Foreword

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This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 82, Mining, Subcommittee SC 7, Sustainable mining and mine closure.

This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition ( ISO 20305:2020 ), which has been technically revised.

The main changes are as follows:

inclusion of concept diagrams within Annex A;
inclusion of thematic headings;
inclusion of concepts relevant to ISO 21795 (series) and ISO 24419 (series) ;
major revision of concept system for mine closure processes;
minor revisions of all concept systems and definitions to improve alignment with ISO terminological requirements;
improved harmonisation of definitions;
removal of mine closure activity concept system and general language terms not considered unique to subject field;
refraining of mine closure strategy concept system as mine closure process concept system.

Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.

Introduction

This vocabulary has been prepared to support the application of concepts presented within mine closure and reclamation standards, as well as to facilitate effective communication within the subject field of mine closure and reclamation.

Identified concepts were assessed and filtered based on the following criteria:

the concept is used within, and considered critical to, ISO mine closure and reclamation standards or documentation either existing or being prepared;
the concept is sufficiently important to avoid misunderstanding or ambiguity, such as where an alternative or conflicting definition exists or is in common use;
the concept is required to achieve a common understanding within the field of mine closure and reclamation, including amongst non-experts.

In selecting concepts for inclusion within this standard every effort has been made to avoid:

general concepts used across, and common to, subject fields other than mine closure and reclamation;
use of a single term for multiple concepts or multiple terms for a single concept;
contradictions occurring in terminological entries in other standards prepared under TC 82.

Where a concept was identified within the ISO Online Browsing Platform the definition was reviewed and adopted, if applicable in the mine closure and reclamation context. Definitions presented in publicly available and relevant documents were also reviewed and included where appropriate.

Where concepts have been defined within a specific mine closure and reclamation standard or jurisdictional statute that definition will supersede any term or definition presented within this document.

Concepts on mine closure and reclamation management have been classified into the following thematic headings:

mine closure phase;
mine closure process;
mine status;
mine closure governance;
legal and other obligations;
land use;
mine closure outcome;
mine feature;
mine material;
mine closure risk;
mine closure treatment;
mine closure cost.

This document is not intended to present a comprehensive list of all terms or concepts utilized within mine closure and reclamation.

1 Scope

This document establishes a vocabulary for mine closure and reclamation management.

2 Normative references

3 Terms and definitions

3.1 Terms related to the phase during which mine closure processes are undertaken (see Figure A.1)

3.2 Terms related to the process of mine closure (see Figure A.2)

3.3 Terms related to the status of mine closure (see Figure A.3)

3.4 Terms related to the management of mine closure (see Figure A.4)

3.5 Terms related to legal and other obligations (see Figure A.5)

3.6 Terms related to the use of land associated with mining and mine closure (see Figure A.6)

3.7 Terms related to mine closure outcomes (see Figure A.7)

3.8 Terms related to mine features (see Figure A.8)

3.9 Terms related to mined materials (see Figure A.9)

3.10 Terms related to the management and assessment of mine closure risk (see Figure A.10)

3.11 Terms related to the specific mine closure risks (see Figure A.11)

3.12 Terms related to treatments used in mine closure to address risk (see Figure A.12)

3.13 Terms related to mine closure cost (see Figure A.13)

Bibliography

ISO 20305:2026

Mine closure and reclamation. Vocabulary

Current

Published:

21 Apr 2026

1 Scope