Glossary of Mining Terms

 

    
   

Sub-Level Caving

 

An underground mining method used in large, steeply dipping ore bodies where the wall rock is
NOT competent in nature.

Parallel drives are developed in the ore on equally spaced levels.  The ore is then drilled and blasted
using longholes between levels, often in a circular or fan pattern, upon retreat.

The weight of the rock is used to assist breakage.  The upper levels are mined ahead of lower levels.  Broken ore is extracted from the drive before the next blast takes place.

The wall rock caves in when the ore is extracted.

 

  
   
   

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