Highwall

highwall = a remotely controlled mining method which extracts minerals from the base of an exposed layer of rock bench = a ledge that, in open-pit mine and quarries, forms a single level of operation above which minerals or waste materials are excavated overhang = a rock face with a slope of more than 90° drilling = the process of penetrating through the ground and extracting rocks from various depths beneath the surface blasting = breaking mineral-bearing materials to splits them off in rock blocks or fragments by the firing of explosives mucking = the operation of loading broken rock by hand or machine, usually in shafts or tunnels end loader = a pneumatic or hydraulic platform elevator that lifts loads to the level of the rear of a truck drag line = bucket line system for replacing masses of rock shovel = bucket-equipped electrically powered machines, commonly used for digging, loading, and extraction of earth minerals strata = a layer or a series of layers of rock in the ground haul road = the road designed for heavy or bulk transfer of materials by haul trucks in the mining industry freeze-thaw cycle = periodical water freezing and melting good job on spotting this = you did very well that you noticed and reported it spring thaw occurs in early spring when the temperatures are beginning to rise, and the snow begins to melt pay off = give good results