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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

State-of-the-art-room-and-pillar retreat mining in the Kittanning Coalbed

Conference ·
OSTI ID:405579
 [1];  [2]; ;  [3]
  1. GAI Consultants, Inc., Charleston, WV (United States)
  2. RoxCoal, Inc., Friedens, PA (United States)
  3. Bureau of Mines, Pittsburgh, PA (United States)
The US Bureau of Mines is conducting research to develop improved guidelines for selecting the type and pattern of roof support in different geologic environments. As a part of this wider research effort, a multifaceted ground control investigation was conducted at the Diamond TB Mine of RoxCoal, Inc. The study included statistical analysis of mine-wide roof bolt performance, instrumented bolt test areas, stress damage mapping, and pillar design analysis. The mine employs state-of-the-art continuous miner technology, including mobile roof supports and continuous haulage, to retreat mine the Lower Kittanning Coalbed. A herringbone section design makes the stability of the center belt entry critical to efficient retreat mining. Roof cutters formed during section development sometimes set up unstable immediate roof conditions in advance of the belt entry mobile roof supports during retreat mining.
OSTI ID:
405579
Report Number(s):
CONF-9608121--
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English