Pothole
Pothole turns up in 2 fields: asphalt, mining. Here is what it means to the people in each one.
Pothole in asphalt
A bowl-shaped hole through the pavement surface where pieces of asphalt have broken out.
A hole left when a section of pavement breaks loose, usually where water has entered through cracks and weakened the base, and freeze-thaw cycles and traffic then popped out the cracked pieces. Potholes are the end stage of fatigue cracking, stripping and raveling, and they multiply fastest in late-winter and spring thaws. Quick fixes throw patch mix in and roll it with a truck tire; durable repairs cut the failed area out square and fill it full depth.
"Forty-two potholes called in on the county road after the thaw, load the hot box and start at the bridge."
Pothole in mining
A shallow, vertical excavation dug to test for near-surface mineral deposits.
A small, shallow exploratory shaft dug by hand to test for the presence of valuable minerals like opal or alluvial gold. Prospectors sink potholes to sample the subsurface gravels or bedrock profile before committing to a larger excavation or mechanical trenching. If a pothole yields good color, the area is usually opened up further.
"We dug a dozen potholes along the creek bed but only found barren gravel."