Skip to main contentCommon mining terms
- Adit - A horizontal or nearly horizontal tunnel for accessing a mineral deposit from the surface.
- Backfill - The material used to fill a mine opening after the extraction of ore.
- Bench - A level section in an open-pit mine where ore is extracted.
- Blasthole - A hole drilled in the rock face for the placement of explosives.
- Bogger Operator: A bogger operator operates a machine that is used to transport the broken rock from the face to the surface.
- Carbon-in-leach (CIL) - A process used to extract gold from ore by using activated carbon to absorb the gold particles.
- Carbon-in-pulp (CIP) - A process used to extract gold from ore by using activated carbon to adsorb the gold particles.
- Concentrate - The product of the mineral processing plant that contains the valuable minerals.
- Decline - A sloping tunnel used to access an underground mine.
- Drift - A horizontal or nearly horizontal tunnel used for accessing a mineral deposit.
- Mine development - the process of preparing a mine for production.
- Dump - The pile of waste rock or tailings left over after the extraction of ore.
- Exploration - the process of searching for minerals
- Face - The surface of the rock where drilling and blasting occurs.
- Fault - A crack or break in the rock where movement has occurred.
- Gold grade - The amount of gold contained in a unit of ore.
- Grade control - The process of ensuring that the grade of ore being mined is consistent with the mine plan.
- Grizzly: A grid of iron bars or similar material used to sort ore and waste rock
- Head grade - The grade of ore at the start of the processing plant.
- High-grade - Ore that contains a high percentage of valuable minerals.
- Hoist - A machine used to lift or lower equipment and materials in a mine shaft.
- Host rock - The rock that surrounds an ore deposit.
- In-situ - The original location of a mineral deposit before it is extracted.
- Jig - A machine used to concentrate minerals based on their density.
- Jumbo Operator: A jumbo operator is responsible for operating a drill rig that is used to drill holes in the rock face in preparation for blasting.
- Leaching - The process of extracting metals from ores by using a chemical solvent.
- Lode - A mineral deposit that is embedded in the host rock.
- Longhole drilling - A method of drilling used in underground mining where holes are drilled parallel to the ore body.
- Milling - The process of grinding ore into a fine powder to extract the valuable minerals.
- Mine development - The process of preparing a mine site for production.
- Nipper - an entry-level job that involves assisting miners and other personnel with a variety of tasks in the underground mine.
- Open-pit mining - A method of mining where the ore is extracted from an open pit.
- Ore body - A concentration of valuable minerals in the host rock.
- Ore pass - A vertical or inclined chute used to transfer ore from one level to another in an underground mine.
- Ore reserve - The estimated amount of ore that can be economically mined.
- Overburden - The rock and soil that covers a mineral deposit.
- Paste backfill - A type of backfill made from a mixture of tailings and cement.
- Pan - a shallow metal dish used to separate gold from other materials.
- Pillar - a column of rock left in place to support the roof of a mine.
- Pit - an excavation in the ground used for mining.
- Portal - the entrance to a mine.
- Raise - A vertical or inclined tunnel used to transport people, equipment, or ore in an underground mine.
- Refractory ore - Ore that is difficult to extract gold from due to its chemical makeup.
- Rock bolting - A method of reinforcing the walls of an underground mine with steel rods.
- Roasting - A process used to remove impurities from gold ore by heating it in a furnace.
- Service crew is a team of workers who are responsible for maintaining and repairing the mining equipment and infrastructure
- Shaft - A vertical or inclined tunnel used to access an underground mine.
- Shrinkage stoping - A method of underground mining where ore is extracted by drilling and blasting.
- Shotcrete Sprayer: A shotcrete sprayer is responsible for spraying a concrete mixture onto the rock face to stabilize it and prevent collapses.
- Slag: The waste material produced during smelting operations
- Stope - A section of an underground mine where ore is being extracted.
- Tailings: The waste material left over after the valuable minerals have been extracted
- Truck Driver: A truck driver is responsible for driving a truck that transports the ore and waste rock from the mine to the surface.
- Underground mining - A method of mining where the ore is extracted from underground.
- Vein: A mineral deposit that is concentrated in a fracture or fissure in the rock
- Winze: A vertical or nearly vertical shaft used to connect different levels in a mine
- Working: The area where mining activities take place
- XRF: X-ray fluorescence, a non-destructive analytical technique used to determine the elemental composition of samples
