ABSTRACT
One of the main problems to be overcome in communicating any work dealing with mining is that of terminology. Each coalfield has its own vocabulary for describing the systems, equipment, and processes of mining, and in the older coalfields, such as North West Durham, many pits use a number of entirely local expressions. Though the N.C.B. has attempted to rationalize the terminology used in the industry, in this account North West Durham usage is followed. So far as possible minimum use is made of specifically mining terms. A guide to mining terminology has, however, been prepared and is offered in Appendix I. Our interest is to develop a set of concepts which relate the technological and the socio-psychological systems. Since we shall be primarily concerned with longwall methods, illustrations of the concepts developed will refer to longwall organizaton.
