surface working

Mining: The operation of digging for gold or other minerals on the top soil. sür-façe, v. t. [SURFACE, 8.] 1. To put a surface on; to give a surface to; espec., to give a fine surface to; to make smooth or polished. 2. To work the surface of, as ground, in searching for gold, . 13. To bring to or place on the surface; to raise to the surface. "To surface the fin stuff now accumulated."-Money Market Review, Aug. 29, 1885.