trogue
A wooden trough forming a drain.
trogue: wooden drainage channel in mine workings
A trogue is a simple wooden trough, typically V-shaped or half-round in cross-section, used to channel water away from active mine workings. Cut from timber or constructed from planks, it serves as a drain for seepage, groundwater, and water generated by mining operations. In underground mines, trogues direct this flow toward sumps or main drainage adits, preventing water accumulation that would flood the working face or damage equipment.
The dimensions vary by location and water volume. A common trogue might measure 150 to 300 millimetres across and run for tens of metres along the mine floor, following the slope of the working. The slope is critical: typically 1 in 20 or steeper to maintain flow velocity and prevent sediment settling. The wood must be durable enough to withstand constant water exposure and occasional impact from mining tools or ore wagons.
Construction and placement
Traditional trogues were hewn from a single log, split lengthwise, or built by nailing planks together in a V-form. They sit directly on the mine floor or are supported on wooden blocks to maintain gradient. In working areas, they are often laid parallel to the direction of ore removal, sometimes running through the centre of a drift or roadway where water naturally collects. Where space is tight, they may be pinned to the side wall or even suspended overhead.
The term remains in use among older mine workers and in heritage mining documentation, though modern operations favour concrete or plastic channels for better durability and easier maintenance. However, in remote or artisanal mining contexts, wooden trogues are still constructed and repaired on site using local timber, making them cost-effective and quick to install when a working face shifts or drainage patterns change.
Blocked or damaged trogues cause serious problems: water backs up into the working face, creating muddy, unstable ground, slowing extraction and increasing accident risk. Inspection and clearance of silt and debris is therefore routine maintenance in mines relying on trogue drainage systems.