle out before the water is returned to the local environment.
Tailings
The waste material left after processing the ore and recovering as much of the valuable minerals as is economically feasible.
Trenching
An exploration technique in which trenches are dug to expose potential ore for geological examination or assays.
Troy Ounce
Troy ounce of a fineness of 999.9 parts per 1,000 parts, equal to 31.1034 grams.
Water Management
The process whereby the groundwater table in the mining area is lowered by pumping water from wells, and the water is conveyed and used or recharged to the groundwater system through infiltration, reinjection or irrigation return.
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