The longwall shearer is a machine that continuously mines the coal side to side across the longwall panel. The coal is loaded onto an armoured face steel conveyor and then transported to the surface via a series of belt conveyors.

A series of hydraulic mechanical roof supports hold up the roof behind the shearer to protect mining operations. These supports are sequentially advanced as mining progresses forward. The overburden is allowed to collapse behind the supports as mining advances to form what is called the goaf.

 

Longwall shearer

 

Longwall Mining System with armoured face steel conveyor