An underground mining apparatus includes a mining head for moving through underground material to extract material in its path and form a passageway behind the mining head as it advances. An elongate structure extends along the passageway to the mining head and provides a path for delivering the extracted material to ground surface. A shroud is positioned about the elongate structure for supporting engagement with the periphery of the passageway and to provide a space through which the elongate structure can move. The shroud has a cross-sectional shape corresponding generally to the cross-sectional shape of the passageway formed by the mining head. A method is also disclosed.