By

Engr. Amanul Mulk

1
Role of Underground Mining
 Appeal of surface Mining:
 Mass production and minimum cost.
 Attraction of U/Mining : Variety and Versatility of
methods.
 USA: Surface mining, 85 %
 Underground Mining, 15 %
 Non metallic ore 4%
 Metallic ore 13%
 Coal 42%
 Table 5.1, page 150

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Role of Underground Mining
 Mostly Fluorite, lead, potash, trona (sodium carbonate compound) and
 Coal, Salt and Silver are mined by U/M method.
 Reasons for U.G mining
 Increasing depth
 Reduced mobility of large scale surface machinery
 Ever tightening environmental controls
 Promising advances in U/G rock boring and continuous
mining

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Uniqueness of Underground access
 Preparation for development and exploitation require
certain considerations which otherwise surface mining
does not need.
 The most critical are
 Ore and rock strength
 The presence of ground water
 Rock temperature
 Rock gradient
 Economic-political and environmental factors

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Uniqueness of Underground access
 Further
 Skilled labor must be recruited
 Financing may be difficult because higher risk is
involved
 Subsidence must be controlled.
 Limited excavation and relatively small opening
 Overall cost may be high
 More careful attention may be given to
 Survival of life
 Construction and scheduling of openings
5
Sequence of development
 Adoption of feasibility report as a planning document,
subject to modification as development progresses.
 Confirmation of mining method.
 Arrangement of financing based on confirmed cost
estimates.
 Acquisition of land, including mineral rights and surface as
needed.
 Filling of environmental impact statement, obtaining
mining permit including reclamation plan.
 Provision of surface access, transportation, communication
and power supply to the mine site.
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Sequence of development
Planning and constructing of surface plant, including
all support and service facilities and administrative
offices.
Erection of mineral processing plant, if required and
ore handling and shipment facilities and provision of
stockpiling and waste disposal facilities.
Selection of mining equipment for development and
exploitation.
Construction of main access opening to ore body and
such secondary openings.
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Sequence of development
 Recruitment and training of labor force and provision
of support services (housing, transportation,
consumer stores etc).