Abstract: A mining block carried by power-operated moving apparatus which is apertured to receive and retain the mounting shanks of elongate mining bits having a sharp wear point extending beyond the block. A block has an open-ended cylindrical recess which ensmalls at the base to a smaller coaxial recess. A conical shoulder at the juncture of the two recesses provides a step for the inner and base end of a mining bit to serve as a wear surface. A retainer on the shank above the base end holds the shank within the cylindrical recess. This eliminates wear at the mouth of the open-ended recess and prolongs the life of the mining block.

Abstract: A transparent gauge for use in accurately checking and setting the height and angular position of tool holding blocks utilized for the holding of tools for the cutting of coal, rock and the like. The device consists of a basic support sheet adjustably supporting a tool block indicator silhouette sheet movable arcuately relative to a sheet bearing angle indicia, all of which can be placed adjacent an actual tool to check angles and to set angles.