HIGHWALL MINING SYSTEM

摘要

A highwall mining system for mining aggregate material from a seam (8) is disclosed. The system comprises a mining means (9) for cutting aggregate material from the seam (8) thereby to form a drive (10) in the seam (8), a conveying means (11) for conveying mined aggregate material from the drive (10), and a circulation means located on or in the region of the mining means (9) for circulating the atmosphere at least at the forward end of the drive (10). The system further comprises an inertisation means (60, 61, 63, 71) for maintaining the concentration of oxygen in the atmosphere in the drive (10) lower than the concentration of oxygen required for explosion of methane gas and/or dusts and/or other flammable materials in the drive (10).