Abstract
The processes of gas emission into the working face from coal, cut by the mining machine with the simultaneous top coal caving on- to the conveyor located behind the powered support units, are considered. The presence of two methane emission sources in the face requires addi- tional measures to ensure the aerologic safety of mining. Given the high rate of mining operations due to the performance of modern cutting ma- chines, there is a problem of maintaining the methane concentration in the upcast at a level of 1%. In this case, gas released from the coal mass caved onto the rear conveyor is partially added to the volume of gas released from the cut coal into the face, which generally increases the absolute gas content in the stope. Measures are proposed to contain the growth of gas content in the face in the form of alternations of machined coal breaking and top coal caving processes, which do not overlap in time during the en- tire mining cycle. Due to the fact that this technology is experimental, its adaptation to mining and geological conditions of mines is required.