Talk:Retreat mining

Possible sources and external links
page is basically a stub right now. I thought it could use some more info, citations, and links. I've got stuff to do right now, but just thought I'd leave these here now.
 * Kentucky Retreat Mining Study
 * roof and pillar
 * US Dept. of Labor on retreat mining methods


 * a simple google of "retreat mining". returns many results as well. ._- zro tc 05:29, 8 August 2007 (UTC)

Retreat mining vs. Room and pillar mining
The two methods sound identical to me, except that the rooms are intentionally allowed to collapse with retreat mining, while they (hopefully) won't collapse with room and pillar mining. Perhaps the articles should be merged and one should become a redirect to the other? &mdash;QuicksilverT @ 20:45, 8 August 2007 (UTC)

My understanding is that the room and pillar system is simply one system for supporting ceiling. It can be used with many types of mining, and can even be combined with other support meathods. As I understand it, retreat mining best defined as "Mining into support pillars without replacing them with other forms of support, intending for collapse to occur. It is usualy performed in a retreating manner (from far side to enterance) in order to maximize the amount of pillars that can be mined." 67.76.153.111 02:23, 9 August 2007 (UTC)

"Robbing the pillars"
I'm more familiar with the evocative phrase "Robbing the pillars" in reference to historical practices, and this is used in the Coal mining article as an apparent synonym for "retreat mining". Are these actually the same, or does the new term reflect some change in practices? Mike Serfas 20:06, 16 August 2007 (UTC)

"robbing the pillars" is the term I am more familiar with as well... I think that "retreat mining" is made up by the AP, since almost all mining methods retreat back towards good ground and pulling pillars is common to all mining methods.Djoeyd114 20:44, 16 August 2007 (UTC)

Merger proposal
I propose that Retreat mining be merged into Room and pillar. As far as I can tell from the present article retreat mining, retreat mining is just a stage of the room and pillar system. As it is, both articles are also short enough that they could be served by a merger. If anyone knews anything that would change this impression, please say so.

I've already moved some details over from retreat mining to room and pillar. Retreat mining was already listed as a 'see also', without being mentioned in the article itself, so I figured it would be good to elaborate on the subject. The material is an edited version of information from the room and pillar article. Mxheil (talk) 19:49, 13 July 2012 (UTC)