The physical boundary of a coal seam that is actively being cut, blasted, or sheared. It represents the very front line of extraction in an underground coal mine, advancing forward continuously as the seam is harvested.
Heard on the job
The shearer is down, so we need the maintenance crew at the coalface right now.
Insider tip
In broader industrial slang, working 'at the coalface' means doing the primary, frontline labor of an organization.
Also heard as
- Coal-face
- Coal face
Related terms
Longwall
An underground coal mining method that extracts a wide panel in a single continuous slice.
Bord
An underground working place or tunnel driven at right angles to the natural cleavage of the coal seam.
Room and pillar
An underground mining method where material is extracted across a horizontal plane, leaving blocks of ore to support the roof.