This glossary is made to help you understand more about the typical mining terms.
Acid mine drainage
Noun
Acidic run-off water from mine waste dumps and mill tailings ponds containing sulphide minerals. Also refers to ground water pumped to surface from mines.
en: Drainage minier acide (DMA)
Air shaft
Noun
A vertical opening into a mine for the passage of air.
en: Conduit d'aération
Amphibolite
Noun
A gneiss or schist largely made up of amphibole and plagioclase minerals.
Anomaly
Noun
Any departure from the norm which may indicate the presence of mineralization in the underlying bedrock.
en: anomalie
Back
Noun
The ceiling or roof of an underground opening.
Basalt
Noun
An extrusive volcanic rock composed primarily of plagioclase, pyroxene and some olivine.
en: Basalte
Bauxite
Noun
A rock made up of hydrous aluminum oxides; the most common aluminum ore.
en: Boxite
Black smoker
Noun
Volcanic vent found in areas of active ocean floor spreading, through which sulphide-laden fluids escape.
en: Fumeur noir
Cage
Noun
The elevator that transports the men from the bankhead into the mine.
en: cage
Claim
Noun
A portion of land held either by a prospector or a mining company. In Canada, the common size is 1,320 ft. (about 400 m) square, or 40 acres (about 16 ha).
en: claim
Concentrate
Noun
A fine, powdery product of the milling process containing a high percentage of valuable metal.
en: Concentré
Concentrator
Noun
A milling plant that produces a concentrate of the valuable minerals or metals. Further treatment is required to recover the pure metal.
en: concentrateur
Contact
Noun
A geological term used to describe the line or plane along which two different rock formations meet.
en: Contact
Cut-and-fill
Verb
A method of stoping in which ore is removed in slices, or lifts, and then the excavation is filled with rock or other waste material (backfill), before the subsequent slice is extracted.
Diamond drill
Noun
A rotary type of rock drill that cuts a core of rock that is recovered in long cylindrical sections, two cm or more in diameter.
en: foreuse au diamant
Diamond driller
Noun
A person who operates a diamond drill.
en: opérateur de foreuse à diamant
Electrolysis
Noun
An electric current is passed through a solution containing dissolved metals, causing the metals to be deposited onto a cathode.
en: Électrolyse
Environmental impact study
Noun
A written report, compiled prior to a production decision, that examines the effects proposed mining activities will have on the natural surroundings
en: Étude d'impact environnemental
Erosion
Noun
The breaking down and subsequent removal of either rock or surface material by wind, rain, wave action, freezing and thawing and other processes.
en: Érosion
Exploration
Noun
Prospecting, sampling, mapping, diamond drilling and other work involved in searching for ore.
en: Éxploration
Fissure
Noun
An extensive crack, break or fracture in rocks.
en: Fissure
Flotation
Noun
A milling process in which valuable mineral particles are induced to become attached to bubbles and float as others sink.
en: Flottation
Gangue
Noun
The worthless minerals in an ore deposit.
en: Gangue
Halite
Noun
Rock salt.
en: Halite
Jaw crusher
Noun
machine in which rock is broken by the action of steel plates.
en: Broyeur à mâchoire
Kimberlite
Noun
A variety of peridotite; the most common host rock of diamonds.
en: kimberlite
Mineral
Noun
A naturally occurring homogeneous substance having definite physical properties and chemical composition and, if formed under favorable conditions, a definite crystal form
en: Minéral
Muck
Noun
Ore or rock that has been broken by blasting.
en: Muck
Open pit
Noun
A mine that is entirely on surface. Also referred to as open-cut or open-cast mine.
en: Mine à ciel ouvert
Ore
Noun
A mixture of ore minerals and gangue from which at least one of the metals can be extracted at a profit.
en: Minerais
Ore pass
Noun
Vertical or inclined passage for the downward transfer of ore connecting a level with the hoisting shaft or a lower level.
Pillar
Noun
A block of solid ore or other rock left in place to structurally support the shaft, walls or roof of a mine.
en: Pilier
Shaft
Noun
A vertical or inclined excavation in rock for the purpose of providing access to an orebody. Usually equipped with a hoist at the top, which lowers and raises a conveyance for handling workers and materials.