A surface mining system for removing material from a mining face generally includes a conveyor extending substantially parallel to the mining face, a miner supported by and moveable along the conveyor, and a conveyor translation device associated with the conveyor and operable to move the conveyor and the miner toward the mining face. A method for advancing a surface mining longwall system generally includes moving the longwall shearer along a face conveyor, operating load translation devices to move the face conveyor and the longwall shearer toward the mining face, resetting a first group of load translation devices, and then resetting a second group of load translation devices. A load translation device generally includes an actuator, a ground drilling device coupled to and moveable with a portion of the actuator, and a frame coupled to and moveable with another portion of the actuator.