Shaft mining and drift mining are two different underground mining methods. Shaft mining involves sinking a vertical shaft to reach the ore deposit, while drift mining utilizes horizontal tunnels, or drifts, to access the deposit. Shaft mining is typically used for accessing deep deposits, while drift mining is often employed when the deposit is exposed on a hillside or cliff face. The table 1 summarise the difference between those two techniques.
Table 1: Shaft Mining vs Drift Mining.
| Feature | Shaft Mining | Drift Mining |
| Main Opening Direction | Vertical or near-vertical shaft | Horizontal or near-horizontal drift/adit |
| Entry Location | Ground surface, excavated downward | Slope or hillside, driven horizontally into seam |
| Depth Accessed | Deep underground ore bodies | Near-surface seams or veins |
| Common Use | Deep mineral deposits (coal, ores, metals) | Shallow coal seams or alluvial deposits |
| Infrastructure | Requires advanced hoisting, ventilation, water control | Simpler, less infrastructure-intensive |
| Equipment Transport | Restricted by narrow vertical access | Easier transport via horizontal tunnels |
| Construction Cost | Higher (due to vertical excavation complexity) | Lower (less complex, less volume excavated) |
