overburden

To burden with too much weight; overload.

To subject to an excessive burden or strain; overtax.

An excessive burden; an overload.

Material overlying a useful mineral deposit.

Sedimentary rock covering older crystalline layers.

A sterile stratum overlying a stratum bearing traces of the culture being studied.

To load with too great burden or weight; overload; overtask: as, trees overburdened with fruit.

Detrital material or rock which has to be removed, as being of no value, in order to get at some valuable substance beneath, which it is intended to mine or quarry: used in reference to quarrying or excavating clay and similar materials.

An excessive load; a burden or load greater than should be carried.