Mining termnology

What Is A Mine?
A mine is an excavation in the earth from which ores and minerals are extracted (through
mining). Mines can incorporate either underground or surface excavations.
Under the OHS Regulations, a mine is a workplace where work is being done with a mining or
exploration licence granted under the Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) Act
1990.
The law requires mine operators to fulfil a range of duties to ensure safe mining and there are
particular requirements that apply to prescribed mines (i.e. underground mines or mines
declared by WorkSafe).
Specific OHS regulations covering mining extend to tourist mines (such as those at
Sovereign Hill) but do not apply to quarries. Quarries extract or remove stone from land for
sale or commercial use in construction, building, road or manufacturing works, and are not
included in the definition of a mine.

A mineral is the native form in which the metal

exists. Example magnetite is a mineral of Iron of
the formula Fe3O4, which is extracted from the soil
which is rich in it.
An ore is a mineral from which the metal can be
extracted economically. If you scoop a little mud
from your garden it might contain traces of iron.
But it cannot be called an ore because you cannot
extract iron out of it in a profitable way.