Abstract: A gearhead for a shearer type mining machine comprising an elongate arm pivotally attachable at or about its mid-position to a shearer type mining machine to provide an arm pivot axis extending laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the arm, to one or each end of a mining machine, the arm carrying at or towards each end a spiral vane cutting drum, the adjacent drum peripheries being spaced apart to define a nip and the drums being rotatable about axes parallel to the arm pivot axis and being contra-rotatable, the vane or vanes of one drum being of opposite hand to the vane or vanes of the other drum. Mineral loading means is located within the nip provided by said drums, said mineral loading means may be in the form of an auger, a cowl, a paddle chain, or some other type of transporting mechanism, for assisting removal of the cut mineral.