mining shaft
Vertical ore tunnel
A mining shaft is a vertical or steeply inclined passage dug into the earth to access underground mineral deposits.
Shafts serve as the main entry point for miners, equipment, and ventilation, with horizontal tunnels branching off at various depths: The elevator descended the mining shaft to the lowest level.
Also called a mine shaft.
- tunnelEnclosed underground route
- oreMetal-bearing rock
- ore veinMineral deposit in rock
- elevatorVertical conveyance between floors
- going downMoving in downward direction
descent · darkness · coal · minecart · safety lamp · lantern · excavation · depth · underground · cage · hoist · ventilation · gold · gold rush · cave in · collapse · canary · ladder
- underground spacesbasement, cellar, cave, cavern, tunnel
- Gold RushCalifornia Gold Rush, gold flakes, gold nuggets, gold pan, gold panning
- Opal Miningopal, black opal, white opal, fire opal, nobby
mining shaftdrift
Gradual movement, no direction
adit · crosscut · level · gallery · mining tunnel
mining shaftsurface mine
Open-air excavation site
open-pit mine · strip mine · quarry · headframe · pithead
mining, shaft, mine, miners, mines, shafts, shafted, shafting