Exploration & Mining Glossary

Lens - A body of ore or rock or a deposit that is thick in the middle and thin at the edges, resembling a convex lens in cross-section.

Lode - A deposit of metalliferous ore that fills or is embedded in a fissure in a rock formation or a vein of ore that is deposited or embedded between layers of rock.

Massive sulphide - A highly concentrated area of predomintely sulphides, ~70-100% of the rock is sulphide. Typically assoicated with VMS/VHMS systems.

Metallurgy - The study of extracting metals from their ores.

Metamorphic - A rock type. Originally a sedimentary or igneous rock which has undergone a mineralogical change from a heat/pressure/chemical process. Examples include; shale will metamorphose into slate under "low-grade" metamorphic conditions (increased temperature and pressures), commonly caused by the burial of the shale. Under continuing increasing conditions slate can transition to Schist to Gneiss (moderate-grade metamorphism) to Migmatite (high-grade metamorphism).

Mineral resource - An economic deposit with a high level of geological confidence and confirmed geological continuity. The deposit has undergone enough sampling that a ‘competent person’ (which is defined by the JORC-code) has declared it to be an acceptable documented resource estimate.

Mineralization - The process by which a mineral is introduced into a rock, resulting in a valuable or potentially valuable deposit.

Mudstone - Very fine-grained sedimentary rock (<0.06mm), grains not visible to the naked eye. Formed in deep sea marine enviroments / very low energy fluvial/lacustrine enviroments.

Net Smelter Return (NSR) - The net revenue that the owner of a mining property receives from the sale of the mine’s metal/non-metal products less transportation insurance, refining and smelting costs.

Open pit mine - A mine working or excavation open to the surface, also called open cut, open cast.