UNDERGROUND MINING METHOD IN AREAS HAVING LIMITED DIMENSIONS Russian patent published in 2006 - IPC E21C41/16 

FIELD: mining, particularly underground mining of flat-lying mineral seams, preferably salt and coal seams.

SUBSTANCE: method involves serially developing two mineral columns with single long face; cutting the first columns with face moving towards working area border; forming bypass excavation along outer border of working area; driving local and panel preparation excavations; forming stoves between panel and local preparation excavations; turning long face at working area border along with following cutting the second column with long face in direction opposite to the first column cutting direction. The first local preparation excavation is driven along inner border of the first column. The second reusable local preparation excavation and panel preparation excavations are driven within area occupied by the second column. Panel preparation excavations are spaced a distance from inner border of the first column. The distance exceeds width of critical stress area generated over mineral seam edge. Distance between local preparation excavations is equal to extreme width of pillar located in excavated space. If pillar width is less than above extreme width the pillar is broken by rock pressure. The stoves are formed in front of long face between panel and local preparation excavations during the first column cutting and between panel preparation excavations and bypass excavation during the second column cutting. If stable hard rock is positioned directly in mineral seam roof long face length is equal to distance between bypass excavation and inner border of the first column. If unstable fractured rock is positioned directly in mineral seam roof long face length is equal to distance between reusable preparation excavation and bypass excavation part located from virgin massif side.

EFFECT: reduced mineral losses.

3 cl, 4 dwg, 1 ex