Mining Industry Glossary

noun a machine or boat used for removing silt, mud, etc., from the bottom of a river or harbor

verb to clean, deepen, or widen (a waterway, port, or river) by scooping out mud, weeds, etc., with a dredge

• The construction crew used a dredge to remove sediment from the riverbed.
• They had to dredge the pond to make it deeper for fishing.
• Let's dredge up some dirt on that guy and see what we find.
• She had to dredge up memories from her past for the therapy session.

noun the process of obtaining something from a substance or mixture

• The extraction of minerals from the earth is a complex process that requires specialized equipment.
• I had to go to the dentist for a tooth extraction yesterday.
• I'm getting an extraction done on my wisdom teeth next week.
• The extraction of information from the suspect led to a breakthrough in the case.

noun material used to refill an excavated area or hole

verb to refill an excavated area or hole with material

• The construction crew used backfill to fill in the trench after laying the utility lines.
• We need to backfill the hole in the backyard before the party tomorrow.
• Hey, can you help me backfill this project before the deadline?
• She tried to backfill her lack of experience with confidence during the interview.