A coal mining process used to recover coal that is otherwise difficult or impossible to access, due to high cover or where pre-existing (Civil War, etc.) mine works make the coal too hazardous to recover. An auger is similar in appearance to a large wood drill, and several augers can be attached one to the other to a length of up to 250 feet, although 200 feet of depth is generally considered the practical maximum depth of drilling. This is inexpensive mining, but is not favored by many landowners, who want the maximum amount of coal taken from their reserve.
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