Illustrated Mining Terms

T

Tail section - A term used in both belt and chain conveyor work to designate that portion of the conveyor at the extreme opposite end from the delivery point. In either type of conveyor it consists of a frame and either a sprocket or a drum on which the chain or belt travels, plus such other devices as may be required for adjusting belt or chain tension.  
Tailings - Material rejected from a mill after the recoverable valuable minerals have been extracted. mine tailings
Tamping - the gentle forcing and compaction of dynamite and stemming into a drill hole.  
Tension - The act of stretching.  
Tertiary - Lateral or panel openings (e.g., ramp, crosscut).

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Thickener - A large round tank in a mill for the separation of solids from a solution, the clear liquid overflowing the tank and the rock particles sink to the bottom.

Through-steel - A system of dust collection from rock or roof drilling. The drill steel is hollow, and a vacuum is applied at the base, pulling the dust through the steel and into a receptacle on the machine.  
Timber - A collective term for underground wooden supports.

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Timbering - The setting of timber supports in mine workings or shafts for protection against falls from roof, face, or rib.

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Timber set - A timber frame to support the roof, sides, and sometimes the floor of mine roadways or shafts.

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Tipple - Originally the place where the mine cars were tipped and emptied of their coal, and still used in that same sense, although now more generally applied to the surface structures of a mine, including the preparation plant and loading tracks.
Ton – A short or net ton is equal to 2,000 pounds; a long or British ton is 2,240 pounds; a metric ton is approximately 2,205 pounds.  
Top - A mine roof; same as "back."  
Torque wrench - A wrench that indicates, as on a dial, the amount of torque (in units of foot-pounds) exerted in tightening a roof bolt.

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Tractor - A battery-operated piece of equipment that pulls trailers, skids, or personnel carriers. Also used for supplies.  
Tram - Used in connection with moving self-propelled mining equipment. A tramming motor may refer to an electric locomotive used for hauling loaded trips or it may refer to the motor in a cutting machine that supplies the power for moving or tramming the machine.

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Transfer - A vertical or inclined connection between two or more levels and used as an ore pass.   
Transfer point - Location in the materials handling system, either haulage or hoisting, where bulk material is transferred between conveyances.  
Trip - A train of mine cars

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Trommel - a revolving screen used in placer mining.

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Troughing idlers - The idlers, located on the upper framework of a belt conveyor, which support the loaded belt. They are so mounted that the loaded belt forms a trough in the direction of travel, which reduces spillage and increases the carrying capacity of a belt for a given width.  
Tugger Hoist - a small air-operated hoist often used underground for hoisting timber and other mine supplies.

Tunnel - A horizontal, or near-horizontal, underground passage, entry, or haulageway, that is open to the surface at both ends. A tunnel (as opposed to an adit) must pass completely through a hill or mountain.

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