The following interactive 3D model shows a schematic representation of a hard coal mine with its most important surface and underground components. By clicking on the colour-highlighted objects, information about the respective component is displayed.
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Description
The 3D model depicts a typical hard coal mine as commonly found in the Ruhr area and other European coalfields. The installation comprises both the surface facilities (pithead buildings) and a simplified representation of the underground extraction. The viewer can freely rotate, zoom and pan the model to explore the spatial arrangement of the components.
By clicking on the colour-marked objects, a description of the respective component is displayed. This allows the material flow to be traced from coal extraction at the longwall face, through haulage up the shaft, to processing in the coal washing plant.
Components of the Mine
The following table provides an overview of the components shown in the model and their function in the operational sequence of a hard coal mine.
| Component | Description |
| Headframe | Stands above the shaft and supports the sheave wheels for the winding rope. Enables vertical transport of personnel, materials and raw coal between the surface and the underground levels. |
| Engine House | Houses the winding engine, which moves the cages or skips up and down the shaft via a steel rope. |
| Coal Washing Plant | Separates the extracted raw coal from the surrounding rock by exploiting the difference in density, using dense-medium separators or jig washers. |
| Changing House | Washing and changing facility for the miners, divided into a clean side (street clothes), a dirty side (work clothes) and a washroom. |
| Ventilation Shaft | Serves to ventilate the underground workings. Fresh air flows in and stale air is extracted – essential for diluting firedamp (methane). |
| Mine Drainage | Pumps remove groundwater that seeps in from the surrounding rock. Without them, the mine would flood. |
| Coal Plough | Pulled along the coal face by a chain, it shears thin chips from the seam. Mainly used in thin seams. |
| Drum Shearer | Cuts coal from the seam using rotating drums fitted with cutting picks. Used in thicker seams and achieves higher output than the coal plough. |
Interactive Controls
The 3D model can be controlled with the following inputs:
- Rotate: Hold down the left mouse button and drag
- Zoom: Scroll the mouse wheel or use a two-finger gesture on the touchscreen
- Pan: Hold down the right mouse button and drag
- Select object: Click on a colour-highlighted object to display its description
Technical Background
Hard coal mining requires the complex interplay of numerous surface and underground operating facilities. Coal is extracted at the longwall faces – the actual mining areas – and transported to the shaft by chain conveyors and belt systems. From there it is brought to the surface by the shaft winding system, where it is processed in the coal washing plant and classified for sale.
Underground safety depends crucially on the ventilation and drainage systems. Ventilation supplies fresh air to the underground workings and dilutes explosive gases such as methane (firedamp), which is naturally trapped within the coal seams. Mine drainage prevents the deep workings from flooding by removing the groundwater that seeps in from the surrounding rock.
Notes on the Model
The 3D model is a simplified, schematic representation. A real mine comprises numerous additional facilities, including workshops, stores, compressor stations, substations, rail systems and spoil tip installations. The underground representation is limited to the extraction equipment at the longwall face and does not show the complete mine layout with roadways, gate roads and staple shafts.