BASIC MINING METHODS :

BORD AND PILLAR METHOD: The method involves the

driving of a series of narrow headings in the seam parallel
to each other and connected by cross headings so as to form
for subsequent extraction, either partial or complete, as
geological conditions or necessity for supporting the
surface, may permit.
The stage of formation of a network of roadways is known as
development. The coal pillars formed are extracted after the
development and this later stage of extraction coal from
the pillars is known as depillaring.
Bord and Pillar method is adopted for working (i) generally
seams thicker than 1.6m (ii) which are not very gassy (iii)
seams at moderate depth (iv) coal having adequate crushing
strength (v) seams with strong roof and floor, which can
stand for a long period after development stage is over.

Bord & Pillar Method of Mining

Coal is extracted by Bord & pillar Method in two stages
Development: Drivage of roadways to form solid pillars.
Depillaring: Extraction of developed pillars on retreat.

Bord
Pillar

DEVELOPMENT

Bord & Pillar Method of Mining

DEPILLARING

Diagonal line of
extraction

ADVANTAGES :
1. Less capital investment
2. Coal is produced both in development and
depillaring
3. The Development stage reveals the geological
disturbances enabling the management to plan the
workings accordingly.
4. Surface features can be protected by partial
extraction.
5. The system is not dependent upon the completion of
specific operations by the end of each shift, and the
same operations are continued from one working shift
to the next. Multiple shift getting with all its
advantages is easily possible.
DISADVANTAGES :
1. Ventilation is sluggish.
2. % of extraction is less when compared with Longwall
3. Scattered workings thus creating problems of
supervision.
4. Risk of spontaneous heating is more.
5. Constant flitting of machinery from place to place.
6. At greater depth it is not possible.

 Variants of Bord and pillar Method :

Some other variants of Bord and Pillar method of mining coal

seams are known are Room & Pillar , Pillar & Stall , Breast & Pillar
etc. The basic principles of their design, however , remain almost
the same.
Room & Pillar Method : is quite popular in American mining
practice and is generally appicable for working thinner coal beds
0.9 to 1.2 m thick. Rooms are constructed as wide as possible
consistent with the stability characteristic of the roof; common
width being 4.5 to 7.5 m and the pillar size is 6-12m wide and 1227.4 m long. The pillars may or may not be extracted. When the
pillars are not extracted, their width is substantially reduced so
that the percentage recovery is increased.
Advantages : (i) High degree of flexibility (ii) Improved efficienty
in workings of thinner seams (iii) Less capital investment (iv)
higher OMS when compared to conventional Bord and pillar
method.(v) Efficiency in Blasting is high.
Disadvantages : ( i) Requires competent roof (ii) crushing of ribs
and proneness to spantaneous heating (iii) sluggish ventilation
(iv) not suitable for high degree gassy mines.

 LONGWALL MINING :
Longwall method of working consists of laying out long faces 60-200m
long) from which all coal in working section of seam is removed by a
series of operations, maintainng a continuous line of advance in one
direction and caving/stowing behind the void.
Two types of Longwall mining : ( i) Advancing (ii) Retreating
Applicability : (i) Thin seams ( as thin as 0.7m ) (ii) Seams with dirt bands
and friable roof (iii) Contiguous seams (iv) Seams at greater depths (v)
seams which are to be mechanised for large planning outputs.
Advantages :
(i) High production and less manpower (ii) Better roof control (iii)
concentration of workings (iv) Maximum extraction percentage (v)
Good ventilation (vi) Seams liable for spontaneous heating can be
satisfactorily worked by this system.
Disadvanges :
(i) High capital investment (ii) A rigid cycle of operations has to be
followed hence having an effect on the output. (iii) Problems in
overcoming unexpected faults/intrusions.(iv) High salvage cost etc.

Longwall Technology

TOP
Gate

FACE

Direction of retreat

Two long Roadways are driven

parallel to each other by machines
and connected at the end to form a
Longwall face.
The long rectangular block thus
created is cut in to slices by
Shearer.
Coal from Longwall face is
transported by series of Chain
conveyors and Belt conveyors.

Bottom
Gate

Longwall Machinery

Supports

Face Conveyor
Shearer

Road header

Longwall mining in India

Longwall technology was introduced in India in 1978.
Around 30 Longwall units imported from various countries
were introduced during the last three decades.
The technology could not be successful due to various
reasons like inadequate geological information, under
rated supports and shortage of good quality spares.
It is required to re-introduce new generation Longwall
technology to meet the future production requirements
from deep seated underground mines.

Need for Longwall Technology

To make underground mines economically viable, high

productivity is required.
Increasing demand of coal production from UG mines in
future.
Longwall is the proven underground bulk production
technology for deep and steep seam conditions.