boart

Boart is a term used in mining and geology with several related meanings, primarily as a descriptor for low-grade or impure rock or ore. In ore dressing and prospecting, boart generally refers to rock material that surrounds a vein or ore body and contains little to no economically valuable minerals. In some regional usages, boart denotes a coarse, impure form of ore that has been considered not worth processing, or a mixture (gangue) in which only trace amounts of valuable minerals occur. Because the term is historical and informal, its exact definition can vary by country and period, and it is less common in modern technical reporting where terms like low-grade ore or tailings are preferred.

In addition to its geological sense, the word Boart appears in the mining industry as part of company branding. Boart Longyear is a global company known for manufacturing drilling equipment and providing mineral exploration services. The company name reflects the historical association of the term boart with mining culture, though contemporary usage is primarily corporate branding rather than a standardized mineralogical term.

The term’s usage today is largely archival or regional, and modern reports often favor more precise terminology to describe ore quality and waste material. See also ore grade, gangue, tailings, drilling.