longwall

[ lawng-wawl, long- ]

adjective

, Mining.

1. noting or pertaining to a means of extracting coal or other minerals in an underground mine from a continuous face, the roof before the face being supported at intervals by temporary or movable artificial supports. Compare room-and-pillar.

noun

1. the continuous face so worked.

Word History and Origins

Origin of longwall¹

First recorded in 1830–40; long ¹ + wall

Example Sentences

Production at the Perth-based company's Dendrobium coal mine in Illawarra was affected by an extended planned longwall move.

From Reuters

Longwall configuration is a form of underground mining where a long wall of coal is mined in a single slice.

From Reuters

South32 has planned four longwall moves - switching from mining one longwall to another - over fiscal 2024.

From Reuters

Production volumes at the project will be weighted to the second half of fiscal 2024 owing to planned longwall moves across the year, the company added.

From Reuters

South32, the world's biggest producer of manganese, is facing operational headwinds at its Illawarra Metallurgical Coal project after the miner undertook an extended planned longwall move at the Dendrobium mine.

From Reuters