US 2004/0000810 A1 · Mining system

Abstract

A method for extracting mineral deposits. First, a predetermined surface is contour mined in a mineral seam, such as a mountain, to provide an elongate active mining area and a highwall. Next, a sealable intake and return canopy is placed at substantially opposing ends of the mineral seam. A continuous miner then successively cuts a mineral seam in the elongate active mining area. Roof supports are advanced after each respective successive cut to support a roof of the elongate active mining area. After formation of an air seal and introduction of a conveyor in the elongate active mining area, either longwall or shortwall mining techniques may be used to cut a face of the mineral seam via a miner. Material cut from the face of the mineral seam is then discharged onto the conveyor. The intake and return canopies are then configured to allow ventilation of the active mining area by the introduction of air along the face of the mineral seam while the miner advances along the mineral seam. The roof supports and conveyor are advanced into the mineral seam after cutting, with the material cut being conveyed to an area outside of the active mining area. The miner is then removed, reverse-oriented, and re-inserted into the active mining area to allow further cutting of the mineral seam.

Claims114

Dependent claims

A method for extracting mineral deposits in a mineral reserve accessible from a sloping surface, comprising:

mining the sloping surface to create a bench and highwall for providing access to the mineral reserve;
forming a surface in the highwall generally perpendicular to a desired direction of mining the mineral reserve to create an insertion highwall between opposing endwalls of the highwall extending therefrom;
cutting a starter entry into the mineral reserve across the entire length of the insertion highwall from one endwall to the other;
inserting roof supports into the starter entry and backfilling the starter entry with spoil to form a starter passage from one endwall to the other;
mining the mineral reserve in the starter passage moving along the insertion highwall from one endwall to the other in a direction of production to extract mineral deposits therefrom;
successively mining the mineral reserve moving from one endwall to the other in the direction of production to continue extracting mineral deposits therefrom thereby forming at least one successive passage advancing in the direction of mining;
and
providing roof support for successive passages resulting from the extraction of mineral deposits from the mineral reserve.

5 more elements

A method for extracting mineral deposits in a mineral reserve accessible from a sloping surface, comprising:

mining the sloping surface to create a bench and highwall for providing access to the mineral reserve;
forming a surface in the highwall generally perpendicular to a desired direction of mining the mineral reserve to create an insertion highwall between opposing endwalls of the highwall extending therefrom;
cutting a starter entry into the mineral reserve across the entire length of the insertion highwall from one endwall to the other;
inserting roof supports into the starter entry and backfilling the starter entry with spoil to form a starter passage from one endwall to the other;
mining the mineral reserve with a shortwall miner in the starter passage moving along the insertion highwall from one endwall to the other in a direction of production to extract mineral deposits therefrom;
successively mining the mineral reserve with a shortwall miner moving from one endwall to the other in the direction of production to continue extracting mineral deposits therefrom thereby forming at least one successive passage advancing in the direction of mining;
and
providing roof support for successive passages resulting from the extraction of mineral deposits from the mineral reserve.

5 more elements

A method for extracting mineral deposits in a mineral reserve accessible from a sloping surface, comprising:

mining the sloping surface to create a bench and highwall for providing access to the mineral reserve;
forming a surface in the highwall generally perpendicular to a desired direction of mining the mineral reserve to create an insertion highwall between opposing endwalls of the highwall extending therefrom;
cutting a starter entry into the mineral reserve across the entire length of the insertion highwall from one endwall to the other;
inserting roof supports into the starter entry and backfilling the starter entry with spoil to form a starter passage from one endwall to the other;
mining the mineral reserve with a longwall miner in the starter passage moving along the insertion highwall from one endwall to the other in a direction of production to extract mineral deposits therefrom;
successively mining the mineral reserve with a longwall miner moving from one endwall to the other in the direction of production to continue extracting mineral deposits therefrom thereby forming at least one successive passage advancing in the direction of mining;
and
providing roof support for successive passages resulting from the extraction of mineral deposits from the mineral reserve.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Mining system

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Mining system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims114