OPEN CAST MINING
Mining
Surface Underground
Mining Mining
Surface mining :
• It is a type of mining in which soil
and rock overlying the mineral
deposit (the overburden) are
removed.
• Surface mining is used when
deposits of commercially useful
minerals or rocks are found near the
surface; that is, where the
overburden is relatively thin, or the
material of interest is structurally
unsuitable for tunneling.
Surface Mining :
• It is the opposite of underground mining, in
which the overlying rock is left in place, and
the mineral removed through shafts or
tunnels.
• In most forms of surface mining, heavy
equipment's, such as earthmovers, first
remove the overburden.
• Next, huge machines, such as dragline
excavators or Bucket wheel excavators,
extract the mineral.
Underground Mining :
Where minerals occur deep below the surface, where the overburden is
thick or the mineral occurs as veins in hard rock— underground mining
methods are used to extract the valued material.
Surface mines are typically enlarged until either the mineral deposit is
exhausted, or the cost of removing larger volumes of overburden makes
further mining no longer economically viable .
Surface Mining/Open Cast
Mining / Open Pit Mining
Steps of Surface Mining Operation
1. Removal of Overburden
2. Surface Mining Activities
• Mechanical excavation method (Open pit and Strip mining)
• Aqueous Method (Placer and In-situ Leaching / Solution mining)
3. Clean up (Reclamation)
Open Cast Mining:
Open cast mining is a surface mining technique of
extracting rock or minerals from the earth by their
removal from an open pit or borrow.
Open cast mining operations involve huge quantities of
overburden removal, dumping and backfilling in excavated
areas.
Open pit mine
Characteristics of open pits-
• Characterized by a series of stair
step like benches that each act as a
working area
• Many pits are oval shape
• Pits tend to be wide relative to
length
• Spiraling roads
Open Pit Planning Procedure
Long term Medium –term Short term
planning planning planning
This involves exploiting a Programs which are in This includes detailed
deposit profitably to greater detail and are control of day to day
obtain extraction of the related to annual production.
whole of the reserves or production.
up to the cut-off point.
Planning information:
Maps Sections Data
Topographical plan Geological section Volumetric control
• Borehole plan • Bench level • Machine output
• Hydrological plan • Mineral grade • Transport
• Plans of available • Exposed reserves capacity
reserves • Ground water • Management
tables statistics
TERMINOLOGY
Benching:
• Benching is used to properly
patch or extend a slope
• Benching is also used to
temporarily supports equipment
for other work elements.
Terminology used in Open pit Mining
Crest – upper part or top portion of a
bench
Toe- Lower most part of a bench
Berm-It refers to dirt and rock piled
alongside a haulage road or along the
edge of a dump point.
Ramp-Road driven downward from the
surface; Downward ramps are created
to allow mining on a new level to begin.
Design aspects of Open Pit Mining
1.Pit Depth:
• This is the maximum depth of the mine that
it will reach at the end of it’s life.
• This is decided by economic reasons and a
breakeven point is decided beyond which it is
not economic to continue production.
2.Bench Height
• The bench height is the vertical The height will depend upon:
distance between the highest point
on the bench(crest) and the lowest • The physical characteristics of the deposits;
point or the bench(toe).
• The degree of selectivity required in
separating the ore and waste with the
• It is influenced by size of the loading equipment’s;
equipment, mining selectivity,
government regulation and safety. • The rate of production
• The size and type of equipment to meet the
production requirements; and
• The climatic conditions.
3.Bench Slope:
4.Overall Pit Slope:
• This is also decided by the geo-technical
stability of the rocks in the mine, bench height
and bench slope
• Overall pit slope is always less than the bench
slope
• Pit slopes are cut into benches to aid stability
and contain any slope failures
• 45 degree is usually the maximum slope
• The slope can not exceed 45 degree and remain
stable, so at some point it becomes impossible
or uneconomic to continue mining.
Overall Pit Slope
Angle:
6.Haul Road Width &
5.Bench Width: 7.Bench Length:
Slope:
• This is usually • This depends on the • The length of the
decided based on operating bench depends on
the space required parameters of the the production rate.
for the operation of trucks and other A bench will be
the equipment on hauling equipment longer for higher
it. used in the mine. production rate.
• It always wider than • Usually, blasting at
the bench width. one bench is done
not more than once
a week.
• The extent of ore
body also has a
deciding role here.
• In open-pit mining, a Stripping Ratio refers to
the amount of waste rock removed to recover
ore. For example, a stripping ratio of 3:1 means
Stripping to recover one ton of ore you must remove
Ratio three tons of waste rock.
• A large Stripping Ratio is less economically
efficient than a small one, because that means
more rock will need to be moved without
generating revenue.
• If the ratio is going to be too large, then
underground mining will usually be more
efficient .
Typical open pit mining
and Equipment used
Advantages of Open cast mining
High productivity
Dangers and hazards are less compared to underground mining
Large scale mechanization is possible
Simplify engineering, planning & control
There is no problem of lighting in daytime
There is no problem of ventilation
There is no problem of roof control, supports
Greater safety & better working condition for mining personal’s
Adverse effect on ecology and environment. Problem of
noise and vibration consequence to heavy blast
Work is affected by weather
Deforestation
Disadvantages Pollution (water,air,land,noise)
of Open cast
Danger of inrush of water from aquifer zone
mining:-
Exposure to adverse climatic condition
Agriculture land is damage
Handling of high unproductive material
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