Where in the mine is coal primarily extracted?

Coal is primarily extracted at the face, which is the working area of the mine where the coal seams are exposed and accessible for extraction. In mining terminology, the 'face' refers to the surface of the coal that miners actively work on to obtain the resource. The mining process involves removing overburden, if necessary, and then cutting or blasting coal from this area.

The other terms mentioned are associated with different aspects of mining operations. A tenement refers to land or rights of ownership granted to mine coal but does not indicate an area where extraction occurs. A depression refers to a low point or dip in the land, which is not specifically related to the mining process and does not describe a location of active coal extraction. A shaft is a vertical or near-vertical tunnel that provides access to deeper areas of the mine but isn’t where coal is actively extracted; rather, it serves as a means to transport workers and materials in and out of the mine.