u3o8geo Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> "Tailings" generally refers to the waste products
> from mills [except for dredge tailings which are
> the discarded coarse material from dredges].
> "Dump" material is normally unmineralized "raw"
> rock from an open pit or underground mine.
> Further, mineralized rock and ore being stored for
> future processing on the surface is stored in
> "stockpiles".
>
> Not asked, but perhaps interesting is the mining
> definition of "tunnel" which is an excavation that
> has both an entrance and exit [although there are
> some notable exceptions such as the Sutro Tunnel
> that drained some of the deep mines at Virginia
> City, Nevada]. "Adit" on the other hand is an
> excavation that goes into a hill or mountain - in
> other words almost all of the underground mines
> that do not have shaft access are, in fact
> "adits"
>
> Sometimes mining terminology conflicts with the
> common use of the English language.
>
> Ted Wilton
> u3o8geo
You are correct, Ted. I suppose since the Sutro went from outside to a group of mine properties, they may have thought "tunnel," I had wondered that for along time. On the Georgetown Loop, the passing siding is at "Hall Tunnel" .... another case of outside to a group of mine workings on the other side. Also, in both cases they were used for haulage from the mines above .....
There is a big difference between coal mine and metal (hardrock) mining terminology, also. A drift in a coal mine is called an "Entry;" Ribs in a hardrock mine are "walls" in a coal mine; "Back" is "Roof" in coal, etc. I won't even get into names for gasses with names like "Black Damp," "Fire Damp," "Stink Damp," and so on in coal. (Damp is a name for gas.)
Probably a subject for a mining group instead of railroads.
Skip Luke
Switchman (ret): Grand Canyon Railway;
Engineer (ret): Georgetown Loop RR Inc., Sumpter Valley Ry., Monticello & Sangamon Valley;
Dispatcher(ret): Illinois Central, White Pass & Yukon, Burlington Northern Ry.
Mariner, Musician, Miner
