Auger

A continuous mining operation, comprising:

• a continuous miner for excavating and conveying mined materials from within a mine, said miner being movable to a variety of mining locations;
• an elongate tubular member having a longitudinal bore formed therein and having a first end and a second end, said tubular member adapted to be mounted with said continuous miner adjacent said second end, said longitudinal bore of said tubular member adapted to be in communication with fluid pressure means adjacent said second end, and said tubular member adapted to be rotated by said continuous miner adjacent said second end;
• a scroll having an inner peripheral edge and an outer peripheral edge for use in mining materials from the mine, said scroll radially spiralling along the longitudinal axis of said tubular member from said first end to said second end with said inner peripheral edge being mounted with said tubular member such that rotation of said tubular member results in rotation of said scroll for mining materials from the mine while generating undesired contaminate particulate matter;
• spray means terminating adjacent said outer peripheral edge of said scroll and in fluid communication with said fluid pressure means for spraying fluid into the air adjacent said outer peripheral edge of said scroll preventing suspension of mined undesired contaminate particulate matter within the air adjacent to the continuous mining operation;
• and,
• anti-clogging means being affixed with said spray means for continuously preventing clogging of said spray means during spraying of the fluid.