Caterpillar Performance Handbook, January 2017, SEBD0351-47

6-2 Edition 47

Highwall Mining System

HIGHWALL MINING METHOD

Feasibility Determination

Highwall mining can produce exceptionally low cost

coal if conditions are right. Having the right geology and

environmental conditions is the key to success. Caterpillar

and its dealers can assist you with an in depth evaluation

of the site. For a very high-level evaluation, you can start

by going to the Highwall Miner page on

www.cat.com

and use the on-line site evaluation tool.

Extracting Coal Affordably and Safely

Highwall mining is a proven and versatile primary

method for mining coal from exposed seams.

The Cat HW300 highwall miner stands on the pit floor

or on a bench, directly in front of the exposed seam and

makes long parallel rectangular drives into the coal seam.

Pillars of material are left in place between the entries to

support the over burden.

A remote-operated cutter module is pushed up to

300 m (1000 ft) into the seam by a string of push beams

(unmanned coal-conveying elements) that transport the

mined coal back to the entry of the drive onto a stock-

pile. The whole mining cyle is completed by a three- or

four-man crew, with no personnel going underground

at any time.

The self-contained and self propelled Cat highwall

mining system offers an innovative method for extracting

coal from exposed seams in a multitude of applications.

Whether you’re operating a trench, open cast or con-

tour mine, the Cat highwall mining system can extract

coal affordably and safely:

●

Open Cast

—Highwall mining is used tomine coal from

underneath the final highwall, when the strip limit is

reached due to economic reasons or surface conditions.

●

Trench Mining

—The unit mines coal from both sides

of a purpose-prepared trench; this mining method is

used when an open pit is not an option.

●

Contour Mining

— In a mountainous area, the Cat

highwall mining system can follow a coal seam along

the side of the hill.

Highwall Mining Method

Highwall Miner Applications

HIGHWALL MINER APPLICATIONS

1 Open Cast Pit Mining

2 Trench Mining (mining seams on both sides)

3 Contour Mining