In the traditional tribute system, miners bid to work a specific pitch for a percentage of the ore's value. A sturt occurs when a miner strikes an unexpectedly rich vein after negotiating a high percentage rate, resulting in a massive payout. It represents the ultimate lucky break where the geology heavily favors the worker over the mine owners.
He hit a massive pocket of copper on his first shift and made a real sturt out of that pitch.
Hitting a sturt was the dream of every tributer, but mine captains would quickly lower the percentage rate on the next contract if a pitch proved too rich.
Related terms
Tribute
A payment system where miners receive a percentage of the ore they extract.
Tributer
An independent miner who works a section of a mine for a share of the ore's value.
Pitch
A designated section of a mine assigned to a specific group of miners working for a share of the ore.
Bonanza
An exceptionally large and rich ore body, usually containing precious metals like gold or silver.