Mine Rehabilitation Handbook - Mining and Blasting

8.9 Appendix 9 – Grade Comparisons and Conversion
Chart
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9 GLOSSARY OF TERMS
acid drainage acid water (low pH) drainage flowing from land
affected by mining and usually the result of air
and water coming into contact with pyrite to
produce sulfuric acid. Certain bacteria may
also act as a catalyst.
baseline studies studies undertaken to establish the condition
of the study area prior to mining or any other
defined activity.
bulking (seed) mixing sand, sawdust or similar dry and fine
material to increase the bulk of fine seed enabling
it to be more readily handled and distributed.
capillary rise the upward movement of the soil water held by
cohesion as a continuous film around soil particles.
cation an ion with a positive charge.
contour bench an earth mound or similar, constructed exactly
along the contour and which is designed to
control water run-off.
decant structure a collection system designed to collect the liquid
which “ponds” on the surface of tailings
impoundments.
direct seeding broadcasting seed directly onto the area requiring
revegetation (as opposed to germinating seed in
nursery conditions and transplanting seedlings to
the site).
dispersive soils structurally unstable soils in which the soil
aggregates readily break down into their
constituent particles.
drainage density the catchment area divided by the total length of
definable stream channels that drain the area.
free cyanide cyanide not combined with complex ions.
hydromulching or a procedure whereby a mixture of seed, fertiliser
hydroseeding and mulching material as a carrier is sprayed in a
slurry on exposed soil surfaces for revegetation
purposes. Common materials used as carrying
agents are wood, straw and paper pulp. A coloured
dye is usually mixed into the slurry in order to
observe treated areas as the operation proceeds.
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