Hydraulic scroll auger mining system and method of using the same

A mining system for creating a borehole in a mineral seam, comprising:

• a cutting head comprising:
• a first body having an axis of rotation generally parallel to said borehole;
• a manifold for containing high pressure fluid, said manifold being mounted on said first body;
• a high pressure fluid line for providing fluid to said manifold;
• a swivel coupled to said high pressure fluid line, said swivel allowing said manifold to rotate relative to said fluid line;
• a first plurality of nozzles disposed around said axis of rotation for spraying said high pressure fluid;
• and
• a plurality of tubes fluidly coupling said manifold and said plurality of nozzles;
• whereby on supplying high pressure fluid to said manifold and rotating said cutting head about said axis of rotation, said nozzles create a generally circular, overlapping pattern of high pressure fluid in front of said cutting head, said pattern of high pressure fluid being directed to cut said borehole;
• at least one auger body attached to the trailing end of said cutting head;
• a drill unit coupled to said at least one auger body and capable of imparting rotational and thrusting forces to the at least one auger body and the attached cutting head;
• and
• a pumping unit for providing high pressure fluid via said swivel and said high pressure fluid line to the manifold and the nozzles of said cutting head.

A method of creating a borehole in a mineral seam, comprising the steps of:

• providing a cutting head having:
• a manifold for containing high pressure fluid;
• an axis of rotation generally parallel to said borehole;
• and a plurality of nozzles disposed at various radii around said axis of rotation for spraying said high pressure fluid;
• positioning said cutting head proximate a mineral seam;
• supplying said high pressure fluid to said manifold;
• rotating said cutting head about said axis of rotation to create a generally circular, overlapping pattern of high pressure fluid in front of said cutting head;
• and
• cutting said borehole with rotating pattern of high pressure fluid.