What is the term for the roof support system commonly used in longwall mining?

In longwall mining, the term that refers to the roof support system is chocks. Chocks are hydraulic supports that provide temporary roof support as the longwall face advances. They are designed to instantly adjust and support the roof while allowing the mined-out area to safely collapse once the chocks have moved forward. This system is crucial for ensuring the safety of miners and maintaining the stability of the mine structure during operations.

The chocks are specifically engineered to withstand the weight of the overlying rock and are integral to the longwall mining process, which is characterized by the extraction of coal in a continuous face, enabling high recovery rates. Without chocks, the risk of roof collapse increases significantly, making them essential safety equipment in this method of mining.