Mining Methods

Open Pit

Any shape, any dip, thick, large area

Quarrying

Tabular or massive, any dip, thick, moderate size

Open Cast

Tabular, low dip, thin, large size

Augering

Tabular, flat, thin, remnant

Mechanical

shallow, surface, any strength, consolidated

Aqueous

shallow, surface, unconsolidated or permeable

Hydraulicking

tabular, flat, thin, small size

Dredging

Tabular, flat, thick, large size, placer deposit

Borehole Mining

Any shape, any dip, thick, large size, permeable

Leaching

Any shape, steep, thick, large size, aqueous

Unsupported

Deep, underground, strong to moderate, competent

Supported

deep, underground, moderate to weak, competent

Caving

deep, underground, moderate to weak, cavable

Room and Pillar

tabular, flat, thin, large size

Stope and Pillar

Tabular, flat, thick, large size

Shrinkage Stoping

tabular, steep, thin, any size

Sublevel Stoping

Underground, Unsupported, Tabular, steep, thick, large size

Cut and Fill Stoping

Variable shape, steep, thin, any size

Stull Stoping

Underground, Supported, tabular, steep, thin, small size

Square Set Stoping

any shape, any dip, thick, any size

Longwall Mining

tabular, flat, thin, large size, cavable

Sublevel Caving

tabular or massive, steep, thick, large size

Block Caving

Massive, steep, thick, large size