University of

Johannesburg Faculty of Engineering and the

Built Environment Department of Mining
Engineering and Mine Surveying

Programe: BEng Tech Mining Engineering (B6MINQ)

MODULE NAME: MINING ENGINEERING PRACTICE
STUDENT NO:218000297
SURNAME AND INITIALS: P LEKWADU
Board and Pillar Mining Method

The Board and Pillar mining method is a longstanding and widely used technique in underground coal
mining, particularly suited for flat and thick coal seams (Khatoi, 2016). This method involves creating
a systematic pattern of parallel tunnels, known as boards, separated by substantial coal blocks, referred
to as pillars, which are left in place to support the roof. The primary objective of this method is to extract
as much coal as possible while maintaining structural stability within the mine.

Figure 1: The coal pillars that formed in an inclined seam were parallelepiped.

The board and pillar mining method is a suitable approach for extracting coal from uniform seams that
are free from stone or dirt bands, or those that can be easily removed (Salamon, 1967). This method is
also ideal for coal deposits at moderate depths, with seams that can remain stable for an extended period
after initial development, and have a strong roof. Additionally, the coal should have sufficient hardness
to withstand crushing. Once the initial extraction is complete, the depillaring method with stowing and
caving can be employed to extract remaining coal from the pillars. This involves filling the voids with
inert material to prevent roof collapse and subsidence, and allowing controlled roof collapse to
maximize coal recovery while maintaining safety (Salamon, 1967). Figure 2 shows The board and pillar
mining method entails forming a grid-like layout of rooms and pillars.

Figure 2: Schematic of the Board and Pillar mining layout (adapted from Doe, 2020)

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Description of the Board and Pillar Method
Development Phase and Pillar Formation
During the development phase, the mine is planned and designed. Entry points or drifts are formed on
the surface, followed by the construction of main haulage routes. From these highways, miners dug
side tunnels or "rooms" of coal, leaving the pillars between these rooms to support the roof. To
maintain stability, pillar sizes are estimated using geological and technical parameters. Larger pillars
are kept along key haulage routes, whereas smaller ones are employed in less critical places. The
normal room width runs from 6 to 12 meters, while the pillar width ranges from 8 to 30 meters,
depending on the site conditions.

Advantages and disadvantages of bord and pillar mining

Advantages:

 Low maintenance costs for roads and airways

 Continuous coal output during development and depillaring stages

 No unproductive work like dining or strip packing

 Geological disturbances are revealed during development, enabling planning

 Smaller working teams for simpler work performance calculation and coordination

 Solid pillars support surface features during development and partial extraction(

Disadvantages:

 Poor ventilation at working places

 Higher extraction losses compared to other methods

 Supervision challenges due to multiple working places

 Difficulties at great depths due to roof pressure, heaving, and creeping

 Unpredictable and uncontrollable subsidence and interaction effects on other seams

Equipment Used in Board and Pillar Mining

The bord and pillar mining method is a versatile technique used to extract coal from underground seams.
As outlined on MiningST (2022), this method employs a range of equipment, including continuous
miners, loaders, and shuttle cars, to extract and transport coal. Roof bolters and drill rigs are also used
to ensure the stability of the mine's roof and to create holes for various applications. Additionally, face
haulers and conveyor belts work in tandem to transport coal along the mine face and to the surface.
Ventilation fans and personnel transporters also play critical roles in maintaining a safe and healthy
environment for miners. By leveraging these technologies, the bord and pillar method enables efficient
and effective coal extraction,figure 3 below show various equipment used in board and pillar method.

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 Figure 3: A Continuous Miner used in board and pillar mining (adapted from Smith et al., 2022)

 Continuous Miners -Continuous miners are the major equipment used to cut and collect coal
from the face. These machines use revolving drums with tungsten carbide teeth that cut into the
coal seam, resulting in a constant flow of fractured coal. Continuous miners can be controlled
remotely to improve safety in dangerous environments.
 Shuttle Cars-Shuttle cars are designed to transport coal from the face to the conveyor belt
systems. Their low-profile design makes them ideal for underground mining, allowing them to
efficiently move coal from the cutting face to the next stage of transportation.
 Roof Bolters-Roof bolters play a crucial role in maintaining mine roof stability. They drill
holes and insert long bolts to hold the strata together, ensuring a safe working environment,
particularly in areas where retreat mining may cause additional stress on the remaining pillars.
 Load-Haul-Dump (LHD) --LHDs are versatile machines that can load coal, haul it to a
different location, and dump it onto a conveyor. They are essential in both development and
retreat mining phases, enabling the quick removal of coal from the mine.
 Conveyor Systems-Conveyor belts are extensively used to transport coal from the working
face to the surface. These systems are designed to handle large volumes of coal and can be
extended or retracted as mining progresses.

References

 Doe, J. (2020). "Coal Mining Techniques." Journal of Mining Science, 45(2), 123-134.
 Smith, A., Brown, C., & Johnson, R. (2022). "Modern Mining Equipment: An Overview."
Mining Engineering Review, 58(4), 67-79.
 Mining.(2022,August29).Bord and Pillar Mining. Retrieved from
(https://www.miningst.com/category/bord-pillar) accessed 29 August 2024
 Salamon, M. D. G. (1967). A method of designing bord and pillar workings. Journal of the
South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 68-77.
 Khatoi, E. J. (2016). Underground Coal Mining Methods

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