Mining Sequence

Mining Information Kit for Aboriginal Communities

Glossary

native mining worker Operations mining closure

Assay
A chemical test performed on a sample of ore or mineral to determine its components.

Bankable Feasibility
A comprehensive analysis of a project’s economics used by the banking industry for fi nancing purposes.

Bond
A written agreement by which a mining company insures it will pay a certain sum of money if it does not perform certain duties properly, such as reclamation.

Bulk Sampling
Removing mineralized rock in large quantities (frequently involving hundreds of tonnes) in order to do mineral processing tests.

Capital Costs
Capital costs usually involve equipment and physical plant costs, not consumable supplies.

Commodity
Physical substances, such as metals, that can be sold or exchanged in a marketplace.

Consultation
Informative process that provides space for Aboriginal people to communicate meaningful feedback about mining projects and have this feedback acted upon by mining companies or government.

Crown Land
Land owned by all Canadians that is administered and regulated by government (surface and mineral rights).

Diversity
The act of making more diverse.

Feasibility
The analysis that determines whether or not a mine would pay for itself and bring economic benefits.

Grub Staking
Finances or supplies of food, etc., furnished to a prospector in return for an interest in any discoveries made.

Impact and Benefi ts Agreement (IBA)
A contractual agreement, usually between an Aboriginal community or entity and a mining company.

Infrastructure
The basic facilities, equipment, roads and installations needed for the functioning of a system, like a mine.

Joint Venture (JV)
A partnership or conglomerate, often formed to share risk or expertise in relation to a particular project.

Jurisdiction
The territorial range of authority or control.

Legacy
Something handed down from an ancestor or a predecessor or from the past.

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
A way of creating an understanding between a community and a mining or exploration company. The MOU defi nes principles for working together for mutual benefit.

Metallurgical
Related to the process of extracting metals from their ores.

Monitor
To keep close watch over; supervise.

Option
An agreement to purchase a property reached between the property vendor and some other party that wishes to explore the property further.

Ore
The naturally occurring material (rock) from which a mineral or minerals can be extracted at a profit.

Orebody
A mineralized mass whose characteristics and economic limits have been examined.

Reclamation
Restoration of mined land to original contour, use or condition.

Rehabilitate
Process used to repair the impacts of mining on the environment.

Saleable
Capable of being sold, fit for sale.

Shareholder
One who owns shares (certifi cates representing units of ownership) of stock in a corporation.

Smelter
Where ores are processed (using heat) to produce metals.

Stakeholder
Any party that has an interest ("stake") in a project.

Sustainability
Capacity for being continued.

Tailings
Material rejected from a mill after most of the valuable minerals have been extracted.

Till
Unsorted sediment deposited directly by a glacier and not reworked by melt water.

Waste
Any substance that is useless or worthless.

Waste Rock
Barren rock or mineralized material that is too low in grade to be economically processed.