“Ore and Metals” Publishing House (Moscow, Russia):

Ilin S. A., Mining Consultant of Editorial Board of “Gornyi Zhurnal”, Professor, Doctor of Engineering Sciences, e-mail: gornjournal@rudmet.ru

English terms «mineral» and «deposit» correspond to Russian terms «poleznoe iskopaemoe» and «mestorozhdenie». Both terms are historical, official and widely used in Russian mining scientific and technical literature. The word-for-word interpretation of Russian term «poleznoe iskopaemoe» into English is «useful fossil» («useful dig up»), which is not completely applicable, if we talk about natural gas, because it is not actually “digged”. This article gives the offer to use the term «mineralnyi product» (mineral product) in spite of the term «poleznoe iskopaemoe». It should be noted that English term «mineral» in Russian mining terminology is a physical-chemical body with homogeneous composition and properties (magnetite, sphalerite, apatite etc). The English word-for-word interpretation of more complex Russian term «mestorozhdenie» is «birth place». However, in practice, this term is interpreted as accumulation of mineral substance in nature, suitable for industrial use. This article offers to use more applicable Russian term «zalezh» (bed), which is closer to English term «deposit». This article gives recommendations on stylistic correction of other Russian terms: razrabotka (mining, working, exploitation) and zakladka (stonage).

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