PEC EPE Mining key terms

Extraction of mineral or coal deposits that lie near the surface by removing overburden to expose the resource, using open-pit, strip, or quarry methods rather than underground workings.

Extraction of mineral or coal deposits by driving shafts, declines, or adits to reach the orebody and working it in place, used where depth or economics make surface extraction impractical.

The soil, rock, and unconsolidated material lying above a mineral deposit or coal seam that must be removed before the resource can be extracted in a surface operation.

The volume or tonnage of waste material that must be removed to recover a unit of ore or coal, a key economic indicator for surface mining feasibility and pit design.

A surface method that excavates a series of descending benches to form a pit, typically for steeply dipping or massive orebodies, with haul roads connecting benches to the surface.

A horizontal step or ledge cut into the pit wall or open face during surface mining, providing a safe working platform and controlling wall stability between successive elevations.

The vertical or steeply inclined rock face at the limit of extraction in a surface or strip mine, whose stability must be engineered to protect workers and equipment below.

A vertical or steeply inclined excavation driven from the surface to provide access, ventilation, and hoisting for an underground mine, typically lined and equipped with guides.

An inclined roadway driven from the surface to reach an underground deposit, allowing rubber-tyred equipment to travel in and out rather than relying on hoisting through a shaft.

A horizontal or near-horizontal tunnel driven from the surface or between levels to access an orebody, used for transport, ventilation, drainage, or exploration.

A horizontal tunnel driven into a hillside to reach a mineral deposit, providing natural drainage and access without the need for hoisting or pumping.

The process of extracting ore from underground stopes after development has established access, with methods chosen to manage wall stability, dilution, and ore recovery.

The underground excavation created by removing ore from a defined block, designed with dimensions and support to maintain stability during and after extraction.

An underground mining method in which ore is extracted in rooms separated by pillars of unmined material left to support the overlying strata, common in coal and flat-lying deposits.

A high-extraction underground coal method using a long working face between two gate roads, with the roof allowed to collapse behind advancing supports as the face retreats or advances.

A block of unmined ore or rock left in place to support the roof or overlying strata, or to protect surface structures, whose size is engineered for stability.

Waste rock, tailings, or cemented material placed into mined-out voids to support surrounding rock, reduce subsidence, and allow recovery of adjacent ore pillars.

The downward movement or deformation of the ground surface caused by the collapse or compression of underground voids, a major environmental and safety concern in mining.

The unintentional mixing of waste rock with ore during mining, which lowers the grade of material delivered to the mill and affects project economics.

The concentration of a valuable mineral or metal in ore, usually expressed as a percentage, grams per tonne, or parts per million, used to assess economic viability.

The minimum grade at which material can be mined and processed economically, used to classify material as ore or waste and to define the boundaries of an orebody.

A laboratory analysis that determines the concentration of a metal or mineral in a sample, providing the grade data used for resource estimation and mine planning.

A cylindrical sample of rock recovered by rotary drilling, logged and assayed to determine geology, grade, and geotechnical properties for resource evaluation.

The process of using geological, assay, and drill data to model the tonnage and grade of a mineral deposit, producing classified estimates of measured, indicated, and inferred resources.

The economically mineable portion of a measured or indicated resource, after applying modifying factors such as mining, metallurgical, economic, and legal considerations.

A comprehensive engineering and economic assessment of a mining project that defines ore reserves, mining method, processing route, capital and operating costs, and financial viability.

A document and schedule that defines the sequence, timing, and layout of mining activities, including equipment, staffing, and production targets over the life of the operation.

The controlled circulation of air through underground workings to supply oxygen, remove dust, gases, and heat, and maintain a safe and workable environment for personnel.

A flammable and explosive gas released from coal seams and surrounding strata during mining, requiring monitoring and ventilation or drainage to prevent accumulation and ignition.

A ground support technique in which bolts are installed into the rock above an excavation to bind strata together and prevent roof falls, widely used in coal and hard-rock mines.

The engineering and operational practices used to manage rock stability around mine workings, including support design, monitoring, and assessment of geological structures.

The assessment and design of pit walls and waste dumps to prevent failure, considering rock mass strength, geological structures, groundwater, and the effects of blasting and weathering.

The inclined face forming the boundary of an open-pit mine, whose angle is designed as a balance between safety, ore recovery, and the amount of waste stripping required.

The controlled use of explosives to fragment rock for excavation, requiring design of blast holes, charge weight, and timing to achieve fragmentation while minimizing damage and vibration.

Chemical materials used in mining to break rock, including bulk and packaged products, whose selection, storage, handling, and use are governed by strict safety regulations.

The size distribution of rock broken by blasting, which affects loading, hauling, crushing, and milling performance and is a key measure of blast effectiveness.

Seismic energy generated by blasting that propagates through the ground, monitored and controlled to protect nearby structures, slopes, and communities from damage.

A constructed roadway within a mine that carries trucks and equipment between loading points, dumps, and processing facilities, designed with gradients and widths for safe operation.

An inclined roadway connecting different levels or benches in a mine, used for vehicle access and transport of ore and waste between elevations.

The crushing and grinding processes that reduce ore to a fine size to liberate valuable minerals for downstream separation, consuming significant energy in mineral processing.

The fine waste material remaining after valuable minerals have been extracted from ore, stored in engineered impoundments and managed for stability and environmental protection.

The mound of waste rock and soil removed as overburden and dumped in a surface mine, which is designed for stability, drainage, and eventual rehabilitation.

The process of restoring land disturbed by mining to a stable, safe, and productive condition after extraction, including reshaping, revegetation, and long-term monitoring.

A formal study identifying and evaluating the environmental and social effects of a proposed mining project, used to inform approvals and define mitigation and monitoring requirements.

The measures used to suppress and contain airborne particulate matter from drilling, blasting, hauling, and processing, protecting worker health and the surrounding environment.

A time-based plan that specifies the tonnage and grade of ore and waste to be mined from each area over the life of the operation, guiding resource allocation.