strokenwinning

Strokenwinning is a method of mining in which the resource, such as coal or peat, is extracted in long, parallel strips. The strips are planned to be narrow and contiguous, with unmined material left between them to provide structural support and to control subsidence. The approach aims to balance efficient resource recovery with roof stability and safety.

In underground applications, mining progresses strip by strip. A strip is excavated while adjacent strips remain intact to support the overburden and to maintain ventilation and access. When a strip is exhausted, the operation advances to the next strip, with the sequence designed to manage rock pressure and ground movement. In surface or opencast implementations, overburden is removed and the underlying material extracted in similar longitudinal strips, with the ground between strips monitored for settlement and environmental impact.

The method is related to other staged extraction techniques such as room-and-pillar and longwall mining, but is distinguished by its linear, strip-based geometry. It is chosen in contexts where geology and economics favor incremental, repeatable passes and where controlling surface disturbance and subsidence is a priority. Environmental and safety considerations include ground movement, water management, dust, and land rehabilitation after mining progresses.

Strokenwinning has historical relevance in regions with shallow seams or peat deposits, where the strip approach facilitated resource recovery while managing stability and access. See also: longwall mining, room-and-pillar mining, strip mining.