STRATEGY FOR MINING RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.

The author deals with the strategy on which current U. K. mining research and development work must be based if it is to make its maximum contribution to the industry's safety and productivity. This strategy is founded on the progress of projects through four phases: Research, Development, Demonstration and Exploitation. The work currently being done by MRDE (Mining Research and Development Establishment) in each of these four phases is described, beginning with the long-term research face. In the short term, the key problem now facing the industry is the inconsistency of performance of established longwall face equipment.