Refining

The final stage of metal production in which impurities are removed from 
molten metal.

Rod mill

A cylindrical piece of processing equipment used to grind ore; the cylinder 
is rotated causing the steel rods to impact and grind the ore in the rod mill.

Rotary drill

A type of drilling machine for drilling holes into rock by rotating a rigid, 
tubular string of rods to which a drill bit is attached.

Run-of-mine

A loose term used to describe ore of average grade.

Sampling

The analytical testing of a representative portion of a mineral resource to 
estimate the mineral content and grade.

Shaft

A long vertical or inclined tunnel giving access to an underground mine.

Skip

A container or bucket used for hoisting ore or waste up through a shaft.

Slag

The vitreous by-product produced in the smelting process, which consists 
of the impurities in the ore.

Social asset

An asset that benefits individuals in a community living near a mine, such as 
a recreational facility.

Stockpile

A storage of broken ore waiting for treatment or shipment.

Stope

An open area or space in an underground mine from which ore has been or 
will be extracted.

Strip mine

A form of surface mining in which a mineral seam near the surface is 
accessed by removing a long strip of overburden.

Strip ratio

The ratio of waste removed in relation to the amount of ore mined.

Stripping

The removal of overburden or waste to access the mineralized material in 
preparation for open pit mining.

SX-EW or Solvent 
extraction 
electrowinning

A metallurgical technique in which metal is dissolved from the rock by 
organic solvents and recovered from solution by electrolysis.

Tailings

The finely ground residue or waste materials rejected from a mill after most 
of the recoverable minerals have been extracted.

Tailings pond

A containment area for refused tailings, which allows for the separation of 
solid particles from the water.

Trenching

A method of exploration in which channels are excavated with the objective 
of confirming the size, direction, and continuity of mineralized structures.

Waste

Ore that is not minable at a profit.

* As defined in the Canadian Institute of Mining (CIM) Definition Standards (November 22, 2005).

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affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (“KPMG International”), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.

 Glossary 

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