ISO 22932-2:2020

Overview

ISO 22932-2:2020 - Mining - Vocabulary - Part 2: Geology is the ISO vocabulary standard that specifies geologic terms commonly used in mining. Published as the first edition in June 2020, this document standardizes terminology that has a specific meaning in mining practice to reduce ambiguity and multiple synonyms across the global mining industry. The document contains definitions covering surface and subsurface geology, mineralogical and petrological concepts, and allied earth‑science disciplines relevant to mining.

Key topics

The standard organizes geologic vocabulary into focused sections, including:

• General terms (e.g., bedrock, geology, mining geology, seam, soil)
• Physical geology, petrology, and mineralogy
• Structural geology and tectonics and related mapping terms
• Geomorphology, topography, and surface/subsurface geology
• Geochemistry, geophysics, geohydrology, and hydrology
• Economic geology and soils

Technical characteristics:

• Provides clear, standardized definitions for terms used in mining geology and exploration.
• Includes only those terms with specific meanings in mining practice.
• Contains no normative references (as stated in the document).

Practical applications

ISO 22932-2:2020 is a practical tool for improving clarity and consistency in mined‑earth‑resource work:

• Standardizes terminology used in geological reports, resource estimates, exploration logs, and technical publications.
• Improves interoperability of geological data across teams, GIS systems, databases, and international projects.
• Supports drafting unambiguous contract specifications, regulatory submissions, and environmental impact assessments.
• Aids training and education by providing an authoritative reference for mining geology vocabulary.
• Helps translators, technical writers, and multinational project teams align terminology in multi‑lingual documentation.

Who uses this standard

• Mining geologists and exploration professionals
• Mining engineers and resource modellers
• Environmental and hydrogeology consultants
• GIS and data management teams handling geological datasets
• Regulators, auditors, technical authors, and educators in mining and earth sciences

Related standards and resources

• ISO 22932 series (other parts in the series cover additional mining vocabulary)
• Prepared by ISO/TC 82 (Mining); available via the ISO Online Browsing Platform (OBP) for authoritative access.

Using ISO 22932-2:2020 helps organizations and professionals in the mining sector maintain precise, consistent geological language - improving communication, data quality, and regulatory compliance across international projects.