In the open pit mining done there, they remove the overburden (which is the source of most of the fossils) using a drag line. Once the overburden is removed, they pile up the ore in a pit (known as a car pit) on the ledge near the drag lines. They use a fire hose like system to wash the ore into large pipes where it is washed/sucked to the plant. The remaining material is then pushed back into the mined pit, where this tooth was found. In the Florida mines, these pits are known as wells or as the locals pronounce it, whales. Took me a while to understand what they were talking about. “We’re goin take you out to collect in some of the old whales.” “What?”
Thank you, @Bill-Heim!
In the open pit mining done there, they remove the overburden (which is the source of most of the fossils) using a drag line. Once the overburden is removed, they pile up the ore in a pit (known as a car pit) on the ledge near the drag lines. They use a fire hose like system to wash the ore into large pipes where it is washed/sucked to the plant. The remaining material is then pushed back into the mined pit, where this tooth was found. In the Florida mines, these pits are known as wells or as the locals pronounce it, whales. Took me a while to understand what they were talking about. “We’re goin take you out to collect in some of the old whales.” “What?”