Rib Pillar Extraction - An Alternative To Long Walling And Short Walling

Requirements for full extraction in underground coal mining call for inexpensive, safe, techniques to be competitive with conventional methods. Longwall and shortwall systems are to some extent employed for this purpose. Another method would be rib pillar extraction (and pillar extraction). These methods are compared with each other with respect to procedure, equipment, safety, roof control, investment, output, performance, costs The advantages of r.p.e. show this method very attractive. Number and cost of equipment are lowest. Safety and roof control becomes improved by a mobile roof support recently developed in Austria. Its successful use in the R.S.A. is being explained.