Mining Terminology

Name:

Date:

Instructions: Dig deep into the specialized language of miners and the mining industry with this challenging quiz.

1.
What is an 'adit' in mining?
A
An inspection of mining equipment
B
A type of mining drill
C
A mining permit
D
A horizontal passage leading into a mine
2.
What does 'ore' refer to?
A
Rock or earth containing metal or minerals that can be profitably extracted
B
A mining shaft
C
The refuse from mining operations
D
A type of mining tool
3.
What is a 'shaft' in mining?
A
A beam of light in a mine
B
A vertical or inclined excavation providing access to underground workings
C
The handle of a pickaxe
D
A mining company's stock
4.
What does 'tailings' refer to?
A
The waste materials left over after extracting valuable minerals from ore
B
Tracking ore deposits
C
Following a mine vein
D
The end of a mining tunnel
5.
What is 'smelting'?
A
The process of extracting metal from ore by heating and melting
B
Testing ore samples
C
Mixing different ores together
D
A bad smell in a mine
6.
What is a 'lode' in mining?
A
A type of explosive
B
A heavy load of ore
C
A vein of metal ore deposited between layers of rock
D
The floor of a mine
7.
What does 'placer mining' involve?
A
Extracting minerals from deposits of sand or gravel, often using water
B
Placing explosives in rock
C
Positioning mine shafts
D
Placing markers for future mines
8.
What is a 'drift' in mining?
A
A horizontal tunnel that follows along the vein of ore
B
A change in the mine's ownership
C
Loose sand in a mine
D
The movement of underground water
9.
What does 'assay' mean in mining?
A
To write an essay about mining
B
To assess the safety of a mine
C
To survey the land above a mine
D
To test and analyze ore samples to determine the content and quality of metals
10.
What is 'overburden'?
A
Working too many hours in a mine
B
Excess water in a mine
C
An overweight load on a mine cart
D
The rock, soil, and other material lying above a mineral deposit that must be removed
11.
What is a 'stope' in mining?
A
A stop for mine carts
B
An underground excavation from which ore has been or is being extracted
C
A slope in a mine tunnel
D
A step in the mining process
12.
What does 'gangue' refer to?
A
The commercially worthless rock and material surrounding or mixed with valuable ore
B
A group of miners
C
A type of mining gang
D
A geological fault line
13.
What is 'beneficiation'?
A
The process of improving the concentration of ore by removing unwanted material
B
Benefits given to miners
C
A charity for retired miners
D
A type of mining tax break
14.
What is a 'canary in a coal mine' used for?
A
Entertainment for miners
B
An early warning system to detect dangerous gases like carbon monoxide
C
Guiding miners in the dark
D
Keeping insects away
15.
What does 'reclamation' mean in mining?
A
Reclaiming stolen ore
B
Filing an insurance claim
C
Recovering lost mining equipment
D
The process of restoring mined land to a natural or economically usable state

Find more free puzzles and brain games at www.SeniorBrainGames.org