In longwall coal mining, this is the tunnel maintained at one end of the working face to carry exhaust air away from the active cutting area. It runs parallel to the maingate and serves as the primary ventilation return, pulling dust, methane, and spent air out of the district. Maintaining its structural integrity is critical because ground stresses converge heavily on this area as the coal panel is extracted.
We need an extra row of cribs in the tailgate before the shearer makes its next pass.
Related terms
Maingate
The primary tunnel that delivers fresh intake air and utilities to a longwall face.
Longwall
An underground coal mining method that extracts a wide panel in a single continuous slice.
Return
An underground passage that carries exhausted or contaminated air away from the working face.
Airway
Any underground gallery, drift, or shaft designated specifically for routing ventilation air through a mine.