Underground Mining

Question 1

These methods are used to extract mineral deposits that are roughly tabular (could also be flat or steeply dipping) and are associated with strong ore and surrounding rock.

Answer 1

Unsupported Methods

Question 2

It is used primarily for flat-lying seams or bedded deposits where the support of the roof is provided by natural pillars of the mineral where it is left standing in a systematic (checkerboard) pattern.

Answer 2

Room-and-Pillar Mining

Question 3

It is similar to room-and-pillar but used in non-coal deposits that are thicker and ore irregular. The pillars are spaced randomly and located in low-grade ore so that the high grade can be extracted.

Answer 3

Stope-and-Pillar Mining

Question 4

It is where mining progresses upward with horizontal slices of ore are being blasted along the length of the slope.

Answer 4

Shrinkage Stoping

Question 5

This provides sublevels from which vertical slices are blasted. The stope is mined horizontally from one end to the other.

Answer 5

Sublevel Stoping

Question 6

This group of methods is used used in weak wall rock structure.

Answer 6

Supported Methods

Question 7

It is used in steeply dipping deposits which is performed both overhand and underhand directions. As each horizontal slice is taken, the voids are filled with a variety of fill types to support the walls.

Answer 7

Cut-and-Fill Stoping

Question 8

It involves backfilling mine voids but rely on timber sets as support. The usage of this method is in decline due to its high relative cost and labor.

Answer 8

Square-set Stoping

Question 9

It is one of the methods that can be applied to steeply dipping ore bodies and uses artificial pillars of waste with timber or rock bolts to support the roof.

Answer 9

Stull Stoping

Question 10

These methods allows the caving of the ore and/or overlying rock where subsidence normally occurs afterward.

Answer 10

Caving Methods

Question 11

It is well adapted to horizontal seams such as coal. In this method, a face of considerable length is maintained and as mining progresses, the overlying strata are caved thus promoting breakage of coal itself.

Answer 11

Longwall Mining

Question 12

It is employed in dipping tabular or massive deposit. As mining progresses downward, each new level is caved into the mine openings with the ore being recovered while the rock remains behind.

Answer 12

Sublevel Caving

Question 13

A large-scale, highly productive, and low in cost which is used in massive deposits that are weak-moderately strong ore that readily break up when caved.

Answer 13

Block Caving

Question 14

Unlike surface mining methods, underground methods are far more concerned on:

Answer 14

(1) Ore Deposit Strength
(2) Wall Rock Qualities
(3) Groundwater
(4) Mine Ventilation as an addition to challenges in the development stage.

Question 15

The roof, top, or overlying surface of an underground excavation

Answer 15

Roof/ Back

Question 16

The floor or underlying surface of an underground excavation

Answer 16

Bottom/ Floor

Question 17

It refers to the waste material overlying the mineral deposit.

Answer 17

Capping

Question 18

The broken, caved, and mined-out portion of the deposit

Answer 18

Gob

Question 19

The unmined portions of the deposit to provide support to the roof/ hanging wall.

Answer 19

Pillar

Question 20

A type of pillar designed to withstand major loads

Answer 20

Barrier Pillar

Question 21

A portion of the deposit overlying an excavation and left in place as a pillar

Answer 21

Crown Pillar

Question 22

The side wall of an excavation

Answer 22

Rib/ Rib Pillar

Question 23

A portion of the deposit underlying an excavation and left in place as a pillar

Answer 23

Sill Pillar

Question 24

It is designed to wield but not fail under loads.

Answer 24

Yield Pillar

Question 25

A main horizontal or near-horizontal underground opening with single access to the surface.

Answer 25

Adit

Question 26

A primary or secondary horizontal or near-horizontal opening; oriented parallel to the strike of a pitching deposit.

Answer 26

Drift

Question 27

An opening or connection to the surface from an underground excavation.

Answer 27

Portal

Question 28

A primary vertical or near-vertical opening, connecting the surface with underground workings.

Answer 28

(Vertical) Shaft

Question 29

A primary inclined opening usually a shaft connecting the surface with underground workings

Answer 29

Slope

Question 30

A main horizontal or near-horizontal opening, with access to the surface at both ends.

Answer 30

Tunnel

Question 31

A secondary inclined opening driven upward to connect levels, sometimes on the dip of the deposit.

Answer 31

Incline/ Inclined Shaft

Question 32

A secondary inclined opening, driven downward to connect levels, sometimes on the dip of a deposit.

Answer 32

Decline

Question 33

A secondary horizontal or near-horizontal opening usually driven in multiples.

Answer 33

Entry

Question 34

A secondary or tertiary horizontal opening, often parallel or at an angle to a haulageway, usually to provide ventilation or some auxiliary service

Answer 34

Lateral

Question 35

A system of horizontal openings connected to a shaft; constitutes an operating horizon of a mine.

Answer 35

Level

Question 36

A secondary or tertiary vertical or near-vertical opening driven upward from one level to another.

Answer 36

Raise

Question 37

A vertical or near-vertical opening used to transfer bulk material from a stope to a drawpoint; often an interconnected set of raises.

Answer 37

Finger Raise

Question 38

A compartment of a raise or a vertical or near-vertical opening intended for personnel travel between two levels.

Answer 38

Manway

Question 39

A secondary or tertiary inclined opening, driven to connected levels, usually in a downward direction and used for haulage.

Answer 39

Ramp

Question 40

A secondary or tertiary vertical or near-vertical opening driven downward from one level to another.

Answer 40

Winze

Question 41

A tertiary horizontal opening, often connecting drifts, entries, or rooms, oriented perpendicularly to the strike of a pitching deposit.

Answer 41

Crosscut

Question 42

A horizontal opening used for materials handling.

Answer 42

Haulageway

Question 43

A funnel-shaped excavation formed at the top of the raise to move bulk material by gravity from a stope to a drawpoint.

Answer 43

Bell

Question 44

A lateral intended for exhaust ventilation

Answer 44

Bleeder (Shaft)

Question 45

A loading point beneath a stope, utilizing gravity to move bulk material downward and into a conveyance, by a chute or loading machine.

Answer 45

Drawpoint/ Boxhole

Question 46

An opening from a drawpoint, utilizing gravity flow to direct bulk material from a bell or orepass to hold a conveyance.

Answer 46

Chute

Question 47

A coarse screening or scalping device that prevents oversized bulk material from entering a materials transfer system; constructed of rails, bars, beams, etc.

Answer 47

Grizzly

Question 48

The transfer point at a shaft where bulk material is loaded by bin, hopper, and chute into a skip.

Answer 48

Loading Pocket

Question 49

A horizontal exploitation opening several hundred meters in length usually in a tabular deposit.

Answer 49

Longwall

Question 50

A vertical or near-vertical opening through which bulk material flows by gravity.

Answer 50

Orepass

Question 51

A horizontal exploitation opening for bedded deposits.

Answer 51

Room

Question 52

A large exploitation opening, usually inclined, vertical, or horizontal where mucking takes place.

Answer 52

Stope

Question 53

A narrow vertical or inclined opening excavated in a deposit at the end of a stope to provide a bench face.

Answer 53

Slot

Question 54

A secondary or intermediate level between main levels or horizons, usually close to the exploitation area.

Answer 54

Sublevel

Question 55

A location in the materials-handling system, either haulage or hoisting where bulk material is transferred between conveyances.

Answer 55

Transfer Point

Question 56

A low horizontal opening excavated under a portion of a deposit usually a stope to induce breakage and caving of the deposit.

Answer 56

Undercut

Question 57

The advancing in a near-horizontal direction; also the working face of an opening.

Answer 57

Breast

Question 58

Advancing in an upward direction

Answer 58

Overhand

Question 59

Advancing in a downward direction.

Answer 59

Underhand

Question 60

The direction toward the working face, away from the mine entrance

Answer 60

Inby

Question 61

The direction away from the working face, toward the entrance.

Answer 61

Outby

Question 62

The country rock boundary adjacent to a deposit.

Answer 62

Wall Rock