Coal Mining. Types of Coal Mines. There are four main types of coal mines: shaft mine, slope mine, drift mine, and surface (open-cast) mine. The mine at Coalwood was a shaft mine; the coal was brought up in an elevator from 600 to 800 feet underground.here are four main types of coal mines: shaft mine, slope mine, drift mine, and surface (open-cast) mine. The mine at Coalwood was a shaft mine; the coal was brought up in an elevator from 600 to 800 feet underground.