Glossary - Coal Waste Impoundments: Risks, Responses, and Alternatives - page 201

underground survey station similar to the use of stakes in marking survey
points on the surface. A brass tag permanently attached to the mine roof.
STACKING Disposing of dewatered coal waste in “stacks” or layers (from 4-6 inches to
1-3 feet in thickness) piled on top of each other without an embankment.

STARTER
DAM

The initial embankment constructed as the first stage of a staged
embankment construction system.

STRATA Multiple layers of sedimentary rock.

SURFACE
WAVES

Seismic waves that travel only near the surface of the earth; they travel
about 90 percent as fast as S -waves.

S -WAVE A wave reflecting shear motion, with oscillation perpendicular to the

direction of propogation.

TAILINGS Fine particle waste streams from either coal preparation or other mineral

processing plants.

TAILINGS
DAM

(as used in this report) A structure constructed to contain fine particle
waste streams from other mineral processing plants.

TENSILE
STRESS

A normal stress causing separation across the plane on which it acts.

TOE DRAINA zone of permeable materials constructed at the downstream toe of an
embankment to collect and convey water from the downstream region of
the embankment.

ULTRA-
FINES

Fine particles, either product or waste, resulting from the processing or
preparation of any mineral; particles are smaller than 325 mesh (45
micrometers).

UP-
STREAM
CON-
STRUCTION
DAM

A method of staged embankment construction where the embankment
centerline is moved upstream with subsequent embankment raises.