GLOSSARY OF TERMS
| aeolian | erosion, transport, and deposition of material due to the action of wind at or near the earth’s surface |
| alluvial | water transported, sedimentary deposit |
| anticline | arch-shaped fold in rocks, closing upwards, with the oldest rocks in the core |
| antiformal | arch-shaped rock structure, closing upwards, but in which it may not be possible to determine the oldest rocks |
| archaean | that period of geological time prior to 2.5 x 109 years before present, i.e. the earliest part of the pre-Cambrian |
| arcuate | arch like in shape |
| arenaceous | term describing sedimentary rocks with a modal grain size in the sand fraction |
| argillaceous | term describing sedimentary rocks with a modal grain size in the silt fraction |
| assay | the chemical analysis of mineral samples to determine the metal content |
| atomic absorption | an instrumental analytical technique based on the principle that atoms of elements in the ground state are able to absorb radiation of the same characteristic wavelength, as they would normally emit if excited |
| basinal | a basin like depression that may be erosional or structural in origin |
| bayesian | a statistical method that regards parameters of a population as random variables having known probability distribution |
| Belfast Project | Belfast Coal Project |
| braided | divergence of stream channels into complex system of smaller channels |
| breccia | coarse angular rock fragments or rubble, may be unconsolidated or cemented |
| capital expenditure | all other expenditures not classified as operating costs |
| carbonaceous | carbon rich |
| channel | watercourse, also in this sense sedimentary material course |
| chert | granular silica |
| Chifeng | Chifeng Kumba Hongye Zinc Corporation Limited |
| clast | rock fragments formed in a sequence of sedimentary rocks |
| co-kriging | kriging using more than one type for sampling data |
| comminution | the term used to describe the process
by which ore is reduced in size in order to liberate the desired mineral from the gangue material in preparation for further processing |
| composite | combining more than one sample result to give an average result over a larger distance |
| concentrate | a metal-rich product resulting from a
mineral enrichment process such as gravity concentration or flotation, in which most of the desired mineral has been separated from the waste material in the ore |
| conglomerate | detrital sedimentary rock |
| crosscut | a horizontal underground drive developed
perpendicular to the strike direction of the stratigraphy |
| crushing | initial process of reducing ore particle size to render it more amenable for further processing |
| cut-off grade | the grade of mineralised rock which
determines as to whether or not it is economic to recover its gold content by further concentration |
| decline | a surface or sub-surface excavation in the
form of a tunnel which is developed from the uppermost point downwards |
| desalination | chemical process of removing salt from contaminated water |
| dextral | right hand displacement on a fault plane |
| diabase | rock type of basaltic composition |
| dilution | waste which is unavoidably mined with ore |
| dip | angle of inclination of a geological feature/rock from the horizontal |
| distal | distant from source |
| downcast | a ventilation system whereby air is forced
downwards through a tunnel or shaft, from the point of entry by ventilation fans |
| drill-hole | method of sampling rock that has not been exposed |
| dyke | thin, tabular, vertical or near vertical body
of igneous rock formed by the injection of magma into planar zones of weakness |
| epigenetic | feature being described had a separate genesis to the host material |
| Eskom | Eskom Limited |
| exceedance | the amount by which something,
especially a pollutant, exceeds a standard or permissible measurement |
| exhalative | derived from the release of gases or brines from deep in the earth’s crust |
| extensional faults | faulting resulting in the extension of the earth’s crust |
| extrusion | rock solidified from magma on the earth’s surface |
| Eyesizwe | Eyesizwe Coal (Proprietary) Limited |
| facies | a rock unit defined by its composition, internal geometry and formation environment |
| fault | the surface of a fracture along which movement has occurred |
| filtration | process of separating usually valuable solid material from a liquid |
| fine/s | iron ore in a powder like form |
| flotation | the process by which the surface
chemistry of the desired mineral particles is chemically modified such that they preferentially attach themselves to bubbles and float to the pulp surface in specially designed machines. the gangue or waste minerals are chemically depressed and do not float, thus allowing the valuable minerals to be concentrated and separated from the undesired material |
| fluvial | pertaining to the processes and actions of a river/stream |
| flux | substance used to promote the melting of another substance to which it is added |
| fold | plastic deformation of previously horizontal rock strata |
| footwall | the underlying side of an orebody or stope |
| gangue | non-valuable components of the ore |
| Glen Douglas | Glen Douglas Dolomite (Proprietary) Limited |
| graben | a block of rock that lies between two faults
and has moved downward to form a depression between the two adjacent fault blocks. See also horst |
| grade | the measure of concentration of gold within mineralised rock |
| granitoids | a term used to encompass granitic rock types |
| Grootegeluk Mine | Grootegeluk Coal |
| growth algorithm | the mathematical interpolation
technique used to estimate a regularised grid of values from a set of random data points in space |
| hangingwall | the overlying side of an orebody or slope |
| haulage | a horizontal underground excavation which is used to transport mined ore |
| hiding power | the ability of paint or stain to
obscure the surface over which it has been applied. Hiding power is provided by the paint’s pigment, and is affected by how thickly the paint tends to apply and how well brush marks flow out |
| horst | a block of rock that lies between two faults
and has moved upward relative to the two adjacent fault blocks. See also graben |
| Hyason Cells | a mat comprising square, hollow geocells fabricated from thin plastic film |
| hydrocyclone | a process whereby material is graded
according to size by exploiting centrifugal forces of particulate materials |
| hydrothermal | process of injection of hot, aqueous,
generally mineral-rich solutions into existing rocks or features |
| igneous | primary crystalline rock formed by the solidification of magma |
| Incgambu Project | Ingcambu Coal Project |
| Indicated Mineral Resource | that part of a mineral
resource for which tonnage, densities, shape, physical characteristics, grade and mineral content can be estimated with a reasonable level of confidence. it is based on exploration, sampling and testing information gathered through appropriate techniques from locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits, workings and drill holes. the locations are too widely or inappropriately spaced to confirm geological and/or grade continuity but are spaced closely enough for continuity to be assumed |
| Inferred Mineral Resource | that part of a mineral
resource for which tonnage, grade and mineral content can be estimated with a low level of confidence. it is inferred from geological evidence and assumed but not verified geological and/or grade continuity. it is based on information gathered through appropriate techniques from locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits, workings and drill holes which may be limited or of uncertain quality and reliability |
| intercalated | existing or introduced between layers of a different type |
| intrusive | pertaining to rocks formed by the
injection of magma into pre-existing rock and solidified by cooling beneath the surface |
| inverse distance | interpolation method of assigning
values from samples to blocks based on the distance of the samples to the block centroid |
| Inyanda Project | Inyanda Coal Project |
| Iscor | the Iron and Steel Corporation Limited |
| isoclinal folding | a fold in which the two limbs are parallel |
| Jurien Project | Jurien project |
| karst towers | remnant pinnacles of limestone following weathering of the surrounding rock |
| kriging | an interpolation method of assigning values
from samples to blocks that minimises the estimation error |
| Kumba Coal | Kumba Coal (Proprietary) Limited |
| Kumba FerroAlloys | Kumba FerroAlloys (Proprietary) Limited |
| Leeuwpan Mine | Leeuwpan Coal Mine |
| lenticular | in the form of elongated lenses |
| level | horizontal tunnel the primary purpose is the transportation of personnel and materials |
| lineament | a large-scale linear feature which
expresses itself in terms of topography, which is in itself an expression of underlying structural features |
| listric | a curved extensional fault which charasterically flattens at depth |
| lithological | geological description pertaining to different rock types |
| log-kurtosis | statistical parameter describing the
peakedness of the curve of the log-frequency distribution of the population |
| log-mean | arithmetic average of the log values of the population |
| lognormal | term applied to a population whose
distribution approximates to normality when the logarithms of the values are taken |
| log-skewness | statistical parameter describing the
asymmetry of the curve of the log-frequency distribution of the population |
| log-variance | the square of the standard deviation of the log values of the population |
| lom plans | life-of-mine plans |
| longwall mining | a mining method which incorporates
breast mining over large continuous spans without the use of pillars |
| lump | lumpy iron ore |
| macro-kriging | type of kriging used for long range estimation where sampling information is sparse |
| mafic | applied to any igneous rock that has a high proportion of pyroxene and olivine |
| Mafube JV Phase II Project | Mafube Joint Venture |
| Material Properties | operating properties as defined in Section 1.1 |
| Matla Project | Matla 5 Seam Coal Project |
| Measured Mineral Resource | that part of a mineral
resource for which tonnage, densities, shape, physical characteristics, grade and mineral content can be estimated with a high level of confidence. it 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. the locations are spaced closely enough to confirm geological and grade continuity |
| mesozoic | era of geological time between 240 x 106 and 63 x 106 years ago |
| metamorphism | structural and/or chemical alteration
of rocks and minerals by heat, pressure and/or chemical processes |
| metasediments | metamorphosed sedimentary rock |
| milling | a general term used to describe the process
in which the ore is crushed and ground and subjected to physical or chemical treatment to extract the valuable metals to a concentrate or finished product |
| Mine, Health and Safety Act | Mine, Health and Safety Act |
| mineral/mining lease | mineral/mining lease |
| Mineral Reserve | the economically mineable material
derived from a measured and/or indicated mineral resource. it is inclusive of diluting materials and allows for losses that may occur when the material is mined. appropriate assessments, which may include feasibility studies, have been carried out, including consideration of, and modification by, realistically assumed mining, metallurgical, economic, marketing, legal, environmental, social and governmental factors. these assessments demonstrate at the time of reporting that extraction is reasonably justified. mineral reserves are sub-divided in order of increasing confidence into probable mineral reserves and proved mineral reserve |
| Mineral Resource | a concentration (or occurrence) of
material of economic interest in or on the earth’s crust in such form, quality and quantity that there are reasonable and realistic prospects for eventual economic extraction. the location, quantity, grade, continuity and other geological characteristics of a mineral resource are known, estimated from specific geological evidence and knowledge, or interpreted from a well constrained and portrayed geological model. mineral resources are sub-divided in order of increasing confidence, in respect of geoscientific evidence, into inferred, indicated and measured categories |
| mineral rights | a right or any share therein acquired, in terms of the minerals act to any right to dig or mine |
| Minerals Act | the Minerals Act, 50 of 1999 |
| MINEX | the name of a commercial geological and
mining modelling suite of computer software, used to build three dimensional geological models (HORIZON) and mine design and scheduling (APOLLO) |
| mining assets | the material properties and significant exploration properties as defined in Section 1.1 |
| mining authorisation | any authorisation issued in terms of the Minerals Act |
| Mittal Steel | Mittal Steel South Africa Limited |
| normal fault | fault in which the hangingwall moves downward relative to the footwall |
| nugget effect | a measure of the randomness of the grade distribution within a mineralised zone |
| on-going capital | capital estimates of a routine nature which are necessary for sustaining operations |
| oolitic | composed largely of sub-spherical, sand
sized, carbonate particles that have concentric rings of calcium carbonate surrounding a nucleus of another particle |
| ordinary kriging | a common type of kriging used when sampling information is relatively dense |
| ore reserve | see mineral reserve |
| palaeo strandlines | an ancient shoreline where the
relative positions of land and water remain stable long enough for features to form |
| palaeocurrent | ancient water course direction |
| palaeotopographic | pertaining to ancient topography |
| palaeozoic | the era ranging in time from 600 – 230 million years ago |
| petrographic | systematic description and interpretation of rock textures and mineralogy in thin section |
| pillar | rock left behind to help support the excavations in an underground mine |
| placer | concentration of heavy minerals in a fluvial system |
| pleistocene | a period of time which is a sub-division of the tertiary |
| pliocene | a period of time which is a sub-division of the tertiary |
| polymictic | describing clastic sedimentary rock composed of a variety of fragment types |
| pre-Cambrian | that period of time from the consolidation of the earth’s crust to the base of the palaeozoic |
| pre-concentration | processing of the ore, usually screening, before treatment at the plant |
| Probable Mineral Reserve | the economically mineable
material derived from a measured and/or indicated mineral resource. It is estimated with a lower level of confidence than a proved mineral reserve. It is inclusive of diluting materials and allows for losses that may occur when the material is mined. Appropriate assessments, which may include feasibility studies, have been carried out, and including consideration of, and modification by, realistically assumed mining, metallurgical, economic, marketing, legal, environmental, social and governmental factors. These assessments demonstrate at the time of reporting that extraction is reasonably justified |
| project capital | capital expenditure which is associated with specific projects of a non-routine nature |
| proterozoic | era of geological time between 2.5 x 109 and 570 x 106 years ago |
| Proved Mineral Reserve | the economically mineable
material derived from a measured mineral resource. it is estimated with a high level of confidence. it is inclusive of diluting materials and allows for losses that may occur when the material is mined. appropriate assessments, which may include feasibility studies, have been carried out, including consideration of and modification by realistically assumed mining, metallurgical, economic, marketing, legal, environmental, social and governmental factors. these assessments demonstrate at the time of reporting that extraction is reasonably justified |
| proximal | near to a source |
| quartzite | metamorphic rock composed of quartz |
| remnant | ore blocks left behind as a result of the underground mining method |
| restructuring | the restructuring of the mining assets of Iscor Limited |
| reverse/thrust fault | fault in which hangingwall moves upwards relative to the footwall |
| ring dyke method | a method of depositing tailings material |
| Rosh Pinah | Rosh Pinah Zinc Corporation (Proprietary) Limited |
| SANS 10320: 2004 | the South African National
Standard developed by the Coal sub-Committee of the SAMREC committee that deals with all coal related resource and reserve disclosures |
| SABLE | name of a commercial geological software
package that specialises in the storage and collation of geological data into a relational database |
| Sasol | Sasol Limited |
| SAMREC Code | South African Code for Reporting of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves |
| sedimentary | pertaining to rocks formed by the
accumulation of sediments, formed by the erosion of other rocks |
| SEP | Sishen Expansion Project |
| shaft | an opening cut downwards from the surface for
transporting personnel, equipment, supplies, ore and waste |
| significant | the exploration properties of Kumba as tabulated in Table 1.2 |
| sill | a thin, tabular, horizontal to sub-horizontal
body of igneous rock formed by the injection of magma into planar zones of weakness |
| simple kriging | a type of kriging, which uses a known area mean value as well as sample values |
| sinistral | left hand displacement on a fault plane |
| Sishen Iron Ore | Sishen Iron Ore Company (Proprietary) Limited |
| Sishen Mine | Sishen Iron Ore Mine |
| smelting | a high temperature pyrometallurgical
operation conducted in a furnace, in which the valuable metal is collected to a molten matte or doré phase and separated from the gangue components that accumulate in a less dense molten slag phase |
| SRK Group | SRK Global Limited |
| stope | underground void created by mining |
| stratigraphy | study of stratified rocks in terms of time and space |
| strike | direction of line formed by the intersection
of strata surfaces with the horizontal plane, always perpendicular to the dip direction |
| subcrop | describing a rock stratum that unconformably underlies another rock stratum |
| sub-vertical shaft | an opening cut below the surface downwards from an established surface shaft |
| sulphide | sulphur bearing mineral |
| supergene enrichment | re-precipitation of sulphides
and oxides by descending acidic groundwater which has leached the surface zone of an ore deposit |
| surface sources | ore sources, usually dumps, tailings dams and stockpiles, located at the surface |
| syncline | concave fold in stratified rock in which the strata dip down to meet in a trough |
| syngenetic | feature being described had a common genesis as its host material |
| tailings | finely ground waste rock from which valuable minerals or metals have been extracted |
| tectonism | deformation within the earth’s crust and its consequent structural effects |
| tertiary | the period in time which elapsed between 65 million years ago and the present |
| tertiary shaft | an opening cut below the surface downwards from an established sub-vertical shaft |
| STRATMODEL | the commercial geological modelling software marketed by MINCOM of Brisbane, Australia |
| Thabazimbi Mine | Thabazimbi Iron Ore Mine |
| the Mine, Health and Safety Act | the Mine Health and Safety Act, 29 of 1996 |
| the Minerals Act | the Minerals Act, 50 of 1991 |
| thickening | process of concentrating solid particles in suspension |
| Thompson-Howarth Process | In brief, the
Thompson-Howarth method is a way of estimating analytical precision from duplicate assay results. It is a graph where the x-axis represents the mean value of the duplicate results sorted from lowest to highest and then grouped into groups of 11) and the y-axis indicates the median absolute difference of the same groups of 11 samples (grouped according to ascending mean values) |
| thrust fault | see reverse fault |
| Ticor Limited | Ticor Limited Australia |
| Ticor SA | Ticor South Africa KwaZulu-Natal Limited |
| Ticor Smleter | Ticor South Africa (Proprietary) Limited |
| Tiwest JV | Tiwest JV (Proprietary) Limited Joint Venture |
| total cash costs | all total cash costs are based on
public quoted nominal production costs, include retrenchment costs, rehabilitation costs, corporate costs, by-product credits for silver, sundry revenues, and exclude amortisation costs and inventory changes |
| total expenditure | all expenditures including those of a operating and capital nature |
| Transnet | Transnet Limited |
| trust fund | a fund required by law to be set up, to
which annual contributions are paid so that the remaining environmental liability of the operation is covered |
| Tshikondeni Mine | Tshikondeni Coal Mine |
| unconformity | buried erosion surface separating two
rock masses; older exposed to erosion for long interval of time before deposition of younger |
| upcast | a ventilation system whereby air is drawn
upwards through a tunnel or shaft, from the point of entry by ventilation fans |
| variogram | statistical representation of the characteristics (usually grade) |
| virgin ground | ground that has had no previous mining activity within it |
| vitrinite | a maceral, or petrological unit of coal, analogous to a mineral in non-organic rock |
| XPAC | the mine scheduling software developed by RUNGE Mining of Brisbane, Australia |
| Zincor | Zinc Corporation of South Africa |
| Zincor Refinery | Zincor Base Metals smelter and refinery |
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