METHOD OF MINING OF THICK MINERAL BEDS Russian patent published in 2003 - IPC

FIELD: mining; applicable in underground mining of thick mineral beds. SUBSTANCE: method includes separation of mineral bed into layers parallel to bedding plane, driving of development workings and mining of mineral layers by longwalls with full caving of roof rocks in worked out space. Upper layer located at bed roof is extracted first. After completion of stoping operations in longwall of upper layer, underlying layer is mined by longwall advancing in direction opposite to direction of longwall advance in upper layer. Thickness of upper layer is taken less than limit thickness of layer whose excess may result in hazardous dynamic caving of roof in worked out space of upper layer, and mining of underlying layer is started after stabilization of process of roof rock displacement caused by extraction of upper layer. EFFECT: higher efficiency of mining of thick beds of minerals (mainly of salt rocks and coal) due to prevented hazardous dynamic caving of roof rocks in worked out space. 2 dwg, 1 ex