Costeaning is the process by which miners seek to discover metallic
lode
In geology, a lode is a deposit of metalliferous ore that fills or is embedded in a fracture (or crack) in a rock formation or a vein of ore that is deposited or embedded between layers of rock. The current meaning (ore vein) dates from th ...
s. It consists in sinking small pits through the superficial deposits to the solid rock, and then driving from one pit to another across the direction of the
vein
Veins () are blood vessels in the circulatory system of humans and most other animals that carry blood towards the heart. Most veins carry deoxygenated blood from the tissues back to the heart; exceptions are those of the pulmonary and feta ...
, in such manner as to cross all the veins between the two pits.
In the
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory (abbreviated as NT; known formally as the Northern Territory of Australia and informally as the Territory) is an states and territories of Australia, Australian internal territory in the central and central-northern regi ...
of
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...
, costeans are required to be excavated in a way which reduces disturbance to the environment.
[https://nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0013/203332/aa7-006-construction-and-rehabilitation-of-costeans-and-bulk-sample-pits-advisory-note.pdf ]
References
Surface mining
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