Gold mining terms and definitions

ALLOY

A compound of two or more metals, usually produced by fusion

BULLION

Raw gold that is reduced to nearly pure form ready to be shipped to the mint to be cast into bars or ingots for easy storage and shipping

CONCENTRATE

A product that contains the valuable material after all the waste has been eliminated

CUT OFF

The lowest grade of ore that can be mined profitably

DEPOSIT

An area that has a quantity of gold that has been found

EXCAVATION

An area where rock has been removed

EXTRACTION

The process of taking out useable ore from waste materials

FOOTWALL

The block of rock which lies on the underside of an inclined fault or of a vein of mineral

HANGINGWALL

The rocks on the upper side of an inclined fault plane or mineral vein

IN SITU

In a natural or original position

INGOT

A gold bar usually cast from a mould for convenience in handling and measuring

KARAT

A measure of weight for gold

MALLEABLE

A property of a metal describing the ease with which it can be hammered, forged, pressed, or rolled into thin sheets

ORE

Mineral-bearing rock

ORE RESERVE

The amount of ore that is available for extraction

ORE RESOURCE

Estimated amount of tonnes, grades and gold in situ calculated from fewer measurements than those available for calculating reserves and, therefore stated with less confidence

REEF

A vein of ore in the earth containing gold

SHAFT

A vertical or sloping opening, giving access to the various levels of a mine, usually equipped with a hoist at the top, which lowers and raises a conveyance for handling miners and material

SIDEWALL

Rock adjacent to and excavated area which forms the vertical wall of an excavation

SLIMES

Finer particles of tailings discharged from a processing plant after the valuable minerals have been removed

STOCK PILE

Broken ore accumulated in a heap on the surface, awaiting treatment or shipment

STOPE

An excavation in a mine to remove the ore that is being or has been extracted

TAILINGS

Refuse material left over after the recoverable valuable gold has been extracted

ZAMA ZAMAS

Informal miners who enter mines to dig gold for their own gain or extract gold from surface sources illegally