Abstract: A rotary cutter for gouging out ore from mine faces has an annular front section with a set of bits which cut a ring-shaped groove into the mine face when the cutter is rotated and moved forwardly toward and into the mine face, and a rear section which is surrounded by the annular section and carries a second set of bits which comminute the core within the ring-shaped groove. The rear section has a conical bottom wall for the respective bits and a cylindrical wall surrounding and extending forwardly of the conical wall. The cylindrical wall has outlets for evacuation of comminuted material of the core. Such comminuted material is discharged into spaces between the cylindrical wall and sickle-shaped arcuate supports which carry additional bits and slope rearwardly and outwardly, as considered in the direction of rotation and forward movement of the cutter.