Longwall Mining Through Faults at Moranbah North

The coal mining industry has had to contend with the hazard of geological structure since earliest history. In recent years, there has been considerable success in mining through faults of less than seam displacement, generally consisting of relatively simple structures with a limited zone of influence. Generally, longwall mining through fault structures of greater than seam displacement has been less successful. At Moranbah North, recent experience has demonstrated that both large displacement and structurally complex faulting should not present a barrier to successful and economic development and longwall extraction.