Underground mining apparatus

摘要

An underground mining apparatus (10) and also a method of mining underground material. The apparatus (10) comprises a mining head (11) for moving through underground material to extract material in its path and form a passageway (13) behind the mining head (11) as it advances. An elongate structure (15) extends along the passageway to the mining head (11) and provides a path for delivering the extracted material to ground surface. A shroud (23) is positioned about the elongate structure (15) for supporting engagement with the periphery of the passageway (13) to provide a space through which the elongate structure (15) can move. The shroud (23) has a cross-sectional shape corresponding generally to the cross-sectional shape of the passageway (13) formed by the mining head (11).