 Adit of Swedes Mine circa 1860 |
Chute - An inclined opening by which ore is drawn from a stope into mine cars. This is usually constructed of wood and at its bottom has a manual gate to control the flow of ore.
Collar - A term used to describe the area around the top of a shaft sometimes reinforced with concrete or log cribbing to protect from soil erosion and caving.
Country Rock - The rock surrounding the orebody of no economic importance while the mine was in operation.
Cribbing - A construction of timbers laid at right angles resembling a log cabin. This was often used to line vertical shafts to hold back loose rock and dirt. However, cribbing could also be used to support the roof of a mine or equipment.
Crosscut - A horizontal tunnel driven adjacent to the direction or strike of an orebody.
Crusher - A machine that crushes rock or ore into smaller pieces so that it can be conveyed more easily or separated. Crushers may be located on the surface or underground.
Deposit - A natural occurrence of a mineral such as magnetite, hematite or limonite that warrants exploitation or prospecting.
Dip - The direction or tilt of an orebody measured downwards at right angles along its strike.
Drift - A horizontal tunnel driven along the strike of an orebody.
Exploration - A term used to describe the search for ore and determination as to the extent and location of a mineral deposit.
Fault - The separation of two large portions of the earth that have moved relative to each other. A fault can displace an orebody along the plane of separation.
Footwall - The underside of a vein or orebody along the dip,
Grizzly - A grating placed over an opening to an ore pass or chute usually made of steel rails that prevents large rocks or ore from falling below.
Hanging Wall - The topside of a vein or orebody along the dip.
Headframe - A construction over a shaft that carries sheave wheels that wind cable used for raising and lowering skips and/or men in a shaft.
Hematite - An important iron ore with the chemical formula Fe2O3. Hematite is usually red or reddish brown or steel gray in appearance. Hematite is only mildly magnetic and produces a reddish brown streak.
Hoist - The actual machine used to raise and lower skips and/or men in a shaft.
Incline or Inclined Shaft - An inclined entrance into a mine. Usually guide rails are in place for the purpose of hoisting along the incline. An inclined shaft is usually sunk along the dip or the pitch of the orebody.
Level - A horizontal tunnel which follows or intersects the orebody and is used for access or transportation of ore.
Limonite - An iron ore with the chemical formula of FeO(OH) • nH2O. Limonite can be yellow to brown and glassy to dull in appearance. Limonite is not magnetic and produces a yellowish brown streak.
Magnetite - An important iron ore with the chemical formula Fe3O4. Magnetite is usually black or bluish-black and shiny in appearance. Magnetite is strongly magnetic and produces a black streak.
Outcrop - A rock or mineral deposit that is exposed at the surface.
Ore - Any rock that contains a mineral that can be mined profitably.
Ore Pass - A vertical or inclined passageway used to transfer ore to a level with a hoisting shaft or to another level.
Orebody - This term is used to describe the overall mass of ore having a usually regular form in length, width and depth. Term can be used interchangeably with vein.
Overburden - The overlying country rock and earth above an orebody.
Pillar - A solid block of ore left in place to support the roof after the surrounding ore has been mined.
Pinch - The thinning of an orebody.
Pitch - The angle of inclination of an orebody along the distance of its strike.
Pyrite - A mineral with the chemical formula FeS2 also known as fool's gold. Pyrite is brassy yellow and very shiny in appearance. Pyrite is not magnetic and produces a greenish black streak.
Raise - An inclined tunnel driven from a lower level to a higher level in a mine.
Shaft - A vertical entrance into a mine used for hoisting and/or ventilation. In the case of hoisting, a headframe is erected over the opening.
Shoot - A narrow concentrated mass of ore branched off the larger deposit.
 Stoping following the strike of the vein |
Slope - Can be used interchangeably with Incline.
Stope - The cavity or void created after the ore has been excavated.
Strike - The general direction or course of a mineral deposit. The strike of deposits in the Highlands is generally northeast
Stull - A timber used for the support of overhead rock or the hanging wall. A stull may also be used to support a platform.
Tailings - Country rock removed from a mine that does not contain ore.
Timber - A term that applies to all underground wooden supports.
Timber Set - A frame constructed of wooden timbers to support the roof, side and sometimes the floor of a mine tunnel.
Vein - See Orebody.
Winze - A vertical or inclined opening driven downward from within the interior of a mine.
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