THE COMMENTATOR GLOSSARY OF
ANTHRACITE MINING TERMS

S - T - U

S

SADDLE:
An irregular or conical piece of roof rock with a smooth back insecurely attached to adjacent strata.

SAFETY CATCHES:
Devices to prevent a shaft cage from falling in case the cable breaks.

SAFETY GATE:
An automatically operated gate at the top of a shaft to prevent anyone from falling into the shaft.

SAFETY LAMP:
A lamp used for detecting inflammable gas. When properly used, it cannot ignite the gas.

SCRAPER:
(a) A tool for cleaning dust out ofa drilled hole. (b) A device shaped like a snowplow pulled with the wide end foremost in mechanical loading, sometimes called the scoop.

SEAM:
A stratum or bed of coal.

SECOND MINER:
In large mining operations, the man who actually drills and fires the coal.

SECOND MINING:
To mine out pillar coal in the direction of the mine opening.

SECOND OPENING:
An emergency exit from the mines to the surface.

SECTION:
(a) A division of the mine workings. (b) Detailed measurement of a coal seam taken vertically. (c) A diagonal passage driven through a coal pillar to expedite transportation.

SET:
A set of timber, two legs and a collar.

SHAFT:
A vertical opening through the measures for transportation of men and coal, the passage of air or the discharge of water.

SHAKER CHUTE:
Metal troughs shaken mechanically, for loading coal into mine cars.

SHEARING:
The act of cutting a vertical groove in the coal face.

SHIFT:
(a)The length of time a workman works in one day. (b)A gang of men working in one period. (c) To change one's clothes.

SHOOT:
To dislodge coal or rock by use of explosives.

SHOOTING-OFF-THE-SOLID:
To blast out the coal without first undermining or shearing it.

SHOT:
The blast or explosion of a charge.

SIGHTS:
Weighted string hung from two points in the roof to give direction to men driving a place.

SIPHON:
A U-shaped pipe used to convey water over an obstruction from a higher to a lower point.

SKIN-TO-SKIN:
Timber sets placed as closely together as is practicable.

SINK:
To drive a shaft or slope.

SKIP:
The removal of a portion of a pillar of coal along its entire length. Also, a large car or bucket used in steep slopes or shafts for hoisting to the surface.

SLAB:
Refuse overlying a vein which must be mined with the vein.

SLATE:
Breaker refuse.

SLIP:
A cleavage in the roof or coal.

SLOPE:
A steep transportation road up which loaded cars are hoisted.

SLUSH:
To fill mine workings with sand, culm etc., by hydraulic methods. Also "flush".

SMOOTH:
The natural separation between benches of coal.

SOLID:
Coal that has not yet been mined.

SOUNDING:
the act of striking the roof with a metal testing bar to ascertain whether or not it is safe.

SPLIT:
(a) A division of a ventilating current. (b) The division of a bed of coal into two or more seams by thickening rock strata. (c) To divide a pillar by driving a place through it.

SPRAG:
A short round piece of hardwood, pointed at both ends, to be inserted between the spokes of a mine car wheel to retard motion.

SQUEEZE:
The slow sagging or upheaval of floor or roof.

SQUIB:
A paper cylinder containing a small amount of gunpowder and a slow-burning fuse, used to detonate explosive charges. Rarely used today.

STATION:
A point on the roof or floor of a mine, the location of which is definitely known. Station are number for identification.

STEMMING:
Material used to tamp an explosive charge.

STRINGER:
In timbering, a collar which supports the end of one or more collars.

STRIP:
To mine a deposit by first taking off the overlying burden.

STUMP:
Any small pillar.

SUMP:
A reservoir in the mines for the collection of water, from which it is pumped.

SWAMP:
A local depression in a coal bed.

SYSTEMIC TIMBERING:
Placing mine timbers according to a predetermined plan.

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T

TAIL-ROPE HAULAGE:
Haulage where one rope, the main rope, is attached to the front end of a train of cars and another rope, the tail rope, is attached to the rear end. Operated by hoisting engine and tow separate drums.

TAMPING:
To tightly pack a drilled hole with moist, loose material after the charge has been placed.

TAMPING STICK:
A wooden rod used in tamping explosives.

TAP:
To drive one passageway into another.

TIE PLATE:
A metal plate used under rails where they rest on ties.

TIE FORK:
A forked bar placed on top of the rail and underneath the tie to hold the tie in place for spiking, commonly known as a "devil".

TIMBER:
Any of the wooden props, posts, bars, collars, lagging, etc., used to support mine roof or sides.

TIMBERMAN:
A man employed by the company for the purpose of handling props or timber.

TIPPLE OR TIP:
The place at which loaded mine cars are dumped.

TOPPING:
The coal on a mine car above the top of the car sides.

TRACKMAN OR TRACKLAYER:
A man employed by the company to lay and repair track.

TRANSPORATION:
The movement of coal or supplies in or about the mines.

TRAP DOOR:
A small door left in walls to give access to old working or air courses.

TRIP:

A train of mine cars.

TUNNEL:
An opening driven horizontally or nearly so through rock.

 

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U

UNDERCUT:
To undermine the coal so as to increase the effect of explosives.

UNDERCUTTER:
An electrically driven machine used to make an undercut.

UPCAST:
The shaft or opening through which the return air current is carried to the surface.

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