A barrow is a pile of barren rock, dirt, and other rejected materials extracted alongside valuable ore. Miners deposit this waste on the surface near the shaft or adit to keep underground workings clear. Over time, these heaps can grow massive, altering the local terrain and sometimes requiring later reprocessing if extraction methods improve.
Heard on the job
Load up those carts and dump the deads on the east barrow before the end of the shift.
Insider tip
Historic operations often left these waste heaps exposed to the elements, making them a persistent source of acid mine drainage.
Also heard as
- spoil tip
- mullock heap