A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
assay is an analysis to determine the presence (or absence) and quantity of one or more elements.
awaruite is a naturally occurring alloy of nickel and iron with a composition from Ni2Fe to Ni3Fe. The formula Ni2.5Fe is used to represent this natural variability.
cash costs are the cash costs for mining, milling and concentrating, leaching, solution pumping, solvent extraction and electrowinning, on-site administration and general expenses, any off-site services which are essential to the operation, smelting (including toll smelting charges if applicable), refining (including toll refining charges if applicable), concentrate freight costs, marketing costs, and property and severance taxes paid to state/federal agencies that are not profit related.
chrysotile is an asbestiform subgroup within the serpentine group of minerals.
core sample is one or several pieces of whole or split parts of core selected as a sample for analysis or assay.
cut-off means the grade above which material is considered significant and below which material is not considered significant and is excluded from resource and reserve estimates.
dilution means non-ore material included by mining process and fed to mill.
disseminated sulphide is a sulphide deposit, in which the sulphide is non-contiguous and may range from less than 1% up to about 10% of the total rock. The sulphide occurs as individual crystals or small crystalline masses in the interstices of other non-sulphide minerals composing the rock.
Feasibility Study means a comprehensive study of a mineral deposit in which all geological, engineering, legal, operating, economic, social, environmental and other relevant factors are considered in sufficient detail that it could reasonably serve as the basis for a final decision by a financial institution to finance the development of the deposit for mineral production.
footwall means the rock on the underside of a vein or mineral deposit.
geochemical means prospecting techniques which measure the content of specified metals in soils and rocks for the purpose of defining anomalies for further testing.
geophysical means prospecting techniques which measure the physical properties (magnetism, conductivity, density, etc.) of rocks and define anomalies for further testing.
hanging wall is the rock on the upper side of a vein or mineral deposit.
heazlewoodite is a nickel sulphide mineral found in serpentinized dunite with the composition Ni3S2.
host rock means the rock surrounding an ore deposit.
indicated mineral resource means that part of a mineral resource for which quantity, grade or quality, densities, shape and physical characteristics, can be estimated with a level of confidence sufficient to allow the appropriate application of technical and economic parameters, to support mine planning and evaluation of the economic viability of the deposit. The estimate is based on detailed and reliable exploration and testing information gathered through appropriate techniques from locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits, workings and drill holes that are spaced closely enough for geological and grade continuity to be reasonably assumed.
inferred mineral resource means that part of a mineral resource for which quantity and grade or quality can be estimated on the basis of geological evidence and limited sampling and reasonably assumed, but not verified, geological and grade continuity. The estimate is based on limited information and sampling gathered through appropriate techniques from locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits, workings and drill holes.
lbs means pounds.
LOM means life of mine.
massive sulphide means a sulphide deposit in which the sulphide is contiguous and usually forms more than 80% of the rock mass which may contain non-sulphidic rock inclusions.
measured mineral resource means that part of a mineral resource for which quantity, grade or quality, densities, shape, physical characteristics are so well established that they can be estimated with confidence sufficient to allow the appropriate application of technical and economic parameters, to support production planning and evaluation of the economic viability of the deposit. The estimate is based on detailed and reliable exploration, sampling and testing information gathered through appropriate techniques from locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits, workings and drill holes that are spaced closely enough to confirm both geological and grade continuity.
mineral resource means a concentration or occurrence of natural, solid, inorganic or fossilized organic material in or on the earth's crust in such form and quantity and of such grade or quality that it has reasonable prospects for economic extraction. The location, quantity, grade, geological characteristics and continuity of a mineral resource are known, estimated or interpreted from specific geological evidence and knowledge. The term mineral resource covers mineralization and natural material of intrinsic economic interest which has been identified and estimated through exploration and sampling and within which mineral reserves may subsequently be defined by the consideration and application of technical, economic, legal, environmental, socio-economic and governmental factors. The phrase "reasonable prospects for economic extraction" implies a judgment by the Qualified Person in respect of the technical and economic factors likely to influence the prospect of economic extraction. A mineral resource is an inventory of mineralization that under realistically assumed and justifiable technical and economic conditions might become economically extractable. The term mineral resource is defined in accordance with NI 43-101 under the guidelines set out in the CIM Standards.
net smelter return means a payment made by a producer of metals based on the value of the gross metal production from the property, less deduction of certain limited costs including smelting, refining, transportation and insurance costs.
Ni is the chemical symbol for nickel.
NPV means net present value.
pentlandite is a common iron-nickel sulphide mineral with the composition (Fe,Ni)9S8.
Preliminary Feasibility Study means a comprehensive study of the viability of a mineral project that has advanced to a stage where the mining method, in the case of underground mining, or the pit configuration, in the case of an open pit, has been established, and which, if an effective method of mineral processing has been determined, includes a financial analysis based on reasonable assumptions of technical, engineering, operating, economic factors and the evaluation of other relevant factors which are sufficient for a qualified person, acting reasonably, to determine if all or part of the mineral resource may be classified as a mineral reserve.
Qualified Person means an individual who: (a) is an engineer or geoscientist with at least five years experience in mineral exploration, mine development or operation or mineral project assessment, or any combination of these; (b) has experience relevant to the subject matter of the mineral project and the technical report; and (c) is a member in good standing of a professional association that, among other things, is self-regulatory, has been given authority by statute, admits members based on their qualifications and experience, requires compliance with professional standards of competence and ethics and has disciplinary powers to suspend or expel a member.
sulphides means minerals that are compounds of sulphur together with another element (such as iron, copper, lead and zinc).
tailings means the finely ground material remaining after metals have been removed from ore.
tailings dam means an enclosed area to which slurry is transported and in which the solids settle while the liquids may be withdrawn.
ultramafic means igneous rocks consisting essentially of ferromagnesian minerals with trace amounts of quartz and feldspar.