Factors Governing Choice of a Mining Method

 1. Shape and size of the deposit:

Based on the shape, the ore bodies can be divided as
 Isometrical: almost equal dimensions in all the three directions. Isometrical ore-bodies are of two
types:
 (i) Stock and Nests: These are usually irregular in shape but having almost equal dimensions in
all directions. Massive deposits fall in this category. Stocks can have dimensions even in
kilometres, whereas nests are limited in size, within several meters.

 (ii) Columnar: extended in one direction downward. As the name suggests columnar deposits
are like a column. Many of Diamond deposits are the examples of columnar deposits. These are
also known as pipe deposits, which are almost vertical and thin, and extending in depth.
 Sheet: extended in two directions.

 The sheet deposits are having almost a constant thickness. Coal seams and ore veins are
considered in this category. But the veins usually do not have uniform thickness. Tabular
deposits fall in this category. Lenses are considered to be a change from first to third group,
having irregular shape and unequal dimension in all the three directions.
2. Deposit’s contact with country rock:

 This aspect is also important as sharp and distinct contact of the

deposit with country rocks makes the mining process easier.
Massive ores (ore minerals combined with small amount of rock)
have well defined contact with the country rock. In other cases,
such as impregnation ores (ore rocks with small ore minerals) have
no sharp contact with country rocks.
Thickness of deposit

 Ore body thickness is a normal distance between footwall and

hanging wall.
 If distance is measured along the normal direction, then it is termed
as true thickness. But when it is measured vertically or horizontally
then vertical thickness or horizontal thickness.
 In very thin deposits floor stripping becomes essential.
 For very
Types thick deposits ore mining
of deposits(thickness from hanging
Thickness wall towards
in metres
wise)
Veryfootwall (transverse stoping)
thin deposits becomes essential.
thickness less than 0.7m.
Thin deposits: thickness range. 0.7–2m
Medium thick deposit: thickness range 2–5m.
Thick deposit: thickness range 5–20m.
Very thick deposit thickness exceeding 20m.
Dip of the deposit
 Dip of the deposit is one of the most important parameters, which governs a mining
method/system.
 Classification:-
Flat dipping: 0°to below 20°.
Inclined dipping: from 20°to below 50°.
Steeply inclined dipping: exceeding 50°.

 Following are some of the important aspects regarding dip:

 Roof pressure decreases with increasing depth.
 Low dip provides firm foothold.
 Influence of dip during rock fragmentation.
 With increasing dip, the loading and transportation of the broken muck becomes easier.
5. Physical and mechanical characteristics of the ore and the enclosing rocks

 Factors affecting the mechanical strength:- Hardness, toughness, jointing,

laminations, presence of foreign inclusions and intercalation.
 Strength of rocks has influence on selection a mining method as this feature has got a direct
bearing on selection of mining equipment and tools, also assessing the consumption pattern of
materials (explosives, drilling accessories etc.), labour productivity and cost of extraction.
 In underground mining the stability of ore and country rock is equally important as the
rock strength. Stability is the ability of a massif, undermined (exposed) from beneath or sides, to
resist caving for a certain period of time.
 Apart from the physical and mechanical properties of the rock massif, stability is also affected by
many other factors:-
1.Depth of workings
2.Cross section
3. Size & Shape
Immediately after exposure the rock seldom shows signs of instability but in due course of time it
starts loosing stability due to rock pressure, and atmospheric conditions, and thereby it starts
caving.
Divided into four groups as outlined below:
 Very unstable ores and rocks:The rocks, which do not allow any exposure of roof and walls and
need advanced timbering; such rocks and ground are: quick and, loose and water saturated
strata etc.
 Unstable ores and rocks: In this type of strata the roof/back needs a strong support immediately
after its exposure.

 Medium stable ores and rocks:This type of strata permits exposure of the roof over a
comparatively large area and requires support if the roof exposure is to be allowed for a
considerable time period.
 Very stable ores and rocks : This type of strata can allow exposure for sufficient time and space
without causing caving. Strata of this kind are rarely encountered comparing the same with the
previous two groups.
 Roof Pressure: Roof pressure over a worked out space depends upon the texture of rock
constituting the roof/back, its coherence, dip of the deposit, span, and rate of mining and
duration of its exposure.
6. Presence of geological disturbances and influence of the direction of cleats or
partings

 Geological disturbance includes presence of any one of them or combination of more than one
of structures such as fault, folds, joints, fissures, dykes etc.
 These structures usually require extra care in terms of strata stability, water seepage, gas leakage
etc. making the mining process sometimes more tedious and slow.
 Presence of such structures usually result into higher costs and decline in productivity.
 The fissures running parallel to strike can be mined by overhand or underhand stoping.
 If the transverse fissures, which run almost parallel to the dip, penetrate deposit, it should be
mined adopting breast stoping.
 The worked out space should be either backfilled, or caving of the roof (back) should be allowed.
 7. Degree of mechanization and output required
 Mechanization means performing the underground operations using machines.
• Degree-1 mechanization:Conventional pusher leg drills, rocker shovels, loco haulage and blast
hole drills of 50–60mm. dia.
• Degree-2 mechanization means use of jumbos, trackless equipment such as LHDs(1 cu. yd.
capacity or more), low profile dumpers and small capacity trucks. Drilling in stopes is by the same
drills as in degree-1 mechanization.
• Degree-3 mechanization has the same set of machines as in degree-2, except that the drilling
(for stoping) is by the down-the-hole drills capable of drilling holes of 150–200mm. dia. of 40m
length.
 In some situation the production requirements or the market demands select a mining
method.
 Higher output warrants selection of bulk mining methods for which use of equipment of
higher capacity and heavy duty becomes essential.
 The various sets of equipment used for this purpose are costly and require a huge sum of
capital investment, and if not effectively utilized, leads to low productivity and higher
overall costs. But when utilized properly, the cost of mining is substantially reduced.
8. Ore grade and its distribution, and value of the product
 Ore grade plays a vital role in selecting a mining method.
 Low-grade deposit can be mined out profitably if bulk-mining methods are applied.
 High -grade deposit cans be mined out by any of the mining methods and even up to a great
depth.
 The more homogeneous a deposit, the less difficult it is to evaluate and mine out.eg-Gold
Table : Proportion of valuable content in mineral deposit

 Ore value is the focal point while selecting a mining method.

 The cut-off grade further decides ore reserves, as mineral reserves in any deposit below cut-off
grade are considered waste and the one at and above cut-off grade as ore reserves.
 9. Depth of the deposit  10. Presence of water
 Deepening of workings below 600–800m is  Ores may be wet, dry or damp.
often accompanied by a considerable rise in  Ore’s moisture promotes caking and freezing
rock pressure, thus impeding the use of
during winter.
some systems.
 Pumping cost is added. Acidic water
 Abrupt inrush of ore or rock burst from the
adversely affects health and safety of the
stressed pillars is a phenomenon that has
workers.
been encountered at very deep horizons.
 A proper drainage system means
 At greater depths apart from rock stability,
improvement in the haulage productivity
the problems of heat and humidity equally
and better life of mine track and roads.
arise.
 Presence of water during deep mining
 But relief from the occurrence of rock bursts
causes the problem of humidity.
were felt when the filling material was
replaced by concrete fill and changing
stoping method to stope drive.
 Apart from this, cost of ventilation, support,
drainage, hoisting, transportation also
increases
 11. Presence of gases  12. Ore & Country rocks susceptibility
to caking and oxidation
 Caking:-Some ore deposits are
 In a coal deposit presence of associated with small fractions of clays
methane gas is common. or some sticky material causes
 Some other gases emitted in mines, problems after their fragmentation, as
these clay or sticky materials after
prominent amongst them are:
getting wet during their mining may
carbon dioxide –CO2, hydrogen result into cakes which are large
sulphide – H2S, sulphur dioxide – immovable hard-to-loose solids.
SO2, and few others.  This phenomenon causes problems
 during ore drawing from as tope; due to
Presence of these gases adds to
ore mass bridging and plugging of ore
ventilation costs and needs extra passes.
care towards safety.
 Oxidation: Ore containing more than
 Special care is required while 40% sulphur in the form of pyrite or
selecting and designing a mining pyrhotite, etc. are liable to fires and
method to win sulphur, uranium, thus, most hazardous.
pyrite and coal.  The pyrites ores after the
fragmentation and prolonged storage,
may cause intensive heating due to
their self-oxidation.
Thankyou