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Room and pillar (variant of breast stoping), is a mining system in which the mined material is extracted across a horizontal plane, creating horizontal arrays of rooms and pillars. To do this, "rooms" of ore are dug out while "pillars" of untouched material are left to support the roof overburden. Calculating the size, shape, and position of pillars is a complicated procedure, and is an active area of research. The technique is usually used for relatively flat-lying deposits, such as those that follow a particular stratum. Room and Pillar mining can be advantageous because it reduces the risk of surface Subsidence compared to other underground mining techniques. It is also advantageous because it can be mechanized, and is relatively simple. However, because significant portions of ore may have to be left behind, recovery and profits can be low. Room and Pillar mining was one of the earliest methods used, although with significantly more man - power.

The room and pillar system is used in mining coal, iron and base metals ores, particularly when found as manto or blanket deposits, stone and aggregates, talc, soda ash and potash. It is used worldwide from the Czech Republic to China to the USA.