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acid treatment |
| |
the process of soaking activated carbon granules in a dilute hydrochloric acid solution to dissolve calcium carbonate and other impurities that have become absorbed in the carbon and that thereby reduce the ability to adsorb gold |
|
ag |
| |
chemical symbol of silver, from its Latin name "Argentum" |
|
alteration |
| |
the physical or chemical change in the composition of rock |
|
anomaly |
| |
a local feature distinguishable in a geophysical or geochemical measurement capable of being associated with a mineral deposit |
|
arsenopyrite |
| |
a mineral that comprises the main ore of arsenic and ranges in color from white to gray. Found principally in crystalline rocks, especially in lead and silver veins |
|
assay |
| |
the chemical test of rock samples to determine the metal content |
|
backfill |
| |
waste material used to fill the void created by mining an ore body with the purpose of providing both regional and localised support, particularly underground |
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basalt |
| |
dark colored, fine-grained volcanic igneous rock |
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base metal |
| |
non-ferrous metals inferior in value to precious metals; i.e. copper lead, zinc, nickel |
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bedrock |
| |
solid rock beneath superficial soil cover and unconsolidated sediments |
|
belt |
| |
an exposed zone or band of a particular kind of rock |
|
bioxidation |
| |
the oxidation of elements caused by naturally occurring bio-organisms in rock. Bioxidation is used in the recovery of gold from sulhpide rock by providing the optimum temperature, acidity (pH) and oxygen levels for the natural oxidation process to work most effectively |
|
breccia |
| |
rock dominated with angular fragments within a finer-grained matrix |
|
bullion |
| |
the product of smelting or refining precious metals, usually in the form of bars or ingots |
|
by-product |
| |
a secondary metal or mineral product recovered in the milling process such as copper and silver |
|
capping |
| |
overburden or rock overlying an ore or mineral body |
|
carbon columns |
| |
any vertical cylindrical vessels used to contain granules of activated carbon for processes such as the extraction of gold from solution, elution or acid treatment. |
|
carbon-in-leach (CIL) |
| |
a process to recover dissolved gold onto activated carbon, by introducing activated carbon into a gold-cyanide slurry during the agitation process and subsequently separating the loaded carbon from the slurry for the removal of the gold |
|
carbon-in-pulp (CIP) |
| |
a process to recover dissolved gold onto activated carbon, by introducing activated carbon into the system after the gold has been dissolved by the cyanide solution and subsequently separating the loaded carbon from the slurry for the removal of the gold |
|
cash cost |
| |
include site costs for all mining (excluding deferred development costs), processing and administration, but are exclusive of royalties, production taxes, amortisation and rehabilitation, as well as corporate administration, capital and exploration costs |
|
channel width |
| |
the total thickness of all reef bands, including internal waste mined as one unit |
|
commercial silver |
| |
silver that is .999 fine (99.9%) or higher, usually sold and shipped in 1000 oz. bars |
|
concentrator |
| |
a plant for recovering valuable minerals from ore in the form of concentrate. The concentrate must then be treated in some other type of plant, such as a smelter, to effect recovery of the pure metal. |
|
contained gold |
| |
the total gold content of the orebody (tons multiplied by grade), irrespective of economic potential and without deduction for mining and processing losses prior to recovery |
|
contango |
| |
the positive difference between the spot market gold price and the forward market gold price. It is often expressed as an interest rate quoted with reference to the difference between inter-bank deposit rates and gold lease rates |
|
core sample |
| |
the long cylinder of rock, about one inch or more in diameter recovered by diamond drilling during exploration |
|
cut-and-fill |
| |
a mining method which removes ore in horizontal slices and the remaining void is filled with waste rock before proceeding to mine the next slice of ore |
|
cut-off grade |
| |
the lowest grade of mineralized material considered to be economic and used to calculate the ore reserve in a deposit |
|
cyanide-leaching |
| |
dissolving gold or silver in a weak solution of sodium cyanide or potassium cyanide |
|
dip |
| |
the angle of incline from horizontal of a planar feature, such as an orebody |
|
diorite |
| |
an igneous rock formed by the solidification of molten material. |
|
disseminated ore |
| |
ore bearing small particles of valuable minerals spread throughout the rock |
|
dolerite |
| |
intrusive dyke rock made up mostly of feldspar and pyroxene |
|
doré |
| |
unrefined gold and silver bullion bars usually consisting of approximately 90 percent precious metals that will be further refined to almost pure metal |
|
drift-and-fill |
| |
an underground mining method whereby ore is mined by drifting along the mineralization and backfilling the void so that the next level can be mined |
|
dyke |
| |
an igneous intrusion which cuts across the bedding of other planar structures in the country rock |
|
elution |
| |
recovery of the gold from the activated carbon into solution before zinc precipitation or electro-winning. | |
|
erosion |
| |
the alteration, loosening and removal of land surface material by the actions of running water and wind |
|
exploration |
| |
prospecting, sampling, mapping, diamond-drilling and other work involved in searching for ore |
|
exposure hours |
| |
the total number of hours worked at the operation |
|
extrusive |
| |
igneous rock which has been erupted to the surface by volcanic activity |
|
facies |
| |
distinctive rock type |
|
fault |
| |
a break in the sub-surface strata where there is displacement relative to the original position of strata |
|
feasibility study |
| |
a comprehensive study undertaken to determine the economic feasibility of a project; the conclusion will determine if a production decision can be made and is used for financing arrangements |
|
flotation |
| |
a process by which some mineral particles are induced, by the introduction of specific reagents, to become attached to bubbles and float while other particles sink; the valuable minerals are concentrated and separated from the gaunge |
|
fold |
| |
a bend in rock strata |
|
formation |
| |
a unit of geological mapping, consisting of a large and persistent stratum of rock |
|
gabbro |
| |
coarse-grained igneous rock containing minor silica |
|
gold equivalent |
| |
gold plus silver expressed in equivalent ounces of gold using a conversion ratio dependent on prevailing gold and silver prices |
|
grade |
| |
the amount of metal in each ton of ore, expressed as troy ounces per ton or grams per tonne for precious metals and as a percentage for most other metals |
|
gravity separation |
| |
recovery of gold from crushed rock using gold's high specific gravity to separate it from lighter material |
|
greenstone |
| |
metamorphosed mafic igneous rock which is typically green due to content of chlorite, actinolite |
|
hedging |
| |
the effective offsetting of a price or exchange risk inherent in another transaction or arrangement |
|
host rock |
| |
the rock surrounding an ore deposit |
|
hydrometallurgy |
| |
the selective dissolution of metals from ore to concentrates |
|
hydrothermal |
| |
pertaining to heated water which transports minerals in solution |
|
infill drilling |
| |
drilling between previously drilled holes to provide additional geological information to more accurately define mineralization |
|
kilometer |
| |
one kilometer = 0.62 miles. |
|
lag |
| |
coarse gravel material remaining behind when finer material has been eroded away |
|
lava |
| |
molten magma extruded from volcanic vent |
|
leaching |
| |
dissolution of gold from crushed or milled material, including reclaimed slime, prior to absorption on to activated carbon |
|
life of mine (LOM) |
| |
number of years that the operation is planning to mine and treat ore, and is taken from the current mine plan |
|
lode |
| |
a mineral deposit, consisting of a zone of veins, veinlets or disseminations, in consolidated rock as opposed to a placer deposit |
|
lost time injury incident rate (LTA) |
| |
all work related injuries or illnesses where the employee cannot work the next regular scheduled shift |
|
mafic |
| |
igneous rock with dark coloration due to high magnesium and iron content |
|
metasediments |
| |
metamorphosed sedimentary rocks |
|
metasomatism |
| |
the process by which one mineral is replaced by another |
|
mill |
| |
the plant for grinding ore to a fine powder and extracting the economic metals by physical and/or chemical means |
|
mine call factor |
| |
the ratio, expressed as a percentage, of the total quantity of recovered and unrecovered mineral product after processing with the amount estimated in the ore based on sampling |
|
mineralized zone |
| |
host rock in which minerals of potential commercial value occur |
|
net smelter return (NSR) |
| |
a share of the net revenue generated from the sale of metal produced by the mine |
|
open pit |
| |
a mine on the surface |
|
ore |
| |
a mixture of minerals, host rock and waste rock which is expected to be profitably mined |
|
ounces |
| |
weight of gold with a fineness of 999.9 parts per 1,000; 1 Troy ounce is equal to 31.1034 grams |
|
outcrop |
| |
part of a geological formation or structure that appears at the surface of the earth |
|
oxidation |
| |
chemical reaction between any substance and oxygen |
|
oxide ore |
| |
mineralized rock in which the minerals have been partially or wholly oxidized by weathering processes |
|
porphyry |
| |
igneous rocks containing large crystals in a fine-grained groundmass |
|
pressure oxidation |
| |
an oxidation process which uses high temperature and pressure to convert refractory sulphide mineralization into amenable oxide ore | |
|
process loss |
| |
any unplanned interruption or downgrading of operating processes resulting from an accident, abuse, negligence, or act of God |
|
production cost |
| |
cash cost plus depreciation, amortization and reclamation |
|
property damage |
| |
damage occurring to property through an accident, abuse, negligence, or act of God |
|
pyrite |
| |
an iron sulphide, FeS |
|
pyrite flotation |
| |
the addition of a suite of chemicals to a mixture of ground ore and solution in such a way that a froth rich in pyrite, which also contains gold, floats to the surface for collection |
|
pyrrhotite |
| |
an iron sulphide, FeS |
|
raise |
| |
a vertical or upward inclined drive to connect underground mine levels or to the surface |
|
reagent |
| |
a chemical used in the mineral recovery process |
|
reclamation |
| |
the rehabilitation to beneficial use of land disturbed by mining activity |
|
refractory ore |
| |
gold mineralization encapsulated in silica or sulphide, which is not amenable to cyanide leaching methods |
|
reserve |
| |
that part of a resource that can be profitably mined under current or specified economic conditions |
|
reserve - proven |
| |
the estimated quantity and grade of part of a measured resource for which all consideration factors establish the highest degree of confidence in the estimate |
|
reserve - probable |
| |
the estimated quantity and grade of part of a indicated resource for which all consideration factors establish a confidence level for positive decisions on major expenditures |
|
resource |
| |
the grade and quantity estimate of a mineralized deposit that indicates mining is currently or potentially profitable under economic and operating conditions |
|
resource - measured |
| |
the estimated grade and quantity for that part of a deposit configuration which has been very well established by observation, sampling, drilling trenches and mine workings |
|
resource - indicated |
| |
the estimated grade and quantity for that part of a deposit for which grade continuity, shape and extent has been established for reliable grade and tonnage estimation |
|
resource - inferred |
| |
the estimated grade and quantity determined from limited sampling but sufficient geological information and understanding to outline a deposit of potential economic merit |
|
restricted duty injury |
| |
all work related injuries or illnesses that result in the employee not being able to perform 100% of normal duties, whether scheduled to or not |
|
room-and-pillar |
| |
mining method used for flat-lying deposits where the ore is removed in chambers or rooms leaving pillars for support |
|
schist |
| |
fine-grained metamorphic rock with laminations similar to slate |
|
secondary gold recovery |
| |
any scavenging process for gold following initial primary gold recovery |
|
shaft |
| |
a vertical passage in an underground mine used for transporting personnel, equipment, supplies and mined material |
|
silicic alteration |
| |
replacement of silica |
|
smelting |
| |
a pyro-metallurgical operation in which gold is further separated from impurities |
|
spot price |
| |
current price of gold or other commodity traded in the immediate market |
|
stockwork |
| |
a 3-dimensional network of veins or veinlets |
|
stope |
| |
the working area from which ore is extracted in an underground mine |
|
strike |
| |
the direction or bearing of a mineralized vein or rock formation |
|
strike length |
| |
the longest horizontal dimension of an orebody or zone of mineralization |
|
stripping ratio |
| |
the ratio of the amount of waste rock removed per tonne of ore mined |
|
sulfide |
| |
a mineral compound characterized by the linkage of sulfur with metal or semimetal; eg galena, PbS, or pyrite, FeS2 |
|
syncline |
| |
a fold of strata forming an inverted arch |
|
tailings |
| |
material rejected from a treatment plant after the valuable minerals have been recovered |
|
tholeiitic |
| |
basaltic magma containing little or no olivine |
|
tonnage |
| |
quantities where the ton or tonne is an appropriate unit of measure. Typically used to measure resources and reserves of gold-bearing material in situ or quantities of ore and waste material mined, transported or milled. |
|
total days lost |
| |
the total number of days an employee was scheduled to work but was unable to as a result of a work related injury or illness |
|
troy ounce |
| |
(Used in imperial statistics) Equal to 31,10348 grams |
|
tuff |
| |
strata of volcanic ash |
|
turbidite |
| |
a marine clastic sediment deposited by sea bed currents laden with suspended material |
|
ultrabasic |
| |
igneous rock with very low silica content |
|
wall rock |
| |
the rock mass adjacent to a fault, fault zone or lode |
|
weathered zone |
| |
near surface zone in which the exposed rock has been chemically or physically changed due to the action of rain, water, etc. |
|
yield |
| |
the amount of valuable mineral in the ore expressed as grams per tonne or troy ounces per short ton | |
