A distinct band or lens of high-grade mineralization that runs through a wider vein or placer deposit. Miners track this specific zone because it contains the bulk of the economic value, while the surrounding material might be barren or sub-economic. In underground operations, extraction plans are specifically designed to follow this enriched horizon to maximize profitability.
Heard on the job
The vein is three meters wide here, but the paystreak is only a narrow band right against the footwall.
Do not mix it up with
- Pay dirt: Pay dirt refers to any excavated earth that is profitable to process, while a paystreak is the specific geological band where the high-grade ore is concentrated.