collaring
A piece of wood or iron for securing the pumps in a mineshaft.
Mining and extraction
350 entries in this trade.
color
Gold, particles of gold found when prospecting.
comminution
The breaking or grinding up of a material to form smaller particles.
concentrator
An apparatus for the separation of dry comminuted ore, by exposing it to intermittent puffs of air.
contact
The plane between two adjacent bodies of dissimilar rock.
corf
A large basket, especially as used for coal.
corporal
A worker in charge of the wagonway, reporting to the deputy.
corver
A person who makes corves, or coal baskets.
costean
A trench in solid rock intersected by pits which reveals mineral veins.
costeaning
A process for discovering metallic lodes by sinking small pits through the superficial deposits to the solid rock, and then driving from one pit to another across the direction of the vein, so as to cross all the veins between the two pits.
country
The rock through which a vein of ore or coal runs.
country rock
Rock that surrounds reefs or lodes of mined minerals, forming the walls and floors of quarries, or through which mine tunnels are driven.
cow
A chock: a wedge or brake used to stop a machine or car.
craneman
A boy employed to hoist the corves of coals on to the rolleys with the crane.
craunch
A portion of a stratum or vein left in excavating to support the roof.
crop
An outcrop of a vein or seam at the surface.
cropping
An outcrop that is mined for the ore it contains.
cross-course
A vein or lode that crosses the main lode, sometimes accompanied by a change of course in the main lode.
crosscut
A tunnel or level driven across the course of a vein, or across the main workings, as from one gangway to another through the country rock.
crossheading
A narrow opening for ventilation driven through coal or rock, separating the two passages.
crutter
A worker who drills blasting holes, prepares the explosive charge, and removes blasted rock.
dan
A small truck or sledge used in coal mines.
Davy lamp
A miners' lamp or safety lamp used in coal mines to prevent explosions.
dead ground
the portion of a vein in which there is no ore
deads
The substances that enclose the ore on every side.
depletion
gradual expense or use of natural resources over time.
depressant
An agent that inhibits the flotation of a mineral or minerals.
deputy
A person employed to install and remove props, brattices, etc. and to clear gas, for the safety of the miners.
dibhole
The lowest part of a mine, into which the water drains.
dig
To take ore from its bed, in distinction from making excavations in search of ore.
dirt
In placer mining, earth, gravel, etc., before washing.
district
A specific, usually named area of the coalface where particular seams are worked.
dog-belt
A broad leather belt worn around the waist for drawing dans or sledges in a mine.
dook
A heading or roadway following the dip of the strata.
downcast
A ventilating shaft down which air passes in circulating through a mine.
dram
A cart formerly used to haul coal in coal mines.
drawer
A wagoner or person who pushes underground tubs.
drift
A passage driven or cut between shaft and shaft; a driftway; a small subterranean gallery.
drift mine
Any mine reached by a drift (horizontal or inclined passage) from the surface.
drifter
A person employed in driving in rock other than coal.
driftway
A drift, or horizontal passage in a mine.
drive unit
A mechanical system that provides the reciprocating motion for shaker conveyors, which transport ore or coal along underground trough lines.
dropper
A branch vein which drops off from, or leaves, the main lode.
dry blower
A machine that uses an air blower to blow away light fines to concentrate heavy fines and larger bits, from pay dirt. This concentrate can then go through further refinement.
Dudley
A miner's container for water for drinking.
dyke
A fissure in a rock stratum filled with intrusive rock; a fault.
elvan
The rock of an elvan vein, or the vein itself.
endogangue
Gangue that is located inside phosphatic grains.
exogangue
Gangue that is located outside phosphatic grains.
facework
Work done at the face, such as the coalface.
fang
A channel cut or pipe set for the purpose of carrying fresh air to working miners.
fanhouse
The building housing a fan that ventilates a mine.
farmee
A legal entity that contracts part of a mining or oil lease from a farmor in exchange for services.
farmer
The lord of the field, or one who farms the lot and cope of the crown.
farmor
An owner of oil or gas leases that exchanges part of them to a farmee for services.
fathomage
The amount of money paid to a miner based on fathoms of material worked.
fault
A point at which something is divided, interrupted, or disconnected.
fell
The finer portions of ore, which go through the meshes when the ore is sorted by sifting.
fettler
An ostler; one who looks after the horses in a mine.
fire damper
A mine worker who detects and clears a mineshaft of firedamp by intentionally burning or blowing it up.