Surface mining method

Claim 1

A method of surface mining along an elongated pit exposing a strip of the mineral seam between two opposed banks, using a cross-pit transporter having a conveying means extending completely across the pit and an overburden excavator moveable along the working bank of the pit within the normal working path of the cross-pit transporter comprising the steps of: a. progressively excavating the topsoil layer along the working bank of the pit; b. separately and progressively excavating the remaining overburden along said working bank using the overburden excavator and transferring the excavated overburden material and depositing it in spoils piles along the opposite bank of the pit; c. separately transporting the topsoil directly across and over the pit using the cross-pit transporter and depositing such topsoil selectively with respect to said overburden material on the opposite bank while pivotably supporting said conveying means solely from one bank, whereby said cross-pit conveying means is occasionally pivoted to a non-interfering position to permit passing of said overburden excavator to change the relative positions of the two machines.

Claim 2

A method of surface mining along an elongated pit exposing a strip of the mineral seam between two opposed banks, using a cross-pit transporter having a conveying means extending completely across the pit and an overburden excavator moveable along the working bank of the pit within the normal working path of the cross-pit transporter comprising the steps of: a. progressively excavating the topsoil layer along the working bank of the pit; b. separately and progressively excavating the remaining overburden along said working bank using the overburden excavator and transferring the excavated overburden material and depositing it in spoils piles along the opposite bank of the pit; c. separately transporting the topsoil directly across and over the pit using the cross-pit transporter and depositing such topsoil selectively with respect to said overburden material on the opposite bank while pivotably supporting said conveying means solely from one bank, whereby said cross-pit conveying means is occasionally pivoted to a non-interfering position to permit passing of said overburden excavator to change the relative positions of the two machines.

Claim 4

A method of surface mining along an elongated pit which exposes a strip of the mineral seam between a working bank and a spoils bank, using a cross-pit material transporter pivotably supported solely on the working bank and having a conveying means extending completely across the pit and an overburden excavator movable along said working bank of the pit, comprising the steps of: a. progressively excavating an upper layer of overburden along the working bank, and transporting the material from said upper layer directly across and over the pit and depositing it on the spoils bank using the material transporter; b. concurrently, separately and progressively excavating the remaining overburden along said working bank using the overburden excavator and transferring the excavated remaining overburden to the spoils bank; c. continuing steps (a) and (b) moving in one direction along the pit; d. upon reaching the end of the pit, pivoting the cross-pit transporter to a non-interfering position to permit passing of said overburden excavator to change the relative working positions of the two machines; and e. repeating steps (a) and (b) moving in the opposite direction along the pit.

Claim 5

A method of surface mining along an elongated pit which exposes a strip of the mineral seam between a working bank and a spoils bank, using a cross-pit material transporter pivotably supported solely on the working bank and having a conveying means extending completely across the pit and an overburden excavator movable along said working bank of the pit, comprising the steps of: a. progressively excavating an upper layer of overburden along the working bank, and transporting the material from said upper layer directly across and over the pit and depositing it on the spoils bank using the material transporter; b. concurrently, separately and progressively excavating the remaining overburden along said working bank using the overburden excavator and transferring the excavated remaining overburden to the spoils bank; c. continuing steps (a) and (b) moving in one direction along the pit; d. upon reaching the end of the pit, pivoting the cross-pit transporter to a non-interfering position to permit passing of said overburden excavator to change the relative working positions of the two machines; and e. repeating steps (a) and (b) moving in the opposite direction along the pit.