Overburden

v. burden excessively with weight or worry

Overburden is the term used in mining to describe material that lies above the area of economic interest, e.g., the rock and soil that lies above the coal seam. Also known as 'waste'. Overburden is distinct from tailings, the material that remains after economically valuable components have been extracted from the generally finely milled ore. Overburden is removed during surface mining, but is typically not contaminated with toxic components and may be used to restore a mining site to a semblance of its appearance before mining began. Overburden may also be used as a term to describe all soil and ancillary material above the bedrock horizon in a given area.
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Noun
1. the surface soil that must be moved away to get at coal seams and mineral deposits
(hypernym) land, ground, soil
2. an excessive burden
(synonym) overload
(hypernym) load, loading, burden
Verb
1. burden with too much work or responsibility
(hypernym) charge, saddle, burden
(derivation) overload
2. load with excessive weight
(hypernym) burden, burthen, weight, weight down
(derivation) overload

(v. t.)
To load with too great weight or too much care, etc.
  

(n.)
The waste which overlies good stone in a quarry.
  

Rock and soil cleared away before mining.