Mining Translation Glossary for Ecuador

Estudio de Impacto Ambiental (EsIA)

Environmental Impact Study (EIS)

A baseline environmental study that identifies, predicts, and evaluates the potential environmental effects of a proposed mining or energy project before construction.

Example: The company submitted the EsIA to the Ministerio del Ambiente for review of the open-pit copper project.

Evaluación de Impacto Ambiental y Social (EIAS)

Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA)

An expanded impact assessment that includes both biophysical and social components, often required by lenders such as the IFC, World Bank, or commercial banks for project financing.

Example: Lenders required an EIAS that covered biodiversity, water, indigenous communities, and grievance mechanisms.

Plan de Manejo Ambiental (PMA)

Environmental Management Plan (EMP)

The operational document that defines how the project will prevent, control, mitigate, and compensate environmental and social impacts identified in the EsIA or EIAS.

Example: The PMA included monitoring frequency, responsible parties, and corrective action triggers for each impact.

Línea base

Baseline (environmental or social)

The pre-project environmental and social conditions used as the reference point for measuring change over the life of the project.

Example: The water-quality baseline was established during the dry season across 18 monitoring points.

Consulta previa, libre e informada

Free, prior, and informed consultation (FPIC)

A process of meaningful consultation with affected communities, particularly indigenous and tribal peoples, prior to project approval.

Example: FPIC protocols were followed for the four communities located within the project's area of direct influence.

Área de influencia directa

Area of direct influence (ADI)

The geographic area where project activities are expected to cause measurable environmental or social impacts.

Example: The ADI was defined as a 2 km buffer around the pit, plant, and tailings facility.

Hidrogeología

Hydrogeology

The study of the distribution, movement, and quality of groundwater in relation to geology, used in baseline studies, water-supply design, and pit dewatering.

Example: The hidrogeología model predicts seasonal drawdown of 8 to 12 meters in the alluvial aquifer.

Concesión minera

Mining concession

A government-granted right to explore or exploit mineral resources within a defined polygon, issued by Ecuador's mining authority under the Código de Minería.

Example: The company holds three adjoining concesiones mineras covering 12,400 hectares.

Permiso ambiental

Environmental permit

The administrative authorization issued after review of the EsIA that allows the project to begin construction or operation, subject to conditions.

Example: The permiso ambiental was granted with 38 conditions related to water, air, and community reporting.

Licencia de explotación

Operating license (exploitation)

The license that authorizes a mining company to begin extraction, processing, and sale of minerals at a commercial scale.

Example: The licencia de explotación was issued for an initial 20-year term, renewable upon compliance review.

Catastro minero

Mining cadastre

The public registry of mining concessions, applications, and free areas administered by Ecuador's mining authority.

Example: A catastro minero review confirmed that no overlapping concessions existed in the area of interest.

Declaración de Impacto Ambiental (DIA)

Environmental Impact Declaration

A simplified environmental study used for lower-impact activities, with reduced content compared to a full EsIA.

Example: A DIA was prepared for the exploration road upgrade, as the disturbance was under the threshold for a full EsIA.

Formación geológica

Geological formation

A mappable rock unit with consistent lithology and age used in regional and project-scale geological models.

Example: Mineralization is hosted in the Cretaceous formation extending across the central portion of the concession.

Mena

Ore

Rock containing valuable minerals at a grade and tonnage that make extraction economically viable.

Example: Reserves are defined within the mena zone at a cut-off grade of 0.4% copper.

Ganga

Waste rock / gangue

Rock of insufficient grade to be processed as ore, typically stored in designated facilities on the mine site.

Example: Ganga is transported by haul truck to the botadero de estéril located 3 km from the pit.

Recursos minerales

Mineral resources

A concentration of minerals in such form and quantity that there are reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction, classified as measured, indicated, or inferred.

Example: Total recursos minerales are estimated at 145 Mt at 0.62 g/t gold, inclusive of reserves.

Reservas minerales

Mineral reserves

The economically mineable portion of a measured or indicated resource, after consideration of mining, processing, metallurgical, economic, and other modifying factors.

Example: Probadas y probables reservas total 78 Mt containing 1.5 Moz of gold.

Sondaje / perforación

Drill hole / drilling

A borehole advanced for the purpose of obtaining geological information, collecting samples, or defining the geometry of a mineralized body.

Example: Phase 2 drilling included 42 diamond drill holes totaling 14,500 meters.

Ley de corte

Cut-off grade

The minimum metal content at which material is classified as ore and routed to processing, used to define reserves and mine planning.

Example: A cut-off grade of 0.3% Cu was applied to the open-pit optimization.

Estudio de factibilidad

Feasibility study

A comprehensive technical and economic study at a level of detail sufficient to support a decision to mine, typically used to secure project financing.

Example: The feasibility study confirms an after-tax IRR of 22% at long-term consensus prices.

Lixiviación

Leaching

A process of extracting a soluble metal from ore by percolating a chemical solution, commonly cyanide (gold) or sulfuric acid (copper oxide), through stacked or crushed material.

Example: Run-of-mine ore is processed by heap lixiviación with a 30-day cycle.

Botadero de estéril / botadero de desmontes

Waste rock dump / waste storage facility

An engineered facility used for the permanent storage of waste rock generated by mining activities, designed to meet geotechnical and water-management standards.

Example: The botadero is designed to store 240 Mt of waste over the life of the mine.

Relaves / tranque de relaves

Tailings / tailings storage facility (TSF)

The fine-grained material remaining after ore is processed, typically stored in an impoundment designed for water recovery, stability, and long-term closure.

Example: Filtered tailings are stacked in the tranque de relaves using the downstream construction method.

Planta de beneficio / planta de procesamiento

Processing plant / beneficiation plant

The facility where ore is crushed, ground, and treated to recover valuable minerals, producing a concentrate or bullion for sale.

Example: The planta de procesamiento has a nameplate capacity of 35,000 tonnes per day.

Monitoreo ambiental

Environmental monitoring

The systematic collection of physical, chemical, biological, and social data to verify compliance with permit conditions, the PMA, and community commitments.

Example: Quarterly monitoreo ambiental reports are submitted to the authority and shared with the local community.

Cumplimiento ambiental

Environmental compliance

Adherence to applicable environmental laws, regulations, permit conditions, and voluntary commitments identified in the PMA or EIAS.

Example: An independent audit confirmed full cumplimiento ambiental with all 38 permit conditions.

Auditoría ambiental

Environmental audit

A documented review of project activities and performance against the approved PMA, permit conditions, and applicable regulations, typically required annually or biannually.

Example: The auditoria ambiental de cumplimiento was performed by an independent consultancy accredited with the authority.

Plan de cierre / cierre de mina

Mine closure plan

A detailed plan covering decommissioning, dismantling, site rehabilitation, post-closure monitoring, and financial assurance, submitted as part of the EsIA and updated through the life of the mine.

Example: The plan de cierre includes progressive rehabilitation of the botadero and tranque as well as community livelihood programs.

Pasivo ambiental

Environmental liability / legacy site

A site with historic or ongoing contamination, abandonment, or unmanaged impacts for which a party may hold remediation responsibility.

Example: The transaction included a due diligence review of three pasivos ambientales adjacent to the concession.

Material particulado (PM10, PM2.5)

Particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5)

Solid or liquid particles suspended in air, monitored at the mine boundary to demonstrate compliance with air quality standards.

Example: PM10 concentrations at the northern boundary remained below 80 µg/m³ during the dry season.