ABSTRACT
The solution of geomechanical problems and their practical applications in the mining of coal seams has been and will continue to be one of the major directions of research in the coal industry. Qualitative changes are presently taking place in geomechanics as applied to mining. Quite extensive investigations of the geomechanical problems encountered during working of longwalls in single seams are underway covering all the principal aspects, namely roof management, supporting the mine working, rock bumps, sudden rock and gas bursts etc. Extraction of seams employing the method of pillar-free management of development workings has become quite common in recent years. The problem of supporting vertical mine workings during extraction of single seams at present poses no difficulties. During mining of a series of seams problems of proper spatial location of development workings assume great importance.
