Commonly Used Terms in Gold Mining

This glossary provides definitions for key terms and concepts related to gold mining, processing, and the gold commodity market. It is designed to help readers understand the terminology used in the gold industry, with particular focus on the mining and refining processes.

TermDefinition
Gold Concentrate

A product of the milling process that contains a high percentage of gold, typically in the form of a slurry or powder. It is often further processed to extract pure gold.

Gold Bullion

Refined gold that is cast into bars or ingots, typically with a minimum purity of 99.5%. It is the form in which gold is traded on international markets.

Gold Dore

An intermediate product that contains a mixture of gold and other metals, typically produced from the smelting of gold concentrates. It is usually 90-95% pure gold and requires further refining to achieve higher purity levels.

Gold Bar

A standardized form of gold bullion, typically weighing 400 troy ounces (approximately 12.4 kg) and meeting specific purity standards. Gold bars are commonly traded on international markets and are often used for investment purposes.

Gold Refining

The process of purifying gold to remove impurities and achieve a high level of purity, typically 99.5% or higher. This is done through various methods, including electrolysis, chemical leaching, and smelting.

Cyanidation

A chemical process used to extract gold from ore by dissolving it in a cyanide solution. This method is widely used due to its efficiency in recovering gold from low-grade ores.

Heap Leaching

A process where crushed ore is piled in heaps and treated with a cyanide solution to extract gold. This method is often used for low-grade ores and is cost-effective for large-scale operations.

Electrolysis

A refining process that uses an electric current to separate gold from impurities in a solution. This method is commonly used to achieve high purity levels in gold refining.

Gold Smelting

The process of melting gold concentrates or dore to separate impurities and produce a purer form of gold. This is often done in a furnace at high temperatures.

Flotation

A mineral processing technique used to separate gold from other minerals in the ore. It involves adding chemicals to a slurry of crushed ore, which causes the gold to attach to air bubbles and float to the surface for collection.

Gravity Separation

A method of separating gold from other minerals based on differences in density. It involves using water or air to separate heavier gold particles from lighter gangue material.

Flash Converting

A process used to treat gold-bearing concentrates by rapidly heating them in the presence of oxygen, which helps to oxidize and remove impurities, improving the quality of the final gold product.

Assaying

The process of analyzing a sample of gold ore or concentrate to determine its gold content and quality. This is essential for evaluating the economic viability of mining operations and for determining royalty payments.

End of Glossary