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Various underground mining methods are employed depending on geological conditions. One prominent technique is longwall mining, particularly utilised in coal and other flat-lying deposits. In longwall mining, a continuous mining machine known as the shearer traverses back and forth along the face of a coal seam, cutting slices of ore. As the shearer advances, hydraulic supports, called shields, are installed to hold up the roof. Conveyor belts transport the extracted ore to the surface for proce