Patent ID: 8899692

Claim:
A method for mining a material in an underground environment, the method comprising the steps of: locating a structure in or adjacent to an underground roadway so that the structure provides a reactive force when a cutting head is pushed against the material via a series of rigid members coupled to the structure, the structure being arranged for simultaneous coupling of the series of rigid members from at least two directions so that branch tunnel portions can be formed in at least two respective directions, and the underground roadway being suitable for passage of people, and transportation of machinery and removed material; positioning the cutting head and the series of rigid members so that the structure provides the reactive force when the cutting head is pushed against the material via the series of rigid members; and forming a plurality of branch tunnel portions projecting into the material, comprising: forming a first branch tunnel portion using the cutting head and the series of rigid members in a first direction; and thereafter forming a second branch tunnel portion and, during formation of the second branch tunnel portion, moving rigid members across the roadway from the first branch tunnel portion into the second branch tunnel portion to extend the series of rigid members in the second branch tunnel portion in a second direction.