open cast

1) This term became popular in the twentieth century when it was applied to mines where the ground surface was removed and the coal removed without shafts or galleries. It is actually on record though from the early 1700s when the verb ‘to cast’ still retained the meaning of ‘to dig’, as when throwing up a bank or earthwork.

1754 to dig, sink or open any Pitt or pits … make any water gate or water gates, open cast or open casts, board gate or board gates, Beeston.

places Beeston
sources Denison papers
dates 1754

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