Mining machine with detachable articulated cutting assembly

A detachable mining apparatus for selective attachment to a mining machine having a mining machine chassis, said detachable mining apparatus comprising:

• a cutting mechanism;
• and
• an actuation assembly removably attachable to said chassis and said cutting mechanism for selectively moving said cutting mechanism forward of said chassis and down across a surface to be mined, said actuation assembly comprising:
• a cutting member support frame operably supporting at least one cutting member thereon;
• a support member pivotally attached to said cutting member support frame such that said cutting member support frame is selectively pivotable relative to said support member about a first axis;
• a first actuator attached to said support member and said mining machine chassis for selectively positioning said first axis relative to said mining machine chassis in a predetermined position;
• and
• a first linkage assembly comprising a first link having one end pivotally attached to the cutting member support frame, and another end pivotally connected to a second actuator attached to said support member, and
• a support link having one end pivotally attached to the support member, and another end pivotally attached to the first link and the second actuator for selectively pivoting said cutting member support frame relative to said support member about said first axis.