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Abstract

The study was aimed at choosing and substantiating efficient methods of calculating main roof-caving increments during mining of shallow coal seams with long breaking faces. For the conditions of the Vorkuta coal deposit in the Pechora coal basin, Russia, actual main roof-caving increments and calculated values obtained with the use of the methods used in the mines have been comparatively analyzed. The applied methods of calculating roof-caving increments have been analyzed, and the reasons for the discrepancy between the actual and calculated values of the roof-caving increments have been shown. The significant influence of breaking face advancing rate on the roof-caving increment has been shown. Recommendations have been given for the use of this method, with regard to the breaking face advancing rate, and the areas of further research have been determined.