Mining Lingo

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Mountain mining lingo in Mule’s Trail and surroundings:

Adit - A horizontal tunnel, as opposed to a vertical shaft, that connects the underground workings of a mine with the surface.

Black Maria - A wagon covered in black canvas used as ambulance and hearse. The sight of it coming through town would have wives and mothers of miners watching from their doors hoping the Black Maria would pass on by silently praying to the heavens it did not bring her husband or son.

Blackpowder – An explosive powdered substance used in blast mining.

Bonanza – A mine is said to be ‘en bonanza’ when it is yielding a profit. A Gnomish term meaning ‘good-luck’.

Break-Through – Mining too deep risks entering the deadly cavernous underworld of Loerdzhim. An area where this occurs is known as a ‘break-through.’

Cackler – A miner who lets others do the heavy work.

Collar – The structure around the top of a mineshaft where it breaks the surface.

Cnapan – A game played between neighbouring mines, usually involving the majority of the mine-workers of the two participating mines. The object of the game is to take the wooden, fist-sized ball into the mouth of your team’s main mineshaft.

Diggings - A name given by miners to an active site of excavation within a mine complex.

Drum Hoist – A winching mechanism that is operated by winding rope or chain around a drum to raise or lower a weight.

Dry Box – A designated area within a mine, performing the role of break-room, mess room, washroom, and changing room. Miners would find themselves here before or at the end of a shift.

Geode – A usually roughly circular cavity within a layer of rock that is studded around with crystals or mineral matter. Also a rounded stone containing such a cavity.

Glory Hole - A mine that is richly loaded with precious minerals or ore.

Grubstake – Financial support or, more usually supplies of food, or tools, etc. Provided to a prospector by a benefactor on the promise of a share in any discoveries he makes.

Headgear – The structural frame above a mine shaft Collar containing a winching mechanism to raise and lower a platform within the shaft below.

Lander – The foreman at a mineshaft top responsible for operating the winches and winding apparatus.

Lode – A valuable mineral deposit locked within rock.

Loerdzhim – An inhospitable region deep below the surface of the world. The very atmosphere is as dangerous to surface dwellers as the creatures that inhabit this subterranean ‘hell’. See Loerdzhim and Loerdzhim poisoning.

Loerdzhim Poisoning – To surface dwellers simply breathing the atmosphere of Loerdzhim is fatal. The symptoms are visible, physically rapid aging. The sufferer effectively expires of old age within days, weeks, or possibly months. See Loerdzhim and Loerdzhim poisoning.

Loerdzhim-Copper Vein – A condition that has been known to afflict miners in Mule’s Trail. Related to ‘Loerdzhim poisoning’, this condition is much less terminal.

Lucky Strike – A favourable turn of events, usually unexpected.

Nine Bells – A warning signal to alert surface workers to an incident in the mines below ground.

Powder Monkey – A miner trained in the use of Blackpowder and other explosives.

Pyrite – Also known as ‘fool’s gold’ due to its similar appearance to gold, but drastically lower value.

Scoope - An underground space left by excavating mineral deposits. Scooping is effective when the surrounding rock is strong enough to keep from caving without artificial support. However, pillars of rock are often left at strategic points to support the rock ceiling.

Spitting the Round – A series of fuses each connected to explosive cases (Usually containing Blackpowder) is known as ‘The Round’. Each fuse in the round is lit in quick succession for a series of controlled and concentrated explosions. Lighting these fuses is referred to as ‘Spitting the Round’.

Tapping it/her light – Taking it easy or relaxing.

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