Continuous mining machines rip the coal from the coal face and load
it onto shuttle cars that transport the coal to a central loading point
for removal from the mine.
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A miner looks on as the longwall shear cuts along the coal face. Longwalls
are the most productive machines in underground mining.
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An empty shuttle car pulls up behind the continuous miner to take on
a new load of coal. Upon receiving a full load, the shuttle car operator
will turn around in his cab and move the vehicle in the opposite direction
to transport coal to a central loading point for removal from the mine.
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Bolting machines drill vertical holes in the mine roof and insert steel
roof bolts up to six feet long that "sandwich" the overlying roof
strata together.
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Miners travel in the mines on electric jeeps or personnel carriers commonly
known as mantrips. The rails that they run on can weigh up to 100 pounds
per foot.
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Even though many aspects of mining haven't changed over the years, new
technologies have entered the coal mines.
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