Patent ID: 6851757

Claim:
A method of mining an underground ore body, comprising the steps of excavating a plurality of laterally spaced first ventilation tunnels in the ore body by means of an auger mining machine; excavating a plurality of laterally spaced second tunnels in the ore body, wherein each second tunnel intersects at least one first tunnel and thereby defines a plurality of first support walls for supporting a roof of the mine, wherein the first support walls comprise regions of the ore body intermediate adjacent the second tunnels and wherein each first support wall having a portion of at least one first tunnel extending laterally therethrough; providing a plurality of lateral conduits, each of which is aligned across a respective second tunnel between respective first tunnel portions defined in adjacent first support walls, to provide a series of continuous ventilation tunnels; backfilling the second tunnels to provide a plurality of second support walls for supporting the roof of the mine; and excavating the first support walls.