Mining Glossary I

Igneous rocks - Rocks formed by the solidification of molten material from far below the earth's surface.

llmenite - An ore mineral of titanium, being an iron-titanium oxide.

Induced polarization - A method of ground geophysical surveying employing an electrical current to determine indications of mineralization.

Industrial minerals - Non-metallic, non-fuel minerals used in the chemical and manufacturing industries. Examples are asbestos, gypsum, salt, graphite, mica, gravel, building stone and tale.

Initial public offering - The first sale of shares to the public, usually by subscription from a group of investment dealers.

Institutional investors - Pension funds and mutual funds, managing money for a large number of individual investors.

Intermedíate rock - An igneous rock containing 52% to 66% quartz.

Intrusive - A body of igneous rock formed by the consolidation of magma intruded into other rocks, in contrast to lavas, which are extruded upon the surface.

Ion exchange - An exchange of ions in a crystal with irons in a solution. Used as a method for recovering valuable metals, such as uranium, from solution.