Underground mining methods are broadly grouped into two groups: supported and unsupported.
Below are some:
- Unsupported underground mining methods
Unsupported underground mining refers to methods where the roof and walls of the mine are not supported by anything other than the natural rock, which needs to be strong. This includes caving, room-and-pillar mining, longwall mining and block caving.
Shrinkage stoping: Shrinkage stoping is one of the most common underground mining methods. It involves excavating a stope (a large underground opening) and then removing slices of ore from the stope. As each slice is removed, the roof of the stope is allowed to collapse.
Bord-and-pillar (room-and-pillar) mining: Room and pillar mining is a type of open stoping mining that involves excavating on a horizontal plane, leaving ‘rooms’ where space has been excavated, and ‘pillars’ of rock which support the roof.
- Supported underground mining methods
Supported mining methods add artificial support structures to keep the production opening standing for the duration of its expected lifespan. These methods are typically used where the rock formation will not be strong enough to maintain its structure without additional support.
Cut and fill: Cut and fill mining is a method of underground mining used to mine narrow, steeply dipping ore bodies. In this method, ore is mined in horizontal slices. The fill material is used to support the roof and walls of the stope.
Longwall mining: Longwall mining involves cutting panels of coal and allowing coal to safely collapse into an empty space, known as a goaf(Kaa, 2022).
How do we safely and efficiently recover vast coal seams hidden beneath the Earth’s surface? The answer lies in specialized underground mining methods. What’s one aspect of coal extraction that has always fascinated you?
Reference:
Kaa, T. (2022, October 20). Discover the Method: Underground Mining. Fortem Resources. https://fortemresources.com.au/blog/underground-mining-methods/
