102 
Aqua Regia.—A mixture of one part concentrated nitric acid and three parts 
hydrochloric. 
Aqueous. —Applied to stratified rocks deposited by water. 
Arborescence. —Having a tree-like appearance. Dentritic. 
Arenaceous. —Sandy. 
Argentiferous. —Containing silver. 
Argillaceous. —Clayey. 
Arrastra. — A round fixed iron pan, in which ore is ground with mercury by 
revolving weights. 
Artesian. —Wells are called artesian when they overflow at the surface. 
Asbestos.— A form of hornblende of a whitish colour which will split up into 
silky threads. 
Asphaltum.—A bituminous substance derived from the distillation of lignites 
and coal. 
Assay. —The determination of the quantity of pure metal in an ore or alloy. 
Atom. — The smallest quantity of an element that will combine with one or 
more atoms of other elements. 
Attal or Addle. —Mine waste. 
Auriferous. — Containing gold. 
Axis.—The centre of an anticlinal fold, or of a crystal. 
Azoic. — A term applied to a series of rocks, the age of which is unknown, 
such as granite, gneiss, mica schist, etc., in which there are no organic remains. 
Back. — The top section of a lode, between the surface and the first level. 
Joints running in more or less parallel lines with the formation. 
Backing. —Timbering at the top of level let into nitelies in the rock. 
Bar. — A hard baud of rock, generally a dyke crossing a lode or stream bed. 
Basalt. — A volcanic rock oft6n occurring over a great extent of country or 
covering old stream beds. — “ Bluestone.” 
Bassit. —Outcrop of lode. 
Batter. —The sloping sides of a tank or dam. 
Battery. —A stamper mill. 
Bed. — A layer of rock of uniform homogeneous texture. 
Bed an. — A round revolving iron inclined pan in which ore is ground with 
mercury by an iron ball. 
Bed Rock. — The formation underlying the alluvium on which the auriferous 
wash dirt rests. 
Bell Metal Ore. —Sulphide of tin. 
Belly. — A bulging mass in a lode. 
Bind. —A compact shaly rock. Application of this term varies. 
Bitumen. — Mineral pitch. 
Black Band. — Carbonate of iron found in coal measures. 
Black Jack. — Zinc blend or sometimes tourmaline. 
Black Sand. — Either iron, titanic iron, tin, manganese, or other fine black 
heavy sand accompanying gold. 
Black Tin. —Dressed tin ore. 
Blaes or Blaize.—A dark bituminous shale. 
Blanketings. — The heavy sand caught by the blankets on the amalgamating 
table.- 
