Mining Glossary

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Deep Mining - The exploitation of coal or mineral deposits at depths exceeding about 3,000 feet. Also known as underground mining.

Dragline - A type of excavating equipment which casts a rope-hung bucket a considerable distance, collects the dug material by pulling the bucket toward itself on the ground with a second rope, elevates the bucket, and dumps the material on a spoil bank, in a hopper, or on a pile.

Dredging - The removal of soils from under water, using the water as a means of transportation to convey the soils to final positions.

Drift - A horizontal underground passage. A drift follows the vein rather than intersect it like a crosscut.

Drill - Any cutting tool or form of apparatus using energy in any one of several forms to produce a circular hole in rock, metal, wood, or other material.

Duckbill - The name given to a shaking-type combination loading and conveying device, so named from the shape of its loading end and which generally receives its motion from the shaking conveyor to which it is attached.