Depillaring is the final phase of room-and-pillar mining where the structural pillars of coal or ore are systematically mined out. As the pillars are removed, the roof is typically allowed to collapse in a controlled manner behind the advancing crew. It maximizes resource recovery but carries significant safety risks regarding ground control.
We start depillaring panel four next week, so make sure the mobile roof supports are fully serviced.
Also heard as
- pillar extraction
- robbing pillars
Related terms
Room and pillar
An underground mining method where material is extracted across a horizontal plane, leaving blocks of ore to support the roof.
Roof
The layer of rock located immediately above an underground excavation or mineral seam.
Goaf
The empty or caved space left behind in an underground mine after extraction.
Cave
To intentionally collapse the roof of an underground excavation.