cross-course

English

Noun

cross-course (plural cross-courses)

1. (mining) A vein or lode that crosses the main lode, sometimes accompanied by a change of course in the main lode.
   • 1843, The Philosophical Magazine:

     Williams's lode heaves the cross-course 4 feet towards the left-hand; the cross-course then intersects Trathan's lode, and at some levels heaves it towards the right-hand; and lastly, it heaves the Black lode 11 feet towards the left-hand.

   • 1862, The Mining and Smelting Magazine - Volume 2, page 80:

     In this end the main part of the lode is probably missed, but the branch on which it is driving has a rather silver character; and as the cross-course is approached, it is not improbably that the silver may be met with here.

   • 1894, North of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers, Transactions - Volume 43, page 440:

     The north section of the mine has also a crossback or cross-course, but the result at the crossing is so completely reversed that one is struck with astonishment to see the opposites in the same formation.