A
Artisanal Mining
The extraction of minerals using simple, non-mechanical methods.
Assay
A chemical analysis to estimate the mineral content in a sample.
Adit
A horizontal entrance to a mine used to access inner layers.
B
Bioleaching
Using living organisms to extract minerals from ore.
C
Cage
A structure used to transport workers and equipment.
Cyanide Heap Leaching
A process for extracting minerals using a cyanide solution.
Caving methods
A mining process involving the collapse of surrounding rocks.
D
Dewatering
The removal of water from a mining area to facilitate operations.
Drift Mining
The extraction of minerals through drifts or horizontal passages.
Dredging
Extracting materials from the bottom of water bodies using special equipment.
Dredging equipment
A ship or machine used to extract materials from the bottom of water bodies.
E
Extraction
Extract the mineral resources from the Earth.
Exploration
The search for new areas where minerals can be extracted.
G
Gravity Circuits
A technique for separating minerals using gravity.
Grizzly
A metal grid used to separate coarse materials.
Geiger Counter
A device used to measure radiation levels in mineral areas.
H
Haulage
The transportation of materials or minerals from the mine to the required site.
High Grading
The extraction of only high-quality minerals.
i
In-situ Mining
The extraction of minerals without removing the surrounding rocks.
L
Lode
A long, narrow mineral deposit within rocks.
Lunar Regolith
The surface soil on the Moon.
M
Mining
The process of extracting minerals or natural resources from the Earth.
Mineral
A naturally occurring inorganic chemical compound found in the Earth's crust.
Mineralization
The process of forming mineral deposits.
Mining Claim (Rights)
A legal right to extract minerals from a specific piece of land.
Mineral Processing
Processes that treat ore to extract valuable minerals.
Muck
Excess materials and soil transported during mining operations.
Mineral belts
Geological zones containing high concentrations of minerals.
Mining complex
Assemblage of facilities and installations that encompass mineral extraction and processing operations.
N
Nugget
A mixture of water, clay, and solid materials.
Nugget
A small piece of precious metal.
O
Ore
A rocks that contains a mineral which can be extracted economically.
Open-pit Mining
The extraction of minerals from an open surface.
Overburden
The earth layers covering rocks or coal.
Ore Body
A large concentration of ore within the Earth.
P
Pit
An open area from which minerals have been extracted.
Placer Mining
The extraction of minerals from river or sea deposits.
Panning
The process of separating heavy minerals by washing sand.
R
Room and Pillar Mining
The extraction of minerals by creating rooms and leaving pillars to support the roof.
Reef
A rock formation containing valuable minerals.
Run-of-Mine
Materials extracted without any preliminary processing.
Renewing
The restoration and renewal of an area after mineral extraction.
Reserve
A known quantity of mineral can be economically extracted.
Refining
The process that mined material undergoes so as to remove all undesirable minerals and separate the desired elements.
S
Subsidence
The sinking of the Earth's surface due to collapses in lower layers.
Salt flat
A low-lying, flat area covered with a layer of salts.
Stripping Ratio
The ratio between the overburden and the minerals that need to be removed.
Stope
A small opening inside a mine for extracting minerals.
Seam
A long, narrow layer of coal or mineral within rocks.
Shaft
A deep vertical opening used to access underground layers in the mines.
T
Tailings
The materials left over after extracting minerals from the ore.
Tailings Dam
A dam used to store tailings after mineral extraction.
Tailings Pond
A pond for storing tailings after mining operations.
U
Underground Mining
The extraction of minerals from beneath the Earth's surface using tunnels inside the earth.
Unconfined Aquifer
A water layer not confined by rocks.
V
Vein
A long, narrow deposit of mineral within rocks.