Which mining method involves a rotating drill for coal extraction?

The method that involves a rotating drill for coal extraction is auger mining. This technique utilizes a rotating auger (or screw-like drill) to bore into coal seams, enabling miners to extract coal from deposits that might be too thin or too steep for traditional surface mining methods.

Auger mining is particularly suitable for extracting coal from steeply dipping seams, where it can be more efficient and less disruptive compared to other methods. The rotating action of the auger allows for continuous drilling and extraction, often resulting in less wastage of surrounding material.

In contrast, surface mining and open-pit mining typically involve the removal of overburden to access coal resources, using large machinery like shovels and trucks, rather than employing a drilling method. Room and pillar mining is an underground mining technique that creates a network of rooms and pillars, and while it may involve drilling, it does not rely on a rotating drill for coal recovery in the same manner as auger mining.