ISO 22932-2:2020

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 22932-2
First edition
2020-06
Mining — Vocabulary —
Part 2:
Geology
Exploitation minière — Vocabulaire —
Partie 2: Géologie
Reference number
ISO 22932-2:2020(E)
©
ISO 2020

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ISO 22932-2:2020(E)

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© ISO 2020
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ISO 22932-2:2020(E)

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
3.1 General terms . 1
3.2 Physical geology . 6
3.3 Mineralogy . 7
3.4 Petrology . 8
3.5 Historical geology .17
3.6 Topography .19
3.7 Structural geology and tectonics .20
3.8 Geomorphology .33
3.9 Geochemistry.34
3.10 Geophysics .35
3.11 Geohydrology .36
3.12 Hydrology .37
3.13 Economic geology .40
3.14 Soils .42
Bibliography .44
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ISO 22932-2:2020(E)

Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2. www .iso .org/ directives
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of
any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or
on the ISO list of patent declarations received. www .iso .org/ patents
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and
expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the
World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see www .iso .org/
iso/ foreword .html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 82, Mining.
A list of all parts in the ISO 22932 series can be found on the ISO website.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www .iso .org/ members .html.
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ISO 22932-2:2020(E)

Introduction
The ISO 22932 series has been prepared in order to standardize and to co-ordinate the global use of
technical terms in mining, for the benefice of the experts working on different types of mining activities.
The need for the ISO 22932 series arose from the widely varying interpretation of terms used within
the industry and the prevalent use of more than one synonym.
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INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 22932-2:2020(E)
Mining — Vocabulary —
Part 2:
Geology
1 Scope
This document specifies the geologic terms commonly used in mining. Only those terms that have a
specific meaning in this field are included.
2 Normative references
There are no normative references in this document.
3 Terms and definitions
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at http:// www .electropedia .org/
3.1 General terms
3.1.1
bedrock
solid rock underlying superficial deposits (3.4.3.16)
Note 1 to entry: See also saddle reef (3.13.11).
[SOURCE: BS 3618-5:1971]
3.1.2
economic geology
study and analysis of formations (3.7.22) and materials that can be useful or profitable to man
Note 1 to entry: These materials can be fuels, metallic minerals (3.13.4), nonmetallic minerals (3.13.4), water and
geothermal resources.
Note 2 to entry: For additional terms related to economic geology, see 3.13.
3.1.3
geochemistry
study of the relative and absolute abundances of the elements and their nuclides (isotopes) in the Earth,
including the distribution and migration of the individual elements or suites of elements in the various
envelopes of the Earth
Note 1 to entry: The envelopes of the Earth are the atmosphere, the hydrosphere, the lithosphere, etc.
Note 2 to entry: For additional terms related to geochemistry, see 3.9.
[SOURCE: Dictionary of Mining, Mineral and Related Terms, U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1996, modified - Note
2 to entry added.]
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ISO 22932-2:2020(E)

3.1.4
geohydrology
study of hydraulics pertinent to the flow of water and similar liquids through soils (3.1.19) and rocks
Note 1 to entry: For additional terms related to geohydrology, see 3.11.
[SOURCE: BS 3618-5:1971, modified - Note 1 to entry added.]
3.1.5
geology
study of the planet Earth, the materials of which it is made, the processes that act on these materials,
the products formed, and the history of the planet and its life forms since its origin
Note 1 to entry: Geology considers the physical forces that act on the Earth, the chemistry of its constituent
materials, and the biology of its past inhabitants as revealed by fossils. Clues on the origin of the planet are sought
in a study of the Moon and other extraterrestrial bodies. The knowledge thus obtained is placed in the service
of humans to aid in discovery of minerals (3.13.4) and fuels of value in the Earth's crust, to identify geologically
stable sites for major structures (3.4.1.4), and to provide foreknowledge of some of the dangers associated with
the mobile forces of a dynamic Earth.
[SOURCE: Dictionary of Mining, Mineral and Related Terms, U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1996]
3.1.6
geomorphology
science that treats the general configuration of the Earth's surface (3.1.23), specifically the study of the
classification, description, nature, origin, and development of present landforms and their relationships
to underlying structures (3.4.1.4), and of the history of geologic changes as recorded by these surface
features
Note 1 to entry: For additional terms related to geomorphology, see 3.8.
[SOURCE: Dictionary of Mining, Mineral and Related Terms, U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1996, modified - Note
1 to entry added.]
3.1.7
geophysics
branch of physics dealing with the Earth using specific physical phenomena in order to elucidate
processes of dynamic geology (3.1.5) and physical geography
Note 1 to entry: The term "Earth" includes atmosphere and hydrosphere.
Note 2 to entry: The physical phenomena dealt with include seismic, gravitational, electric, thermal, radiometric
and magnetic.
Note 3 to entry: Earth sciences such as geodesy (3.8.4), geology, seismology (3.7.10), meteorology, oceanography,
and magnetism make use of physics in collecting and interpreting Earth data.
Note 4 to entry: Methods applying geophysics have been applied successfully to the identification of underground
structures (3.4.1.4) in the Earth and to the search of structures of a particular type, for example those associated
with oil bearing sands.
Note 5 to entry: For additional terms related to geophysics, see 3.10.
[SOURCE: Dictionary of Mining, Mineral and Related Terms, U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1996, modified - Note
5 to entry added.]
3.1.8
historical geology
major branch of geology (3.1.5) concerned with the evolution of the Earth and its life forms from its
origins to the present day, involving investigations into stratigraphy, paleontology, and geochronology,
as well as the consideration of paleoenvironments, glacial periods, and plate-tectonic motions
Note 1 to entry: It is complementary to physical geology (3.1.15). Not to be confused with the history of geology.
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ISO 22932-2:2020(E)

Note 2 to entry: For additional terms related to historical geology, see 3.5.
[SOURCE: Dictionary of Mining, Mineral and Related Terms, U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1996, modified - Note
2 to entry added.]
3.1.9
hydrology
study of the movement of water on and within the Earth’s crust
Note 1 to entry: See also hydrogeology (3.11.4).
Note 2 to entry: For additional terms related to hydrology, see 3.12.
[SOURCE: BS 3618-5:1971, modified - Note 2 to entry added.]
3.1.10
ironstone
rock containing a substantial proportion of an iron compound, or any iron ore from which the metal can
be smelted commercially; specifically, an iron-rich sedimentary rock (3.4.3), either deposited directly as
a ferruginous sediment or resulting from chemical replacement
[SOURCE: Dictionary of Mining, Mineral and Related Terms, U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1996]
3.1.11
mineralogy
study of minerals (3.13.4), including their formation, occurrence, use, properties, composition, and
classification
Note 1 to entry: For additional terms related to mineralogy, see 3.3.
[SOURCE: Dictionary of Mining, Mineral and Related Terms, U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1996, modified - Note
1 to entry added.]
3.1.12
mining geology
geological aspects of mineral (3.13.4) deposits related to mining activities
Note 1 to entry: Its objectives, besides studying the geologic structures (3.4.1.4) in place and their continuity in
space, are the modes of formation and the occurrence of mineral deposits and their discovery, in particular.
3.1.13
nongraded sediment
bed (3.4.1.1) detrital sediment, loose or cemented, containing notable amounts of more than one grade,
e.g. loam or boulder clay (3.14.2)
[SOURCE: Dictionary of Mining, Mineral and Related Terms, U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1996]
3.1.14
petrology
study of the origin, chemical and mineral (3.13.4) composition, structure (3.4.1.4), and alteration
(3.4.4.1) of rocks
Note 1 to entry: For additional terms related to petrology, see 3.4.
[SOURCE: BS 3618-5:1971, modified - Note 1 to entry added.]
3.1.15
physical geology
broad division of geology (3.1.5) concerned with the processes and forces involved in the inorganic
evolution of the Earth and its morphology, and with its constituent minerals (3.13.4), rocks, magmas,
and core materials
Note 1 to entry: For additional terms related to physical geology, see 3.2.
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ISO 22932-2:2020(E)

[SOURCE: Dictionary of Mining, Mineral and Related Terms, U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1996, modified - Note
1 to entry added.]
3.1.16
rank
position of a coal (3.4.3.1) relative to other coals in the coalification series from brown coal (low rank)
to anthracite (3.4.4.2) (high rank), indicating its maturity in terms of its general chemical and physical
properties
[SOURCE: BS 3618-5:1971]
3.1.17
seam
layer or bed (3.4.1.1) of mineral (3.13.4)
Note 1 to entry: This term can also be used for minerals.
3.1.18
segregate
to separate from the general mass, and collect together or become concentrated at a particular place or
in a certain region
Note 1 to entry: Particles can segregate such as in the process of crystallization or solidification.
[SOURCE: Dictionary of Mining, Mineral and Related Terms, U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1996]
3.1.19
soil
all unconsolidated materials above bedrock (3.1.1)
Note 1 to entry: For additional terms related to soils, see 3.14.
[SOURCE: Dictionary of Mining, Mineral and Related Terms, U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1996, modified - Note
1 to entry added.]
3.1.20
subsurface geology
underground geology
geology (3.1.5) and correlation (3.5.2) of rock formations (3.7.22), structures (3.4.1.4), and other
features beneath the land or sea-floor surface (3.1.23) as revealed or inferred by exploratory drilling,
underground workings, and geophysical methods
Note 1 to entry: Usually implies direct evidence derived from shafts, wells, and borings, or obtained by
geophysical methods.
[SOURCE: Dictionary of Mining, Mineral and Related Terms, U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1996]
3.1.21
smut
thin band of soft, inferior coal (3.4.3.1)
[SOURCE: BS 3618-5:1971]
3.1.22
structural geology
branch of geology (3.1.5) that deals with the form, arrangement, and internal structure (3.4.1.4) of
the rocks, and especially with the description, representation, and analysis of structures, chiefly on a
moderate to small scale
Note 1 to entry: The subject is similar to tectonics (3.1.26), but the latter is generally used for the broader regional
or historical phases.
Note 2 to entry: For additional terms related to structural geology, see 3.7.
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ISO 22932-2:2020(E)

[SOURCE: Dictionary of Mining, Mineral and Related Terms, U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1996, modified - Note
2 to entry added.]
3.1.23
surface
boundary surface between one bed (3.4.1.1) or mass of rock and another immediately adjacent
EXAMPLE Bedding surface, fault (3.7.17) surface, surface of unconformity (3.5.8), surface of igneous compact.
Note 1 to entry: This term can also designate an imaginary surface, such as the axial surface of a fold (3.7.21).
[SOURCE: Dictionary of Mining, Mineral and Related Terms, U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1996]
3.1.24
surface geology
geology (3.1.5) and correlation (3.5.2) of rock formations (3.7.22), structures (3.4.1.4), and other features
as seen at the Earth's surface (3.1.23)
[SOURCE: Dictionary of Mining, Mineral and Related Terms, U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1996]
3.1.25
surficial geology
geology (3.1.5) of surficial deposits, including soils (3.1.19)
[SOURCE: Dictionary of Mining, Mineral and Related Terms, U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1996]
3.1.26
tectonics
branch of geology (3.1.5) dealing with the broad architecture of the outer part of the Earth, i.e., the
regional assembling of structural or deformational features, the study of their mutual relations, origin,
and historical evolution
Note 1 to entry: It is closely related to structural geology (3.1.22), with which it overlaps, although tectonics
generally deals with larger features.
Note 2 to entry: For additional terms related to tectonics, see 3.7.
[SOURCE: Dictionary of Mining, Mineral and Related Terms, U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1996, modified - Note
2 to entry added.]
3.1.27
topography
general configuration of a land surface (3.1.23) or any part of the Earth's surface, including its relief and
the position of its natural and manmade features
Note 1 to entry: The natural or physical surface features of a region, considered collectively as to form the
features revealed by the contour (3.6.3) lines of a map. In nongeologic usage, the term includes manmade features
(such as are shown on a topographic map).
Note 2 to entry: For additional terms related to topography, see 3.6.
[SOURCE: Dictionary of Mining, Mineral and Related Terms, U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1996, modified -
Note2 to entry added.]
3.1.28
transportation
shifting of material from one place to another on the Earth's surface (3.1.23) by moving water, ice, or air
[SOURCE: Dictionary of Mining, Mineral and Related Terms, U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1996]
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ISO 22932-2:2020(E)

3.2 Physical geology
3.2.1
catastrophe
sudden, violent change in the physical conditions of the Earth's surface (3.1.23)
[SOURCE: Dictionary of Mining, Mineral and Related Terms, U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1996]
3.2.2
contact bed
bed (3.4.1.1) lying next to or in contact with a formation (3.7.22) of different character
[SOURCE: Dictionary of Mining, Mineral and Related Terms, U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1996]
3.2.3
field geology
field work
geology (3.1.5) as practiced by direct observation in the field; original, primary reconnaissance
[SOURCE: Dictionary of Mining, Mineral and Related Terms, U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1996]
3.2.4
geologic drilling
drilling done primarily to obtain information from which the geology (3.1.5) of the formations (3.7.22)
penetrated can be determined
[SOURCE: Dictionary of Mining, Mineral and Related Terms, U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1996]
3.2.5
geological province
area throughout which geological history has been essentially the same or one that is characterized by
particular structural or physiographic features
[SOURCE: Dictionary of Mining, Mineral and Related Terms, U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1996]
3.2.6
measures
series of beds or strata, nowadays generally limited to rock within the coal (3.4.3.1) measures
[SOURCE: BS 3618-5:1971]
3.2.7
rake vein
steeply inclined metalliferous lode (3.13.3) or vein (3.13.13)
[SOURCE: BS 3618-5:1971]
3.2.8
rider
mass of country rock (3.3.5) enclosed in a lode (3.13.3)
Note 1 to entry: Compare with 3.4.1.3 and 3.13.9.
[SOURCE: Dictionary of Mining, Mineral and Related Terms, U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1996]
3.2.9
shell bed
bed (3.4.1.1) containing abundant fossil shells
[SOURCE: BS 3618-5:1971]
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ISO 22932-2:2020(E)

3.2.10
slump bedding
disturbed bedding, specifically deformed bedding produced by subaqueous slumping or lateral
movement of newly deposited sediment
[SOURCE: Dictionary of Mining, Mineral and Related Terms, U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1996]
3.2.11
stringer
mineral (3.13.4) veinlet or filament, usually one of a number, occurring in a discontinuous subparallel
pattern in host rock
[SOURCE: Dictionary of Mining, Mineral and Related Terms, U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1996]
3.3 Mineralogy
3.3.1
barren ground
unmineralised strata
3.3.2
blackband ironstone
bed (3.4.1.1) of ironstone (3.1.10) containing sufficient carbonaceous (3.4.3.14) matter to make it self-
calcining
[SOURCE: BS 3618-5:1971]
3.3.3
clay band ironstone
impure argillaceous (3.14.1) carbonate of iron occurring in sand stones and shales (3.4.3.34), either as
definite layers or as nodules
[SOURCE: BS 3618-5:1971]
3.3.4
cleavage
in a crystalline mineral (3.13.4), one or more series of parallel planes along which the mineral tends to split
[SOURCE: BS 3618-5:1971]
3.3.5
country rock
rock adjacent to a mineral (3.13.4) deposit or igneous intrusion (3.4.2.7) or other geologic features
[SOURCE: BS 3618-5:1971]
3.3.6
exsolution
process whereby an initially homogeneous solid solution separates into two (or possibly more) distinct
crystalline phases without addition or removal of material, i.e., without change in the bulk composition
Note 1 to entry: It generally, though not necessarily, occurs on cooling.
[SOURCE: Dictionary of Mining, Mineral and Related Terms, U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1996]
3.3.7
fluid inclusion
cavity, with or without negative crystal faces, containing one or two fluid phases, and possibly one or
more minute crystals, in a host crystal
Note 1 to entry: If two fluid phases are present, the vapor phase (bubble) can show Brownian motion.
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ISO 22932-2:2020(E)

[SOURCE: Dictionary of Mining, Mineral and Related Terms, U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1996]
3.3.8
matrix
finer grained material between the larger particles of a rock or the material surrounding a fossil or
mineral (3.13.4)
[SOURCE: BS 3618-5:1971]
3.3.9
polymorph
minerals (3.13.4) that have the same chemical composition, but different crystal structures (3.4.1.4)
EXAMPLE 1 Kyanite, andalusite, and sillimanite.
EXAMPLE 2 Quartz, tridymite, cristobalite, coesite, and stishovite.
3.3.10
polymorphism
characteristic of a chemical compound to crystallize in more than one crystal class
Note 1 to entry: See polymorph (3.3.9).
[SOURCE: Dictionary of Mining, Mineral and Related Terms, U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1996]
3.4 Petrology
3.4.1 General terms
3.4.1.1
bed
layer of rock or mineral (3.13.4)
[SOURCE: BS 3618-5:1971]
3.4.1.2
lithology
character of a rock expressed in terms of its mineral (3.13.4) composition, structure (3.4.1.4), grain size,
color and arrangement of its component parts
[SOURCE: BS 3618 -5:1971, modified - definition reworded.]
3.4.1.3
rider
bed (3.4.1.1) in a coal (3.4.3.1) seam (3.1.17)
Note 1 to entry: Compare with 3.2.8 and 3.13.9.
EXAMPLE Shale (3.4.3.34) or mudstone (3.4.3.30).
3.4.1.4
structure
larger feature of a rock mass and total sum of such features
EXAMPLE Bedding, flow banding, jointing, cleavage (3.7.8), shear, fault (3.7.17) and brecciation.
3.4.1.5
texture
general physical appearance or character of a rock, including the geometric aspects of, and the mutual
relations among, its component particles or crystals
EXAMPLE 1 Size, shape, and arrangement of the constituent elements of a sedimentary rock (3.4.3).
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ISO 22932-2:2020(E)

EXAMPLE 2 Crystallinity, granularity, and fabric of the constituent elements of an igneous rock (3.4.2).
Note 1 to entry: The term is applied to the smaller (megascopic or microscopic) features as seen on a smooth
surface (3.1.23) of a homogeneous rock or mineral (3.13.4) aggregate. The term structure (3.4.1.4) is generally
used for the larger features of a rock. The two terms should not be used synonymously, although certain textural
features can parallel major structural features.
[SOURCE: Dictionary of Mining, Mineral and Related Terms, U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1996]
3.4.2
igneous rock
rock formed by the solidification of molten material that originated within the Earth
[SOURCE: Dictionary of Mining, Mineral and Related Terms, U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1996]
3.4.2.1
agglomerate
naturally cemented unstratified mass of coarse volcanic fragments
[SOURCE: BS 3618-5:1971]
3.4.2.2
volcanic ash
fine loose debris ejected in volcanic eruptions
Note 1 to entry: It gives rise to tuff (3.4.2.17) when compacted.
[SOURCE: BS 3618-5:1971]
3.4.2.3
batholith
bathylith
2
large, generally discordant (3.5.3) plutonic mass that has more than 104 km of surface (3.1.23) exposure
and no known floor
Note 1 to entry: Its formation (3.7.22) is believed by most investigators to involve magmatic processes.
[SOURCE: Dictionary of Mining, Mineral and Related Terms, U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1996]
3.4.2.4
dolerite
whin
dark crystalline igneous rock (3.4.2) forming intrusions (3.4.2.7) such as dykes (3.4.2.5) and sills
(3.4.2.16)
[SOURCE: BS 3618-5:1971]
3.4.2.5
dyke
more or less perpendicular wall-like igneous mass intruded into other rocks
[SOURCE: BS 3618-5:1971]
3.4.2.6
hard-rock geology
colloquial term for geology (3.1.5) of igneous rocks (3.4.2) and metamorphic rocks (3.4.4), as opposed to
soft-rock geology (3.4.3.37)
[SOURCE: Dictionary of Mining, Mineral and Related Terms, U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1996]
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ISO 22932-2:2020(E)

3.4.2.7
intrusion
mass of igneous rock (3.4.2) which, while molten, was forced into or between other rocks
[SOURCE: BS 3618-5:1971]
3.4.2.8
laccolith
concordant (3.4.4.12) igneous intrusion (3.4.2.7) with a known or assumed flat floor and a postulated,
dike-like feeder commonly thought to be beneath its thickest point
[SOURCE: Dictionary of Mining, Mineral and Related Terms, U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1996]
3.4.2.9
lopolith
large, concordant (3.4.4.12), typically layered igneous intrusion (3.4.2.7), of planoconvex or lenticular
shape, that is sunken in its central part owing to sagging of the underlying country rock (3.3.5)
[SOURCE: Dictionary of Mining, Mineral and Related Terms, U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1996]
3.4.2.10
phacolith
concordant (3.4.4.12) intrusion (3.4.2.7) in the crest of an anticline (3.7.1) and trough of a syncline (3.7.51)
that, in a cross section, has the shape of a doubly convex lens
[SOURCE: Dictionary of Mining, Mineral and Related Terms, U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1996]
3.4.2.11
phenocryst
large crystal or mineral (3.13.4) grains floating in the matrix (3.3.8) or groundmass of a porphyry
(3.4.2.14)
[SOURCE: Dictionary of Mining, Mineral and Related Terms, U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1996]
3.4.2.12
pluton
body of medium- to coarse-grained igneous rock (3.4.2) that formed beneath the surface (3.1.23) by
crystallization of a magma
[SOURCE: Dictionary of Mining, Mineral and Related Terms, U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1996]
3.4.2.13
porphyritic
texture (3.4.1.5) of an igneous rock (3.4.2) in which larger crystals [phenocrysts (3.4.2.11)] are set in a
finer-grained groundmass, which can be crystalline or glassy or both
Note 1 to entry: Also, said of a rock with such texture, or of the mineral (3.13.4) forming the phenocrysts.
[SOURCE: Dictionary of Mining, Mineral and Related Terms, U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1996]
3.4.2.14
porphyry
porphyritic igneous rock
igneous rock (3.4.2) of any composition that contains conspicuous phenocr
...