Abstract: In dry mining of trona by usual methods such as the room-and-pillar and the long wall mining methods, dust formation, energy requirements, and mining machine wear are reduced and mining tool life is increased by prefracturing the trona in situ prior to mining by (a) driving holes into the trona bed to be mined; (b) introducing fracturing agent into the holes, and (c) causing the fracturing agent to fracture the trona in situ without substantial displacement of the trona so that the prefractured trona will continue to support the overburden.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for mining minerals at depths where strip and deep mining methods are not practical or economical. After site layout, a plurality of generally parallel-spaced, elongated trenches are formed to expose the mineral bed. Continuous mining equipment is used to mine the minerals from the base of the trench. A conveyor is disposed in each trench to convey the mined minerals to one end of the site to a collection conveyor. After the minerals are mined from the base of the trench, mining tunnels are formed to the opposite sides of and generally perpendicular to each trench and adjacent one end thereof. The tunnels are extended distances at least several times the width of the trench and thereby form longwall mining surfaces. Longwall mining equipment is disposed in each tunnel and the minerals are mined by advancing the longwall mining equipment in a direction parallel to the trench and toward its opposite end. As the longwall mining equipment advances, the overburden caves behind the equipment.

Abstract: A hook plow apparatus for use in longwall mining and particularly adapted for use in conjunction with a fixed arch shield mining system having rails mounted along the length of the shield. The apparatus includes a power transmission frame mounted for movement along the rails, a plow mounting body connected to the frame, upper and lower vertically extendable ranging plow blocks mounted on the plow mounting body and having plow blades thereon, means for propelling the frame, the mounting body and the ranging plow blocks along the rails, and means for extending the mounting body and the ranging plow blocks vertically and laterally toward the mine wall relative to the to the power transmission frame.

Abstract: This invention relates to the recovery of valuable minerals from deposits thereof in the earth and is particularly directed to a method of mining which affords recovery of at least a major portion of a seam of valuable mineral lying relatively near the surface of the earth without seriously involving the destructive effects upon the environment, inherent in surface mining. In practicing the method a relatively small proportion of the overburden covering a seam of useful mineral is removed, for later replacement, and a proportion of the valuable mineral in the seam much greater than that underlying the removed overburden is recovered by operations conducted in the pit formed by removal of overburden from selected areas, the recovery of these portions of the mineral seam being conveniently accomplished by what is known as augur mining from spaced pits disposed in predetermined patterns relatively to the mineral seam.

Abstract: Spaced apart single entries are driven into a mineral deposit to be developed by means of a short wall mining machine. A specially designed concrete-receiving slip-form located in the center of the entry is pulled along by a battery of roof supports which are advanced in line behind the mining machine. Quick setting concrete pumped into the anchored slip-form sets up into a wall isolating the two sides of the entry. The slip-form is then released for each successive mining run.

Abstract: In a longwall mining system, a work face extends between parallel sets of multiple head- and tailgate entries, adjacent entries of each set being separated by rows of chain pillars. Lengths of a headgate entry immediately adjacent the longwall panel and the pillar breakthroughs to the next headgate entry are progressively pump packed in advance of the longwall face with a coherent thixotropic roof supporting material. As the longwall face is mined, a bidirectional shearing machine cuts through the roof supporting material and the chain pillars, which are then removed in a continuous operation.

Abstract: A self-propelled body portion has spaced parallel vertical plate members that form a longitudinal passageway in which is positioned an endless conveyor. The conveyor includes a material receiving end portion that is maintained in underlapping relationship with the conveyor of a continuous mining machine that dislodges material from the face of the mine and deposits the material onto the receiving end portion of the conveyor. The conveyor transfers the mined material longitudinally of the body portion to a discharging end portion that pivots about a vertical axis relative to the main conveyor and discharges the mined material into a shuttle car. A pair of horizontally extensible drill booms are pivotally mounted to opposed sides of the body portion to swing laterally toward and away from the body portion.

Abstract: A tunnel driving installation has an advanceable support shield and cutting means co-operating at the front end of the tunnel and a continuous tunnel lining disposed rearwardly of the support shield and constructed from individual lining sections. In order to store and transport the tunnel lining sections within the tunnel lining apparatus is provided which comprises storage stations respectively located at the front and rear regions of the tunnel and a trolley vehicle for moving back and forth between the stations. The trolley vehicle has a container which serves to receive debris removed by the cutting means, and beneath the container the vehicle has shaped plates which serve to locate and support a series of lining sections. Both storage stations are composed of T-shaped rails laid on the tunnel floor so that the vehicle can pass over the rails.

Abstract: The roof of a tunnel being bored by a tunneling machine is continuously supported, using sections of lagging and ring beams. A shield is positioned over the earth boring machine. The shield includes a multiplicity of elongated members. The elongated members provide elongated recesses that will accommodate sections of lagging. A length of tunnel is bored, and a ring beam is implanted in the tunnel beneath the shield. The lagging may be manipulated in the elongated recesses in the shield and positioned proximate the roof of the tunnel supported by the ring beam. Additional lagging is provided by repeating the steps.

Abstract: In the underground mining of friable mineral deposits such as bituminous sands, method and apparatus are disclosed in which a working crosscut in the mineral deposit, is established, connecting two parallel operating tunnels, the front wall of the crosscut being unsupported and forming the mining wall, the roof and rear wall of the working crosscut being supported by a novel mining shield comprising a plurality of forwardly inclined, base supported arch members positioned in adjacent abutting relationship and each independently advanceable towards the mining wall. A conventional mining machine is employed under the mining shield in the working crosscut, operating across the full width of the mining wall. As the mining machine removes a cut, apparatus upon the mining machine advances individual mining arch sections forwardly into the mining face the depth of the cut, leaving the backs unsupported and free to collapse behind the advancing mining shield.

Abstract: A side excavating machine comprising a rotatably driven cylindrical drum adapted to advance generally endwise along a pre-existing working face, but angled so that trailing portions of the drum project beneath the plane of the pre-existing face. The drum has a distribution of rock cutting rollers on its cylindrical surface which are freely rotatable about rolling axes which are fixed in a predetermined relation to the axis of the drum, defining a small forward skew angle. The cylindrical drum is rotatably mounted by bearings on a frame which advances along the working face, with the drum axis lying at a small acute angle to the direction of advance so that trailing portions of the drum excavate rock as the frame advances along the face. The major component of rock-cutting forces thereby applied to the drum is normal to the direction of advance of the frame, and there are means to provide side reaction force to the frame corresponding to this major component of rock-cutting forces.

Abstract: A method of providing roof support by the use of prestressed support members. Sequentially the method calls for the drilling of a series of generally parallel holes in a mine roof such that they extend from one underground cavity to another; inserting support members like metal cables or rods into each of these holes to extend completely through the hole's entire length between the cavities; pretensioning each of said supports; forcing a liquid binder around the supports while in their holes; and releasing the forces on the supports after the binder has become cured by solidifying.

Abstract: In the underground mining of friable mineral deposits such as bituminous sands, method and apparatus are disclosed in which a working crosscut in the mineral deposit, is established, connecting two parallel operating tunnels, the front wall of the crosscut being unsupported and forming the mining wall, the roof and rear wall of the working crosscut being separated from the mining equipment by a novel mining shield comprising a plurality of forwardly inclined, base supported arch members positioned in adjacent abutting relationship and each independently advanceable towards the mining wall. A conventional mining machine is employed under the mining shield in the working crosscut, operating across the full width of the mining wall. As the mining machine removes a cut, apparatus upon the mining machine advances individual mining arch sections forwardly into the mining face the depth of the cut, leaving the backs unsupported and free to collapse behind the advancing mining shield.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of in situ extraction of a constituent of a rock formation, e.g., copper deposits or particular petroleum deposits as found in oil shale, and to a method of preparing the rock formation for in situ extraction of the rock constituent. Various embodiments of a side excavating machine are also disclosed for preparing the rock for in-situ extraction of a constituent therefrom. The excavating machine breaks the rock in-situ in a manner to form a narrow, horizontal flow-directing chamber in the rock-filled with fluid-permeable broken rock.

Abstract: Coal mining apparatus for removing subterranean material with minimal disruption of the overburden includes a mobile underground mining machine having rotary cutters mounted on the front of the machine for drilling coal in a coal deposit. The underground machine is track driven with an overhead protective shield to support the overburden above the machine as it digs into the coal deposit. The protective shield is slanted downward toward the rear of the mining machine to gradually lower the overburden as the mining machine passes under, thus replacing the excavated coal while minimizing disturbances on the surface. An elevator shaft is mounted on the underground mining machine and extends vertically upward to the earth's surface. A mobile track vehicle is attached to the elevator shaft at the surface and is coordinated to move in synchronization with the underground mining machine.

Abstract: An in situ retorting method and system for recovering hydrocarbons from an oil shale deposit. A retorting zone is formed in the deposit and is comprised of at least two galleries which are separated by a barrier of oil shale thick enough to prevent leakage of gas between galleries. A plurality of rooms are formed within each gallery and are defined by walls of oil shale having substantially less thickness than said barriers. As a gallery is completed, it is sealed and rubblized oil shale within the rooms of said gallery is retorted and the products recovered. Since the barriers between galleries protect workers against gas from a retorting gallery, work can continue on adjoining galleries while said gallery is being retorted.

Abstract: A method for controlling stress and increasing the load-bearing strength of support members, the support members comprising coal, of a coal mine wherein the method consists essentially of injecting ammonia or hydrochloric acid into the interior portions of the support members.

Abstract: Apparatus for the handling of dislodged particulate material within a mine includes a base member having ground traction means with a body member supported on the base member. Vertical side plates on opposed sides of the body member secured thereto define a longitudinal material receiving bin. An endless main conveyor located within the material receiving bin has a receiving end and a discharge end. The receiving end when used as a surge hopper is adapted to continuously receive material dislodged from an adjacent continuous mining machine. A delivery conveyor receives material from the discharge end of the main conveyor and discharges it into other conveying means such as a shuttle car or an endless belt conveyor. A portion of the main conveyor positioned adjacent the discharge end thereof moves or pivots upwardly about a transverse horizontal axis and thereby assumes a position for maximum discharge of the material.

Abstract: This invention pertains to inflatable envelope apparatus or pressurized container structures and associated methods to be used together with slurry products of concentrated or metallurgical plants in backfilling and other operations involving subterranean works. The pressurized container structures are envelopes which can be fabricated of various materials and shapes, or other light weight pressurized containers, the shape or volume of which is sustained by internal gas pressure. The technique for extracting a metal bearing substance comprises several steps, the principal ones being the placing within a subterranean chamber a pressurized envelope structure, pouring into the chamber adjacent the envelope structure slurry products emanating from a concentrator or flotation plant which lie in contact with but external to the pressurized envelope.