A method of underground coal extraction that combines elements of room-and-pillar and longwall mining. Miners use a continuous miner to cut a face that is typically 100 to 200 feet wide, supported by hydraulic roof shields. As the machine cuts back and forth across this short face, the shields advance and the roof behind them is allowed to cave in. It is used in blocks of coal that are too small or faulted for a full-scale longwall setup.
The faulting in the northern panel is too tight for the longwall gear, so we're switching to a shortwall layout.
Related terms
Longwall
An underground coal mining method that extracts a wide panel in a single continuous slice.
Room and pillar
An underground mining method where material is extracted across a horizontal plane, leaving blocks of ore to support the roof.
Panel
A specific block or district of a coal seam isolated by solid barrier pillars.
Shield
A heavy, hydraulically powered steel canopy that supports the mine roof over the working face.