Longwall mining is a widely used safe and reliable established method of underground coal mining used in Australia and overseas.

Prior to longwall mining underground roadways or tunnels are excavated to form a longwall panel by means of a continuous miner. Longwall panels at Austar Coal Mine are designed to extract up to 220m wide, 1300m long and the full height of the seam. they range in depth from 400m to 530m below the surface.

Consecutive longwall panels are separated by pillars or sections of coal that are not mined. These pillars are the size of a football field and control the level of subsidence on the surface.

LTCC Configuration

 

Mechanical roof support