Abstract: The invention relates to gathering arms for a mining machine to operate in conjunction with a forwardly extending apron to sweep mined material across the apron where it can be transferred by a conveyor to the rear of the machine. Although a single gathering arm is envisaged, preferably two are provided which are hydraulically operated by means of two pairs of piston and cylinder devices arranged to extend and retract the arms and sweep them between inboard and outboard positions after the style of extendable windscreen wiper blades, the arms being extended during a work sweep and retracted during a return sweep. The invention also extends to a hydraulic circuit for operating the arms largely automatically in synchronism and to a mining machine fitted with such arms.