| After-Damp |
The atmosphere produced by an explosion of gas in
a mine, consisting of carbonic acid, nitrogen and steam. |
| Air-Box |
Wooden tubes for conveying fresh air to
workings. |
| Air-Doors |
Doors for regulating air currents. |
| Attle |
Waste rock. |
| Backing Deals |
Planks placed vertically behind the curbs in a
shaft to hold back loose fragments. |
| Backs |
The unworked portion of a vein above a
level. |
| Banksman |
The man who receives the tubs of coal at the top
of the shaft. |
| Bonnet |
Covering to a cage to protect from falling
debris. |
| Buntons |
Timber placed horizontally across a shaft. |
| Butty |
Name given to a fellow mine worker. |
| Cages |
The conveyances consisting of platforms with
frameworks used for transporting men and material up and down the shafts. |
| Carters |
Children who hauled carts or wagons
underground. |
| Chain and Girdle |
Harness used to haul trams or sledges. |
| Chocks |
Stacks of pieces of timber laid horizontally with
the alternate layer at right angles |
| Corves |
Small wagons used for the conveyance of
material. |
| Crib |
Framing timber in a shaft |
| Crowntree |
A piece of timber set on props to support the
roof. |
| Curbs |
Frames employed as foundations for walling in a
shaft |
| District |
Area of a coal seam isolated by means of a
barriers of untouched coal to ensure safer working conditions |
| Downcast |
The shaft through which the downward current of
air passes into a mine |
| Dragger |
Labourers who drew the coal to the surface by
means of a winch. Early days the work would usually be undertaken by women and
young girls. |
| Dram |
Small mine car or truck. |
| Drift |
Horizontal passage underground. |
| Driving |
Excavating drifts. |
| Face |
The exposed surface of coal in a working. |
| Fireman |
An offical who tests for gas underground |
| Gad |
A pointed wedge |
| Heading |
Tunnel connecting haulage tunnels or work
places. |
| Holing |
Making the horizontal cut in a seam |
| Levels |
Drifts driven along a vein of coal |
| Man-Engine |
An appliance used for raising and lowering men in
shafts |
| Mandrill |
Pickaxe |
| Pit |
A shaft |
| Safety Lamp |
A lamp in which dangerous contact between the
external atmosphere and a naked flame is prevented |
| Seam |
A sheet-like deposit of coal |
| Shaft |
A deep pit sunk from the surface |
| Sprags |
Short props of timber |
| Stowing |
Filling a place with waste |
| Stythe |
Carbonic acid gas |
| Sump |
The lowest part of the shaft |
| Timbering |
Fixing timbers to keep excavations free from
obstructio by falling debris |
| Winding Engine |
An engine used for drawing material up a
shaft |
| |
|
| |
|
GloGlossary of Terms Used in the Mining
Industry