rockburstn.
/ˈrɒkbəːst/, U.S. /ˈrɑkˌbərst/ Mining.
A sudden, violent rupture or collapse of highly stressed rock in a deep mine.
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society > occupation and work > industry > mining > [noun] > collapse of rock in mine
rockburst1905
1905 Lincoln (Nebraska) Evening News 5 June 3/3 One of the most remarkable of these rock bursts occurred a few months ago in the New Hillgrove Proprietary mine.
1928 Daily Mail 3 Aug. 18/1 The rockburst at a depth of nearly 5,000ft. in the City Deep mine that has..caused the deaths of two Europeans and eleven natives, is described as one of the biggest pressure bursts experienced on the Rand goldfield.
1978 Mining Equipm. Internat. June 17/1 Rockbursts currently account for about 80% of South African underground mine fatalities.
2008 Sudbury (Ont.) Star (Nexis) 12 Sept. a3 We can't call it a rockburst until we see the effects (in the mine).
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2010; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1905