Method for continuous operation of a surface miner

A method for continuous operation of a surface miner, the surface miner including a forwardly extending and vertically ranging cutting arm supporting a plurality of cutters rotating about a substantially horizontal axis, the method comprising:

• operating the surface miner in a first direction to remove material from a mining face with the axis oriented substantially perpendicular to the mining face;
• reaching an end of the mining face;
• turning the surface miner such that the axis is oriented substantially parallel to the mining face;
• operating the surface miner in a second direction to cut a first channel from the mining face;
• reversing the surface miner to withdraw the cutters from the first channel;
• repositioning the surface miner to cut a second channel from the mining face, the second channel adjacent and substantially parallel to the first channel;
• operating the surface miner in the second direction to cut the second channel from the mining face, the first and second channels together defining a cut out;
• positioning the surface miner in the cut out with the axis oriented substantially perpendicular to the mining face and the surface miner facing in a third direction substantially opposite the first direction;
• and
• operating the surface miner in the third direction to remove material from the mining face.