Exploration & Mining Glossary

Host rock - The rock surrounding an ore deposit.

Hydrothermal alteration - Occurs from the movement of hydrothermal (heated waters in the Earth's crust) fluids circulating through rocks, these hot fluids can mineralogically, chemically and texturally alter these rocks forming new mineral assemblages. Example; pyroxenes, amphiboles and biotite can alter to chlorite under hydrothermal conditions.

Hydrothermal breccia - Are a subclass of the breccia family (rock consisting of angular fragments of rocks within a finer grained matrix), formed by the hydrofracturing of rocks by highly pressured hydrothermal fluids. This allows for accommadation space within the matrix for sulphide hosting veins to occupy.

Indicated mineral resource - A deposit in which tonnage, density; shape, physical characteristics, grade and mineral content can be estimated with a reasonable level of confidence. However, the continuity of the deposit is not verified.

Induced polarization (IP) (Geophysics) - A geophysical imaging technique used to identify the electrical chargeability of subsurface materials, such as ore. The method is similar to electrical resistivity tomography, in that an electric current is transmitted into the subsurface through two electrodes, and voltage is monitored through two other electrodes.

Inferred mineral resource - A deposit which has been sampled (usually by drilling) to a point at which an estimate of its grade and tonnage is made at low confidence. Generally this is very approximate and subject to uncertainties.

JORC Code (2012 Edition) - The Australasian Joint Ore Reserves Committee Code.

Lachlan Orogen - Is a geological subdivision of the east part of Australia. It is a zone of folded and faulted rocks of similar age. It dominates New South Wales, Victoria, also extending into Tasmania. It was formed in the Middle Paleozoic (450 to 340 Mya (million years ago).

Laterite Profile - Is typically formed close to the surface in tropical or sub-tropical climatic conditions, which intensely chemically weather the soils/regolith/underlying rocks forming iron and aluminum enriched clays (saprolites).

Lead (Pb) - Is the element which makes up the Lead sulphide mineral Galena. Lead is considered a heavy metal and is relatively inert to oxidation, making it an expedient metal for general use.