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Mining term for the surface where the mining work is advancing
"Coal face" redirects here. For the 1935 GPO film, see Coal Face.
In mining, the face is the surface where the mining work is advancing. In surface hi mining it is commonly called pit face, in underground mining a common term is mine face.
Accordingly, face equipment is the mining equipment used immediately at the mine face used for removal and near-face transportation of the material: cutting machines, loaders, etc.