FUNDAMENTALS

• introduction
  • overview
  
  
• basic mining
  process/terminology
  • form of deposit or seam
  • the mining process
  • associated functions
  • different types of coal
  • gas content and type
  
  
• exploration
  • overview
  • list of drillers, drilling equipment suppliers and exploration organizations
  
  
• mine planning
  • planning process
  • common planning problems
  • list of mine planning organisations
  
  
• access to seam from surface
  • overview
  • issues to be considered
  • seam access types
  • excavation methods
  • special issues
  
  
• development
  • overview
  • equipment
  • continuous miners
  
  
• pillar extraction using
  continuous miners
  • overview
  
  
• longwall mining
  • overview
  • advancing and retreating longwalls
  • equipment
  • cutting processes
  • ventilation/gas control
  • stress/strata control
  • installation/relocation
  • common operational problems
  • punch longwall mining
  • shortwall mining
  • alternative shortwall mining method - gretley colliery
  • longwall top coal caving
  
  
• ventilation
  • main fans
  • main airways
  • secondary or panel airways
  • development face ventilation
  • longwall ventilation
  • ventilation planning
  • ventilation equipment suppliers
  • ventilation consultants
  • gas control
  
  
• gas drainage/outbursts
  • overview
  • outburst control
  • drainage methods
  
  
• spontaneous combustion
  • description
  • precautions
  • dealing with an event
  
  
• coal haulage
  • general
  • installations
  • conveyor equipment suppliers
  • face area haulage
  • bulk winding
  
  
• personnel & material transport
  • general
  • personnel transport
  • materials transport
  • transport equipment suppliers
  • specialised vehicles
  • roadway maintenance
  
  
• subsidence
  • overview
  
  
• gas utilisation
  • overview
  
  
• strata control
  • general
  • mine design relating to dimensions and shape
  • mine design relating to mining direction
  • sacrificial support external to strata
  • reusable supports external to strata
  • strata reinforcement
  • retention of failed strata
  • strata support equipment suppliers
  
  
• mine services
  • electric power
  • water
  • compressed air
  • waste water
  • communications
  • communication equipment suppliers
  • monitoring and remote control
  
  

OUTBURST

	longwall mining
		advancing and retreating longwalls

Advancing and Retreating Longwalls

Longwalls can be operated in two ways, referred to as "advancing" or "retreating" faces or frequently simply as advance or retreat longwalls.

• Advancing Longwalls
• Retreating Longwalls
• Comparison of Advancing and Retreating Longwalls