Geology

Manitoba mines produce a variety of mineral resources from base and precious metals such as nickel, copper, zinc and gold and specialty metals like cesium. In addition, Manitoba’s industrial minerals include dolomite, spodumene, silver, gypsum, salt, granite, limestone, lime, sand and gravel.

A rectangular plate of metal produced by electrolytic refining which is melted into commercial shapes such as wirebars, billets, ingots, etc.

Geologic time traces Earth’s history in blocks of time such as eons, eras, periods, epochs. Geologic time is most often presented in a graph called a geologic time scale.

A particular type of milling plant that produces a concentrate of valuable minerals or metals. After milling, the concentrate must be treated in another type of plant, such as a smelter, to effect recovery of pure metal.

A layered or banded crystalline metamorphic rock whose grains are aligned or elongated into a roughly parallel arrangement.

‘Extrusive’ igneous rock is rock formed as a result of magma being forced out of the Earth’s crust and hardening on the surface. ‘Intrusive’ igneous rock is rock formed as a result of magma solidifying within the Earth’s crust.

The layer of the Earth's interior which separates the crust and core.

The ability of a mineral to be attracted to a magnet.

Naturally occurring chemical elements or compounds with a crystal-like structure.

The reclaiming and reuse of materials and lands which were once part of a mining operation.

The vitreous mass separated from fused metals in the smelting process.

Material which is rejected from a mill after the recoverable valuable minerals have been extracted.

Geochemists use physical and inorganic chemistry to investigate the distribution of major and trace elements in ground water and Earth materials, and use organic chemistry to study the composition of fossil fuel (coal, oil, and gas) deposits.

Structural geologists analyze rocks by studying deformation, fracturing, and folding of the Earth's crust.

Sedimentologists study the nature, origin, distribution, and alteration of sediments such as sand, silt, and mud. Oil, gas, coal and many mineral deposits occur in such sediments.

Volcanologists investigate volcanoes and volcanic phenomena to understand these natural hazards and predict eruptions.

Geophysicists apply the principles of physics to study the earth's interior and investigate Earth's magnetic, electric, and gravitational fields.

An excavation in a mine from which ore is being extracted, or has been extracted.

A surface pit site for the extraction of rock.

Any raw material which may be used to meet human needs.