A bord is a primary extraction heading in a coal mine, excavated perpendicular to the main natural fractures of the coal. Driving a bord is generally easier and produces larger chunks of coal because the miner works directly against the face of the natural blocks. This term is the foundation of the bord and pillar mining method, where intersecting tunnels leave solid blocks of coal to support the roof.
Heard on the job
The continuous miner is advancing the main bord, but we need to set more roof bolts before cutting the crosscut.
Insider tip
Bord and pillar is the standard terminology in the UK and Australia, whereas North American miners typically use room and pillar for the exact same extraction method.
Also heard as
- board
- room