Dear All,
I absolutely concur with 'the two Tony's'; the real time definition of
gangue quite simply refers to any mineral present (metallic or non metallic),
other than the mineral being mined/sought. If any other mineral substance
is present but not wanted the term gangue applies.
In the same vein, should a mine dump be being worked for a specific
mineral, then, again, the term gangue can be applied to any mineral(s) that are
superfluous to the mineral(s) being worked. Should the same dump be worked
yet again for another mineral, again, those other minerals not required are
again gangue.
In other words, and in brief, the word gangue applies to any mineral
substance not wanted at any specific time.
Regards, Bernard
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