Mining machine with articulating boom and independent material handling system

A cutting assembly for a rock excavation machine, the rock excavation machine including a frame, the cutting assembly comprising:

• a boom supported on the frame, the boom including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion including a first structure and a second structure slidable relative to the first structure, the second portion including a first member pivotably coupled to the second structure, and a second member pivotably coupled to the first member, the boom further including a first fluid actuator for pivoting the first member relative to the first portion, a second fluid actuator for driving sliding movement of the second structure relative to the first structure, and at least one biasing member coupled between the first member and the second member;
• and
• a cutting device supported on the second member,
• wherein the first portion is supported on a turntable to pivot laterally relative to the chassis about a pivot axis, wherein the second portion is pivotable relative to the first portion about a transverse axis oriented substantially perpendicular with respect to the pivot axis.