Syllabus - UNDERGROUND COAL MINING (MI-403)

Coal and coal measure rocks

Classification of mining methods

Division of mine area into panels on district and level patterns

Factors influencing the choice of mining method

Bord and Pillar Method

Size of headings, pillars and panels. Development of panels by drivage of group of headings to strike, dip and rise with V, diagonal and straight fronts. Cycle of operations, work-organisation and scheduling for drivage of heading groups by conventional and continuous methods. Depillaring of panels with V, straight and diagonal fronts. Conventional and mechanized depillaring schemes with emphasis on coal, water, air routes and supports. Simultaneous development and depillaring, partial extraction, room and pillar methods

Longwall Method

Classification of longwalls, advancing and retreating methods, working in districts and levels (central and boundary ventilation) size of panel, development of panel with single and multiple heading gate roads, various orientations of longwall face, single and double unit longwalls. Extraction of longwall panels with conventional and fully mechanized methods, length of face, daily advance, cycle of operations, organisation, scheduling and layouts with special reference to coal, water and air routes. Bleeder ventilation scheme. Gate, goaf and face area support in conventional and fully mechanised longwalls

Room and Pillar Method

Shortwall Method Stowing: Applicability conditions, classification and description of various methods of goaf stowing. Surface and underground arrangements and precautions with stowing, full bore stowing and problems associated with stowing at surface and below ground. Comparison of Various Mining Methods