Summary
This review explores the different methods of underground mining. Links to underground mining courses, books, consultants, and software are also given.
INTRODUCTION
This review is written to give you a quick overview of the basics of underground mining methods. We do this primarily by listing links to resources on the web where you will find more information about each of the many ways that miners have chosen to develop their underground mine.
If you know of or have other resources that you believe will help the rest of us, please pass them along so we can add them in and make this the definitive reference work on the basics of underground mining methods.
EDUMINE
Edumine provides an excellent source for education and training through a set of
online and
short courses. Courses in Edumine are designed to serve for three needs:
- Improve Your Background Knowledge of Mining
- Technical and Trades Training and Certification
- Professional Development, Career Enhancement and Cross Training
Here are our favourites:
COSTS
The best way to understand something is to know what it costs. To understand underground mining, it helps to know what it costs. So I went to
CostMine (a division of InfoMine). In their publication
Mining Cost Service, there is a section for Cost Models. It contains data on every aspect of almost every type of underground mining method. Costs include everything from fresh water pumps to haul dumps, from drill bits to geologists.
Contact them if you need more info. To whet your appetite, here is a summary:
For a shaft entry underground mine, here are the approximate total operating costs [in dollars per tonne ore] and the total capital costs [millions of dollars]. (2010 figures)
|
Production Rate (t/day) |
$/t |
$M |
| Cut & Fill |
1,000 |
68.03 |
32.7 |
| Mechanized Cut & Fill |
1,000 |
52.48 |
68.4 |
| Shrinkage |
1,000 |
51.49 |
31.5 |
| End Slice |
2,000 |
25.58 |
45 |
| Vertical Crater Retreat |
2,000 |
40.36 |
66.8 |
| Sublevel Longhole |
4,000 |
19.02 |
63.7 |
| Room & Pillar |
8,000 |
20.83 |
118.2 |
| Sublevel Caving |
8,000 |
21.99 |
142.6 |
| Block Caving |
30,000 |
9.10 |
163.7 |
Then there is the Aventurine software SHERPA.
BOOKS & PAPERS
Check out the
InfoMine eStore for several publications related to underground mining.
There are over 400 papers in the InfoMine library to underground mining and the methods applicable thereunto.
Finally a recommendation from one of my reviewers: Another book you might want to reference is "Underground Mining Methods, Engineering Fundamentals and International Case Studies" edited by William A. Hustrulid and Richard L. Bullock, published by the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration.
CONSULTANTS
If you seek a consultant to help you through this thicket of information, here is my selection, culled from a longer
list:
Coffey Mining
Graham Daws Associates Limited
Independent Mining Consultants, Inc. (IMC)
Klohn Crippen Berger Ltd.
Kusha Maadan Engineering
Mencon LLC
Terracon Geotechnique Ltd.
Trow Associates Inc
Turgis Consulting (Pty) Ltd
SOFTWARE
Here are some software suppliers who appear to have computer codes for sale that may help in planning and operating an underground mine:
If you need help evaluating these software packages, contact Gibbs Associates or the folks at GR-FX.
CAREERS
Working in an underground mine is now safer than ever. A career in an underground mine is not only rewarding but is also among the top paid industry jobs. To see the
opportunities in an underground mine which match your skills, visit InfoMine's
Careers section
TECHNICAL - MINING METHOD LINKS
BLOCK CAVING
Book: Bucky, P.B., Mining by Block Caving
Block Caving
An Overview of Block Caving
Block cave mining at Argyle Mine (video)
CUT AND FILL
Cut and Fill Stoping
Cut and Fill vs Drift and Fill
Cut-and-fill Stoping (Process and equipment used)
Cut and Fill Stoping (Video)
HYDRAULIC MINING / HYDRO MINING
Introduction
A Case Study - New Zealand
Hydraulic coal mining - Seddonville, NZ
A look into its Benefits
Book - Hydraulic mining of coal, by D. Seaton & Coal age
LONGWALL
Here are some of the links I selected from thousands on the topic of longwall mining-there are many more in InfoMine's links database, LinksMine:
Edumine - Underground Mining Methods and Equipment
Longwall Mining Method - Wikipedia
Book: Longwall Mining by Syd S. Peng
Longwall Mining Equipment - Caterpillar
Longwall Mining Videos
ROOM AND PILLAR
Atlas Copco Notes
Different types of room-and-pillar methods from the Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Descriptions
Room and Pillar Mining (Video)
SHRINKAGE STOPING
Definition
Book - Techniques in underground mining: selections from Underground mining methods
Shrinkage Stope Mining
SLICE MINING (INCLINED & HORIZONTAL SLICING)
Book - Principles and Practices of Modern Coal Mining- By R. D. Singh
Strata mechanics in coal mining, By Michael L. Jeremic
SLUSHER MINING
Please take a look at this article.
SOLUTION (IN SITU LEACH) MINING
A better way to mine?
In Situ Leach (ISL) Mining of Uranium
Solution Mining Research Institute
Salt Cavern Information Center
Southwest Research and Information Center
In Situ Leach Uranium (Video) & Copper (Video)
STULL STOPES
Book - Introductory mining engineering - By Howard L. Hartman, Jan M. Mutmansky
Definitions - Wikipedia
SUBLEVEL CAVING
Sublevel Caving
Sub-level caving operations for gold extraction in the Abitibi region of Quebec
Sublevel Caving (Video)
Sublevel Caving Simulation Video
SUBLEVEL STOPING
Some links on open stopes:
Edumine - Design and Application of Sublevel Stoping Methods
Sublevel Open Stoping - SLOS -- Brief description; Applications
Sublevel Stoping -- Process, stoping methods, and equipment used
Sublevel Stoping (Video)
TOP SLICING
A type of mining that I had not previously come across:
Definitions - Top Slicing
Top Slicing and Cover Caving
VERTICAL CRATER RETREAT
Vertical Crater Retreat
Vertical Crater Retreat (RichieWiki)
Vertical Crater Retreat - SME Handbook
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