A cross-measure tunnel or drift driven through the intervening non-coal strata to connect two distinct coal seams. Cruts are essential in multi-seam coal mines for linking workings, establishing ventilation loops, and moving extracted coal to a central haulage system without needing a separate shaft for each seam.
Heard on the job
The new crut will connect the upper seam to the main conveyor drift, saving us a lot of haulage time.