shortwall method
Quick Summary
The shortwall mining method is an underground coal extraction technique similar to longwall mining, but it operates on a smaller scale. In shortwall mining, blocks of coal are typically no wider than 100 meters. The slices of coal removed can be up to three meters thick and are extracted using a continuous miner. The mined coal is then moved to a face conveyor or other haulage equipment. The roof is supported by specialized shields that function similarly to those used in longwall mining. Despite initial high expectations, shortwall mining has not achieved widespread success.1
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