THE COMMENTATOR GLOSSARY OF
ANTHRACITE MINING TERMS

D - E - F

D

DAMP:
A general term for gases found in coal mines.

DAVEY:
An early type of safety lamp.

DEADWORK:
Work that is not directly productive of coal, although it may be necessary for maintenance or exploration.    

DETONATOR:
Blasting caps or similar devices used to explode a high explosive.  

DEVELOPMENT:
Work done to open up a deposit for mining.  

DEWATER:
To remove water from a mine.  

DIP:
(a) The lower workings of a mine. (b) To slope downward.

DOCKAGE:
Penalty applied the miner for loading impurities in mine coal.

DOG:
A device which catches, holds or grips to prevent something, such as a mine car, from proceeding in a direction not intended.

DOOR:
A door used underground to direct ventilation.  

DOORTENDER:
A person stationed at a door to open and close same before and after the passage of cars.

DOWNCAST:
The opening through which fresh air is drawn into the mines.

DRAG:
A heavy iron bar attached behind a mine car to prevent its running away.  

DRAW:
To remove pillar coal.

DRAW SLATE:
A slate overlying a bed of coal which tends to fall as the coal is removed.

DRIFT:
A passageway driven in the coal from the surface to the coal seam.

DRILL:
The miner's boring tool.

DRIVER:
One who drives a horse or mule.

DRUMMY:
The condition of loose coal or roof rock that produces a hollow sound when tapped with and hard substance.

DUMP:
A large heap of refuse from a mine or breaker.

 

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E

ENTRY:
A main haulage road.

 

EXPLOSION:
A type of construction which prevents ignition of surrounding gas.

EXAMINATION:"Trip made by an official for the purpose of finding danger.

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F

FACE:
The point at which coal is being mined.

FALL:
A mass of roof rock or coal which has fallen in any part of a mine.

FAN:
A device operated mechanically to ventilate underground workings.

FAULT:
A natural disturbance of the strata causing a breaksafe removal of firedamp.

FEATHER EDGE:
The thin edge of a piece of rock.

FEEDER:
A minute opening in the coal or strata from which gas is expelled, often for a considerable length of time.

FINES:
Very small material produced in breaking up large lumps of coal or in abrasion during screening.

FIRE:
(a) Warning given before a shot is fired. (b) To blast with explosives.

FIRE BOSS:
An underground official who examines a mine or section of a mine for fire damp or other dangers before the men enter the mine. He has charge of the safe removal of fire damp.

FIRECLAY:
A stratum of rock which disintegrates on exposure to air.

FIREDAMP:
A combustible gas found in a mine.

FISHPLATES:
Metal bars used to join rails.

FISSURE:
An extensive crack in the strata.

FLANGE:
A protecting ledge or rim.

FLOOR:
The stratum of rock underlying a coal bed.

FLUME:
An artificial waterway to conduct surface water over broken ground to prevent its entering the workings.

FLUSH:
To fill underground spaces in coal mines with material carried by water.

FOREMAN:
A person having immediate charge of a piece of work.

FOREPOLING:
Small pieces of timber or round poles driven over collars or behind legs of timber sets in advance of the working place to support small pieces of loose rock.

FUSE:
A slow-burning train of powder used in blasting.

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