a guide assembly for a longwall shearer . the shearer includes an arm having an arm end and a cutting drum rotatably coupled to the arm end . the cutting drum rotates about a drum axis and engages a mine wall , and the cutting drum has a rear extent arranged in a plane substantially perpendicular to the drum axis . the guide assembly includes a guide member coupled to the arm and operable to guide material won from the mine wall . the guide member has a guide surface extending in a direction non - parallel to the plane and non - parallel to the drum axis . the guide member guides material along the guide surface away from the cutting drum .