Knowra Ore deposit Ore deposit An ore deposit is a natural concentration of minerals from which valuable materials can be extracted at a profit under particular economic and technological conditions.
Porphyry copper deposit : A large, low-grade copper deposit associated with intrusive igneous rocks and hydrothermal fluids. Magmatic heat and fluids create one of the world's major sources of copper ore.
Hydrothermal circulation : The movement of heated water through rock, driven by geothermal or magmatic heat. Circulating fluids dissolve metals, transport them, and deposit them as conditions change.
Ore mineral : A mineral containing a valuable element or compound that can be extracted economically. The deposit's value depends on which minerals host its recoverable commodities.
Mineral exploration : The search for mineral deposits using geological, geochemical, geophysical, and drilling methods. Exploration identifies targets and gathers evidence that a deposit exists.
Mineral reserve : The economically mineable portion of a measured or indicated mineral resource, supported by technical studies. A reserve represents the part of a deposit judged suitable for extraction under stated conditions.
Volcanogenic massive sulfide deposit : A seafloor deposit of sulfide minerals formed when hydrothermal fluids discharge into seawater. Submarine vents precipitate concentrated copper, zinc, lead, and other sulfides.
Magmatic differentiation : Processes that change magma composition as minerals crystallize, separate, or mix. Crystal sorting and residual melts can concentrate metals before magma solidifies.
Gangue : Mineral material in an ore that has no economic value under current processing conditions. Gangue dilutes valuable minerals and affects separation costs.
Mineral resource estimation : The statistical and geological estimation of a mineral deposit's size, grade, and uncertainty. Estimates translate samples and geological models into quantities used for planning.
Mine tailings : The finely ground waste left after valuable minerals are separated from mined ore. Low-grade deposits can generate large volumes of tailings relative to the metal produced.
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