Mining Terminology — Glossary of TermsThe following glossary contains a list of common terms used in the mining industry.

Term Definition

All-Wheel Skid

All-wheels lose traction and begin to slide across the road surface. The wheeled machine continues in the direction of its forward momentum with no directional control. All-wheel skids often develop from either rear or front-wheel skids.

Ancillary Equipment

Mining equipment that is not directly related to Production or drilling holes or shifting material, but is used in a support-production role. Examples of ancillary equipment include dozers, excavators, graders, water trucks, small loaders and rollers.

Backfill Material that is dumped in a hole in order to fill it up or it may be for an old stope or shaft, where large, blasted material is used. Stope fill may also be referred to as Backfill.

Beacon The roof-mounted revolving light on a machine.

Bench A strip of material being mined. The height of the bench differs depending on machines being used to dig or the nature of the ore body being dug.

Bench Height The height of the bench face, or bank of rock, that is extracted in one pass. Benches therefore occur at regular intervals separated by a given bench height.

Berm, Catchment Berm

A predetermined width of bench left behind at intervals on pit walls. These berms aid in the overall stability of the pit walls by reducing the vertical angle, or Wall Angle, of the walls. The berms also increase safety by catching material that may be dislodged from higher up the wall.

Blast A Blast is the event where blasting occurs. A Blast is a pre-defined area of the bench that is treated as a single unit for many mining purposes. Each blast is numbered and provides a means for personnel to refer to a specific area. A blast may also be refereed to as a Shot.

Cattle Ramps The change out stations for haul trucks.

Contact The place or surface where two different kinds of rock meet. A contact also refers to the place where to different material types meet. For example, the plane between an ore block and a waste block is the ore/waste contact.

Controlled OperationA situation in which all haul truck movements are planned and initiated by the operator and which are within the operational parameters of equipment and the rules pertaining to the situation.

Cracker Dust Fine particles of rock and dust (<10mm) generated during the crushing process. Generally composed of waste material. Cracker dust can be used to sheet roads, form up windrows and back fill holes in the pit.

Crest A term used to describe the top outside edge of high walls, berms, dumps and ramps.

Crib Lunch/smoko

Crib Hut Place where personnel have lunch or smoko.

Term Definition

Cutback Many open pits are dug in stages depending on various economic and engineering considerations. Each of these stages is called a cutback as, once the first part of the pit is dug, each cutback cuts the wall back in a certain direction. A cutback is composed of a number of benches and there may be several cutbacks in operation at any one time.

Dead Line Parking area at the workshop that is used to park machines that require repairs or service.

Delineator White guide pole on each side of the haul road.

Dirt While this term generally means earth or soil, it is common in the mining industry to refer to blasted rock as dirt.

Double shift Mine site that operates twenty-four hours per day.

Drop Cut The area being mined to gain access into the next bench. This is typically the first blast to be blasted on each bench. A ramp is then constructed through this blast to get to the floor of the bench. The engineers and geologists attempt to design all of the drop cuts in waste zones as the heave is often more severe than in a normal production blast, resulting in more dilution of the ore.

Double Shift This term refers to working a mine site or piece of equipment twenty-four hours a day. At Boddington Gold Mine a day consists of two twelve-hour shifts hence when both shifts are working the operation is double shifting.

Dump A place set aside on the mine site where waste material is dumped.

DumpingThe process of a haul truck discharging a load of material (ore or waste) at a crusher, stockpile or waste dump.

Duty of Care

Your general duty of care is to ensure your own safety and the safety of those people you work with. With respect to positive communication, your Duty of Care is never to assume that any message you have sent has been received and understood until you receive confirmation from the recipient.

Electrification

An event in which a haul truck or other equipment has come into contact with high voltage — this may be from high voltage electrical lines or from lightning strike. As well as potentially fatal electric shock, electrification has the potential to cause fires, internal tyre fires, tyre damage, electrical faults and other damage. Following an electrification event, an equipment item will be quarantined for a minimum period of time — normally twenty-four hours (see quarantined equipment).

Warning!

The damage caused by electrification may not be immediately apparent. Effects of electrification on a haul truck may not be revealed until well

after the initial incident.

Emergency Procedure

The recognised method of alerting all personnel of an emergency over the two-way radio. An Emergency Call always begins with the words: ‘Emergency, Emergency, Emergency’.

Empty HaulingThe process of an empty haul truck travelling to a loading location on the hauling circuit.

Explosive Magazine A store used exclusively for the keeping of explosives.

Term Definition

Fatigue

Fatigue is a term used to describe the experience of being sleepy, tired and/or exhausted to the point where it is unsafe for you to be operating equipment or working around operating equipment.

Operator fatigue can severely impair judgment and can affect anyone. It is extremely hazardous because one of the symptoms of fatigue is the reduced ability of an affected person to judge his/her level of tiredness.

Fatigue ManagementFatigue management is where managers, supervisors and personnel work together to ensure that fatigue does not cause incidents and injury in the workplace.

Fire FightingThe act of attempting to extinguish a fire that is underway. In some fire types (eg, tyre fires, grid box fires) it is not permitted for any person to attempt to fight the fire.

Fire Prevention

The process of ensuring that potential causes of fire are identified and eliminated before they actually cause a fire. It is the responsibility of all personnel to be alert for potential causes of fire and deal with them appropriately.

Fire SuppressionThe act of smothering a fire in its early stages with a fire retardant in order to try to control the fire before it takes hold.

Fire Suppression System

A centralised system fitted to heavy equipment items which in the event of a fire will automatically activate or can be activated manually to release fire retardant foam into certain areas (normally the engine bay) of the machine.

Warning!

Even though the fire suppression system appears to have extinguished a fire, there is a chance that the fire will reignite. Never assume a fire

has been thoroughly extinguished.

Fitness for Work

Fitness for work means that you are in a state (physical, mental and emotional), which enables you to perform your assigned tasks competently and in a manner that does not compromise the safety or health of yourself or others.

Flitch From time to time it is necessary to mine a bench in two passes. This is generally due to the presence of flat lying ore structures where the top 5 metres of an ore body is significantly different to the bottom 5 metres of the ore body. When this is done each pass is referred to as a flitch.

Floor The base of a bench upon which the mining equipment works. The floor is kept flat by the shovels and dozers working at a constant level while the bench is being excavated. The floor of one bench becomes the top of then next bench when drilling commences.

FOPS Falling Object Protective Structure. A structure fitted to a vehicle to protect the occupants of that vehicle from any rocks that may fall from the walls around the pit.

Footprint

The area covered by the outside perimeter of a haul truck. No person may enter the footprint of a haul truck unless the equipment is shut down and fully isolated. In the case of an empty haul truck at a hot-seat changeover, the operator must conduct the walk-around inspection from a minimum of one-metre outside the truck’s footprint. If the truck is loaded, the operator must conduct the walk-around inspection from a minimum of six-metres outside of the truck’s footprint.

Term Definition

Front-Wheel Skid (Understeer)

The front wheels lose traction when turned and begin to slide across the road surface. The truck will tend to go straight ahead rather than the intended direction.

Fuel Farm The Fuel Farm is the fuel depot where most of the mobile equipment is refueled and serviced.

Go Line Parking area at the Workshop or Fuel Farm for machines that have been serviced or repaired and are ready for operation.

Hand SignalsHand signals can provide a means of positive communication if they are standard and understood signals and confirmation of message receipt is received by the sender.

Hauling The process of a haul truck transporting its load from a loading location to a dumping location.

Hauling Equipment Hauling equipment is any machine that can carry mining product that is dumped for refinement or waste. At BMG, the primary surface hauling equipment are Caterpillar 793D and 785C haul trucks.

Haul Road All roads used by haul trucks, heavy machinery and light vehicles in an around the pit. These are gravel roads approximately 35 metres wide, and are generally well constructed, with several layers of different sized materials used. They are maintained by graders and water trucks. BMG has ‘All Weather’ roads, which means that they do not become unusable during rain. This is because rock road-base is used to coat the roads, unlike many mine sites that coat their roads in oxide material or soil.

High Wall The walls of the pit. These are generally composed of Berms and Batters giving then a stepped appearance. See also Wall Angle

Hot-Seat Changeover

A hot-seat changeover is when an outgoing operator is replaced with an incoming operator. Long-term parking procedures are applied but the haul truck engine is not shut down. This is done at shift change and sometimes during crib. This allows a higher productivity from the piece of equipment as, while the operator needs to stop for lunch, the equipment can keep running. A walk-around inspection is conducted outside of the footprint of the equipment. A full pre-start inspection must not be conducted unless the equipment is shutdown and fully isolated. The term ‘Hot-Seat’ comes from the fact that the operators’ seat does not have time to cool down, before a new operator climbs in.

Incident CoordinatorThe person (Pit Supervisor or nominee) who will assume control of any emergency situation within the pit. All personnel will liaise through, and take instructions from, the Incident Controller.

In-coming OperatorAn operator who is starting a new shift or who will be replacing an existing operator for other reasons (operator break, etc).

IntersectionA road junction where two or more roads meet and there may be the need for machine interaction.

Isolation SwitchThis switch isolates the haul truck’s battery from all electrical systems on the haul truck. All electrical systems will be disabled. All braking systems except the park brake will be disabled.

Term Definition

Key Start Switch

The key start switch in the cab enables or disables the majority of machine electrical systems. For machines with hydraulic boarding stairs, certain systems will remain enabled such as the ladder control when short-term parking procedures are applied.

Warning!

All brake systems except the park brake will be disabled once the key switch is turned to the OFF position and the brake accumulators have

bled down.

Light SignalsLight signals (indicator lights, hazard lights, etc) can provide a means of positive communication if they are standard and understood signals and confirmation of message receipt is received by the sender.

Light Vehicle Access A road or access track dedicated to light vehicles only.

LoadingThe process of a haul truck being loaded with material (ore or waste) by a dig unit (shovel, excavator, front end loader).

Loading Equipment Any equipment that is capable of loading material into hauling equipment. Primary loading equipment are rope shovels, although front-end loaders and excavators are also utilised.

Long-Term Parking

This is when the heavy equipment will be parked for a longer period of time and the operator will be leaving the cab. The heavy equipment is made fundamentally stable, the park brake is applied, the shifter is placed in neutral and any ground engaging tool is lowered. Wheel chocks are placed into position.

Loss of ControlA situation in a machine where the operator has fully or partially lost control leading to uncontrolled movement of the machine. Loss of control can be caused by equipment failure or by a failure on the part of the operator.

Manual Fire Suppression System Actuators

Actuation knobs which when depressed will activate the fire suppression system. These are provided in the operator’s cab and at ground level on the exterior of the haul truck. A person can activate the fire suppression system by removing the safety pin and pressing firmly on the knob.

Message

The transmission of an idea or intention from one person to another. A message can be transmitted verbally in a face-to-face situation, verbally via two-way radio, by hand signals, through light signals, through signage, or in written form. Messages are also transmitted to the operator of an equipment item from its instrument panel (warning lights, audible warning devices, gauges, etc).

Microsleep

Microsleeps are short episodes of loss of attention and concentration on the job at hand. The symptoms may include: blank stares, head snapping, head nodding, prolonged eye closure, etc. Microsleeps can occur to a fatigued person even when he/she is making a determined effort to stay awake e.g. when driving or operating equipment.

Microsleep episodes last from a few seconds to several minutes. In many cases the affected person is not aware that a microsleep has occurred. In some cases, microsleeps occur while the person’s eyes remain open.

Mining The act of physically loading material into haul trucks by shovels or loaders, to be carried to the crusher or waste dump.

Term Definition

Mobile Equipment

The term ‘mobile equipment’ refers to all wheeled or tracked equipment used in the mine, including:

Any haul truck

Any dig unit

Any auxiliary equipment

Any service vehicle

Any light vehicle.

On-sideThe side of the vehicle or equipment item on which the operator or driver is normally seated e.g. the on-side of a haul truck is the left-hand side; the on-side of an LV is the right-hand side.

Off-sideThe side of the vehicle or equipment item opposite to the one on which the operator or driver is normally seated e.g. the off-side of a haul truck is the right-hand side; the off-side of an LV is the left-hand side.

Outgoing OperatorAn operator who is at the end of a shift or who is to be replaced for other reasons (operator break, etc).

Overburden A term used to describe the material which covers the ore, such as sand or basalt rock etc.

Pit Term used to describe the open cut mine

Pit Supervisor (or nominee)

Person with overall responsibility for operations in the pit on any given shift. The Pit Supervisor (or nominee) is deemed to be the Incident Coordinator for any emergency within the pit (see Incident Coordinator).

Positive Communication

Communication in which a message is sent and a confirmation of receipt and understanding is returned by the intended recipient. The communication is not positive if no confirmation of receipt is returned from the intended recipient.

Positive Control See Controlled Operation above.

Pre-Start Inspection

A full pre-start inspection must only be conducted when the machine is shut down and fully isolated. Under these conditions, the person conducting the inspection is permitted to enter the haul truck footprint to conduct the inspection. Pre-start inspections will be conducted in accordance with site rules, machine training manuals and OEM manuals. A full pre-start inspection must be conducted at least once in any given 24-hour period.

Quarantined Equipment

Equipment that has been involved in an electrification event or tyre fire incident will be quarantined for a period of time within an exclusion zone. No person, unless authorised specifically to do so, is permitted to go inside the exclusion zone or approach the equipment until management has deemed the quarantine period complete.

Queuing

The situation where haul trucks create an orderly line while waiting to either be loaded or dump a load. The queue progresses as the lead haul truck completes either the loading or dumping operation and clears the loading or dumping zone.

Ramp Main access road to and from a pit

Rear-Wheel Skid (Oversteer)

The rear wheels lose traction and begin to slide across the road surface. Typically, the rear of a wheeled machine ‘steps’ out tending to spin the wheels around its own axis.

Term Definition

Regained ControlA state in which any wheeled machine is brought under the positive control of the operator following a loss of control incident.

Reclamation The process of reclaiming mined out areas to restore the land to its near as possible to original state.

Road Base Crushed waste rock used for sheeting roads to produce smooth running surfaces and all weather roads.

ROM Run Of Mine material, normally the crusher pad or tipped directly into the crusher.

ROPS Roll Over Protective Structure. A device fitted over the cab of some equipment, which can support the weight of the vehicle so if the vehicle rolls over, the operator will not be crushed by the weight of the vehicle.

Service Truck A truck (either on road or derived from a haul truck) that has been equipped with fuel and oil tanks and can refuel mobile equipment in the field. Service trucks are used to refuel dozers in the pit, along with certain other equipment.

Short-Term Parking

This is when the heavy equipment will be parked for a short period of time and the operator will remain in the operator’s position. Short-term parking procedures will be used when queuing, loading and dumping. The heavy equipment is brought to a complete stop, the load brake or park brake is applied and the shifter is placed in neutral.

Skids

Skids are the loss of traction between the wheels and the road surface. Aside from mechanical breakdown, skids can be caused in four ways (see also front wheel skids; rear wheel skids and rear wheel skids):

Over-acceleration

Over-braking

Over-steering

Over-speed when negotiating a bend or corner

Sleep Debt

Sleep debt is the term used to describe a shortfall in the amount of sleep a person is getting. If your sleep requirement is 8 hours per day and you are only receiving 6 hours, you will accumulate a ‘sleep debt’ which can ultimately lead to fatigue.

Sleep Requirement

This is the amount of sleep that a person regularly requires in order to remain alert and conduct their day-to-day work in a safe manner without becoming fatigued. Sleep requirement varies from person to person and with their activities during the day (physical and mental) but the average is 7 to 8 hours per day.

Slip An area of high wall that has collapsed or subsided.

Slump Area of dump, floor, ramp or road that has dropped below design level.

Slurry Water based Prill mixture used for blasting wet holes. Referred to as an Emulsion explosive.

SOPStandard Operating Procedure — a formal set of step-by-step work instructions that must be followed when conducting the tasks they describe.

Term Definition

Spillage From time to time a truck will be slightly overloaded, or the load will not be centered. When this happens it is possible for some material to fall out of the back of the truck when it starts to climb a ramp or encounters undulations in the road. This material is referred to as spillage and is cleaned up as soon as possible due to the high potential for tyre damage.

Spragging Term used when a track-mounted machine is turning.

Stand Pipe A standpipe is a device used to fill a water cart. The water cart can drive under the outlet on the standpipe and the water flow is controlled by a value on the ground. It may also be known as a water gantry.

Subsidence A subsidence occurs where an old working opens to surface or near surface and causes a hole or depression in the bench. Subsidence areas can be dangerous and are treated as Red & White zones, unless they can be backfilled.

Sub Grade Lower than marginal material that is currently not economic to treat although it is being separately stockpiled in the event that either the gold price increases or a new technology is developed which can reduce the cost of treatment. Currently sub grade material is between 0.5 g/t and 0.9 g/t.

Tip Head Active edge of dump where material is tipped over.

Topsoil The top layer material of the ground. It is often removed and stored in stockpiles for later reclamation and revegetation.

Traction

A situation where adhesion between the wheels and the road surface is maintained. Traction is considered lost when the drive wheels spin or skid and/or the front wheels stop rotating and directional control is lost. Over-acceleration, over-braking and/or turning too sharply for the conditions will cause loss of traction and loss of control.

Tyre Explosion

The violent and instant destruction of a tyre. Because of the size and pressure of haul truck tyres, flaming debris and metal components can be discharged several hundred metres. In most cases, the explosion will be accompanied by violent flame. Tyre explosions can be caused by:

tyre faults, failure or damage

build-up of heat within the tyre

situations where the tyre has been through an electrification event

under-inflation

over-inflation

severely overloaded haul truck

brake faults

wheel motor faults, etc.

Tyre Fire (External)

An external fire is evidenced by the presence of smoke and flame issuing from the tyre. The causes of external tyre fires can be similar to those described for tyre explosions. An external tyre fire has the potential to develop into a tyre explosion.

Danger!

Never attempt to fight a tyre fire. A 500-metre exclusion zone must be enforced as soon as a tyre fire is identified.

Term Definition

Tyre Fire (Internal)

In the case of internal fire, there may be no visible indication until the fire has existed for some time. In most cases of internal tyre fire, the first evidence may be the smell of burning rubber and/or excessive heat radiating from the tyre. Similar to an external tyre fire, there is a potential for an internal tyre fire to develop into a tyre explosion. Internal tyre fires can be caused by similar means to a tyre explosion as described above.

Danger!

Never attempt to fight a tyre fire. A 500-metre exclusion zone must be enforced immediately a tyre fire is identified and the equipment

quarantined for a minimum period of time.

Uncontrolled Movement

An unplanned or unwanted movement of the machine where the operator is not in full control. An uncontrolled movement can be momentary or can be for a longer period of time. Some of the possible types of uncontrolled movement of a machine are caused by (but are not limited to) the following:

Failed brakes

Failed Steering

Unexpected engine shutdown

Roll-away on an incline

Skids (rear, front or all wheels)

Operator error

Operator in microsleep.

Walk-Around Inspection

A walk-around inspection is conducted by the incoming operator at the time of a hot-seat changeover. Because the machine is not shut down and fully isolated, the person conducting the inspection must remain a minimum of one-metre outside of the footprint of the machine. Any hydraulic implements must be on ground with slight gain of weight.

Walking See Tramming

Warning signal A distinctive audible warning used to indicate the progress of blasting operations.

Waste Material that contains no or uneconomic amounts of gold mineralisation. At Boddington Gold Mine waste is considered any material with less than 0.5 g/t of gold.

Windrow Material left behind, or constructed at a predetermined height, on the edge of dumps, haul roads, ramps, and berms around open stopes/voids and pit edges as a safety barrier.

Material pushed out by graders during road and floor maintenance