Continuous Mining

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ENV-006452",
  "term": "Continuous Mining",
  "field": "Environment",
  "definition": "Mining in which the continuous mining machine cuts or rips coal from the face and loads it onto conveyors or into shuttle cars in a continuous operation. Thus, the drilling and shooting operations are eliminated, along with the necessity for working several headings in order to have available a heading in which loading can be in progress at all times. The longwall machine and conveyor are in the same track which is situated between the last row of props and the face. The conveyor is moved forward progressively as the coal is cut and loaded by the machine. There are no separate or cyclic operations as in conventional machine mining and the aim is to make each shift a continuation of the previous shift. Where the conditions are favorable, faces up to 250 yards in length may be so worked.",
  "references": [
    "IRS Coal Excise Tax - Appendix I, Glossary of Mining Terms"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/environment/continuous-mining/"
}