What is "costean"

Costean \Cos"tean`\ (k?s"t?n`), v. i. [Cornish cothas dropped + stean tin.] To search after lodes. See Costeaning.

vb. (context mining English) To search for lodes.

Costeaning is the process by which miners seek to discover metallic lodes. It consists in sinking small pits through the superficial deposits to the solid rock, and then driving from one pit to another across the direction of the vein, in such manner as to cross all the veins between the two pits.

Category:Surface mining