A dibhole is a sump or low-lying catch basin at the very bottom of a shaft or incline. Groundwater and drilling runoff naturally drain into this depression by gravity, allowing pumps to draw the water out of the mine without sucking air or running dry.
Heard on the job
The main pump tripped overnight, and the dibhole is flooded right up to the bottom station.
Also heard as
- sump
- lodgement