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assay value

a. The quantity of an ore's valuable constituents, determined by
multiplying its assay grade or percentage of valuable constituents by its
dimensions. CF:assay inch; assay foot. The figure for precious metals
is generally given in troy ounces per ton of ore, or per assay ton.
See also:assay grade; value. AGI
b. The monetary value of an orebody, calculated by multiplying the
quantity of its valuable constituents by the market price.
Syn:average assay value

assay walls

The outer limits to which an orebody can be profitably mined, the limiting
factor being the metal content of the country rock as determined from
assays. Hess

assembled stone

Any stone constructed of two or more parts of gem materials, whether
genuine, synthetic, imitation, or a combination thereof; e.g., a doublet
or triplet. Syn:composite stone; imitation.

assembly rod

An external bolt holding a machine together. Nichols, 1

assessment

See:assessment work

assessment drilling

Drilling done to fulfill the requirement that a prescribed amount of work
be done annually on an unpatented mining claim to retain title.
Long

assessment labor

Refers to the annual labor required of the locator of a mining claim after
discovery (and not to work done before discovery). Ricketts

assessment work

The annual work upon an unpatented mining claim on the public domain
necessary under U.S. law for the maintenance of the possessory title
thereto. This work must be done each year if the claim is to be held
without patenting. Syn:assessment; location work. Lewis

asset

Property with cash sale value. In mining, the dominant asset is the proved
ore reserve. Pryor, 3

assigned protection factor

a. The expected workplace level of respiratory protection that would be
provided by a properly functioning respirator or a class of respirators to
properly fitted and trained users. Abbrev. APF. ANSI
b. The minimum anticipated protection provided by a properly functioning
respirator or class of respirators to a given percentage of properly
fitted and trained users. NIOSH

assimilation

The incorporation and digestion of solid or fluid foreign material, such
as wall rock, in magma. The term implies no specific mechanisms or
results. Such a magma, or the rock it produces, may be called hybrid or
contaminated. See also:hybridization
Syn:magmatic assimilation; magmatic dissolution. AGI

assistant mine foreman

A person employed to assist the mine foreman in the performance of his or
her duties and to serve in his or her place, in the absence of the mine
foreman.

Assmann psychrometer

A wet-and-dry-bulb hygrometer in which air is drawn over the thermometer
bulbs by an integral fan. BS, 8

association

See:rock association

association placer location

A placer location made by an association of persons in one location
covering 160 acres (64 ha) is not eight locations covering 20 acres (8 ha)
each. It is in law a single location, and as such a single discovery is
sufficient to support such a location; the only assessment work required
is as for a single claim. Ricketts

assured mineral

See:reserves

astatic

Not taking a fixed or definite position or direction; as an instrument in
which a negative restoring force has been applied so as to aid any
deflecting force, thereby rendering the instrument more sensitive and/or
less stable. AGI

astatic gravimeter

A gravity meter or gravimeter constructed so that a high sensitivity is
achieved at certain positions of the elements of the system; i.e.,
equilibrium between a negative restoring force and the force of gravity at
such positions. See also:gravimeter

astatic pendulum

A pendulum having almost no tendency to take a definite position of
equilibrium. AGI

astatization

The application of a restoring force to a moving element of a physical
system in such a manner as to drive the moving element away from its rest
position and to aid any deflecting force, so as to increase sensitivity.
AGI

asteria

Any gemstone that, when cut en cabochon in the correct crystallographic
direction, displays a rayed figure (a star) by either reflected or
transmitted light; e.g., star sapphire. Syn:star stone
See also:star sapphire