The patent application describes a coal mining apparatus and its method of use in which a continuous mining machine removes and transfers cut material reducing airborne respirable coal dust generated in the cutting and collection process. The conventional high speed head rotating with the bits going forward at the top is replaced by a triangular shaped dished out linear cutting head rotating with the bits mounted at the apexes going rearward at the top. This produces a box cut in the mine face with a square cross-section. After the head has made a box cut by sumping the full head diameter beginning at the mine floor, it is sheared upwardly producing a linear shear cut. This shear step is at a constant depth equal to the complete cutting head diameter. The modified cutting head is used as a part of the loading and transfer mechanism.
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