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Jack Delaney

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Voices of the Hunter

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Jim Mitchell - Mines Deputy on the longwall. Recorded 1 May 1991. Part 1/2.

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SummaryJIM MITCHELL
Recorded 1 May 1991
Part 1/2

0:15
Jim is a Deputy on the long wall – Jim describes the way the wall is cut or when the sheer is done – The cutter cuts up high and low from the tailgate. It cuts the top to the main gate and it drops the head of the cutter down and then takes the bottom back on the return. That is one sheer of the wall. Jim was a Deputy. Describes the return, one complete "shear", stage loader that carried the coal onto a conveyor belt that is about 12 mtrs and about 6 ft. at its highest point and mtr and half wide, the crusher

1:48
The main gate is the intake airway and the tailgate is the return. The stage loader carries the coal from the face on to the conveyor belt. The stage loader would be 12m long and 2m high at its highest point. At this point it drops on to the belt. Its widest point would be the crusher which is about a metre and half wide. Description of "fly cutting". Definition of "stage loader". Dimensions of "stage loader". Definition of "stage loader". Description of "crusher".

2:55
Main gate (intake airway), Tail gate (return airway), what is a drop Warwick? Possibly drop brattice, never heard of it. Ian Anderson

4:05
Jim draws a diagram of showing the return airway, belt and loco road. Underground flow of air in longwall operations. Discusses pillars getting crushed. Recalls where timber was used in mining. Method of securing mine roof

6:50
Discusses how to get in and out of the returns, through doorways, double doors at 19 cut through no.2 east, 4 machines. Going to put another shaft in.

8:12
Use of timber to secure wall, timber stands up to help with the next wall and return, Jim describes whilst drawing a diagram. Timber stays there, “chock” or a ‘pigs sty’ built out of sleepers.

9:33
Reason for using "tech foam" seal. Description of "tech foam" seal. They nail half a dozen batons up to the roof, then nail sheets of plaster, sealing prevents spontaneous combustion, 5 props, hardyplex. A hole is made in plaster and tech seal is pumped in to it. Tech seal is a foamy sort of grout, if any leakage (of air).

11:43
Description of "cable bolts" is like wire rope, 10 mtr long cable bolts. Distance between cable bolts. Recalls preparation for inserting cable bolts. They call is ‘bird cage’. Grout was pump-filled into roof holes

13:04
Describes how holes are bored. Describes cable bolt in hole, quarter inch plastic hose.

14:55
Continues to discuss grouting process, $1000 pallet of tech foam. Half inch pumping tube is taped, then a breather tube put in bucket of water- when bubbles cease grouting/seal is done.

17:36
Describes the making of trusses using bolts. Describes how to make and use a truss. Technique being used on 6 cut through in the belt road, million dollar job.

19:29
Reclamation of mine fall-in/roof creep. Contractors are Coal Rock, they are boring holes out and pumping it full of strata binder and goes all through the cracks (is like a resin). Not touching the roof, levelling the floor.

21:09
Description of cutting with "shear cutter"

21:45
Belt went through drift and into bin, Jim worked on it. Description of "long-hole firing".

23:26
Description of "burn cut" holes. Shot-fired using "long hole" method

24:35
Recalls boring 10 inch holes using air tract. These were named burn cut holes. Shot using the long hole method.

27:48
Used "gunite" to protect exposed stone

29:46
Len Grant provided information to Jim.

30:26
Description of Stage loader. Number of "chocks" in main gate

31:10
Conveyor was suspended from mine roof from chains.

32:27
Reason for using "crusher"

33:21
End (Tape 436/Side A) Last edited by: Dave Trimble

SubjectMitchell, James Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

Coal mines and mining -- New South Wales -- Cessnock RegionLongwall mining -- New South Wales -- Cessnock RegionDeputyPersonJack Delaney Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

CreatorMitchell, JamesDelaney, Jack, 1919-2010CollectionVoices of the Hunter Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

PlaceCessnock, NSW Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

Date Created1st May 1991Identifier436A Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

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