Factors influencing mining method selection

Mining Method Classification

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Figure 1: A hierarchy of underground mining methods and associated rockmass response to mining (Brady and Brown, 2006)

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Figure 2: Schematic of a supported (room-and-pillar) method of mining (after Hamrin, 2001)

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Figure 3: Schematic of a mechanized block caving operation method of mining at the El Teniente Mine, Chile (after Hamrin, 2001)

Geotechnical Factors of Underground Mining Methods

Artificially Supported

Bench-and-Fill Stoping

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Figure 4: Bench-and-fill stoping geometry in the Lead Mine, Mount Isa Mines, Queensland, Australia; (a) longitudinal section, and (b) cross-section (after Villaescusa, 1996)

Shrink Stoping

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Figure 5: Layout for shrink stoping (after Hamrin, 2001)

Unsupported

Longwall Mining

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Figure 6: Schematic of longwall mining in hard rock (after Hamrin, 2001)

Sublevel Caving

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Figure 7: Schematic of transverse sublevel caving (after Hamrin, 2001)

Summary

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Method Class	Method	Relative magnitude of displacements in country rock	Strain energy storage in near field rock	Suitable orebody geometry	Suitable orebody grade	Suitable orebody, country rock strength	Suitable depth
Pillar supported	Room-and-pillar	..	..	..	..	..	..
Pillar supported	Sublevel open stoping	..	..	..	..	..	..
Artificially supported	Cut-and-fill	..	..	..	..	..	..
Artificially supported	Bench-and-fill	..	..	..	..	..	..
Artificially supported	Shrink stoping	..	..	..	..	..	..
Artificially supported	VCR stoping	..	..	..	..	..	..
Unsupported	Longwall mining	..	..	..	..	..	..
Unsupported	Sublevel caving	..	..	..	..	..	..
Unsupported	Block caving	..	..	..	..	..	..

References

• Barton, N.R., Lien, R. and Lunde, J. 1974. Engineering classification of rock masses for the design of tunnel support. Rock Mech. 6(4), 189-239.
• Bieniawski, Z.T. 1989. Engineering rock mass classifications. New York: Wiley.
• Brady, B.H.G. and Brown, E.T. 2006. Rock Mechanics for underground mining, 3rd Ed. The Netherlands: Springer.
• Brown, E. T. 2003. Block Caving Geomechanics. Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre: Brisbane.
• Bullock, R. and Hustrulid, W. 2001. Chapter 3: Planning the Underground Mine on the Basis of Mining Method. In: Underground Mining Methods: Engineering Fundamentals and International Case Studies (eds W. A. Hustrulid and R. L. Bullock), 29-48. Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration: Littleton, Colorado.
• Hamrin, H. 2001. Chapter 1: Underground mining methods and applications. Underground Mining Methods: Engineering Fundamentals and International Case Studies (eds W. A. Hustrulid and R. L. Bullock), 3–14. Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration: Littleton, Colorado.
• Herne, V. and McGuire, T. 2001. Chapter 13: Mississippi Potash, Inc.’s, underground operations. In: Underground Mining Methods: Engineering Fundamentals and International Case Studies (eds W. A. Hustrulid and R. L. Bullock), 137-141. Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration: Littleton, Colorado.
• Hoek, E. and Brown, E.T. 1997. Practical estimates of rock mass strength. Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. 34:8,1165-8,1186.
• Krauland, N., Marklund, P.-I., and Board, M. 2001. Chapter 37: Rock support in cut-and-fill mining at the Kristineberg Mine. In: Underground Mining Methods: Engineering Fundamentals and International Case Studies (eds W. A. Hustrulid and R. L. Bullock), 325-332. Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration: Littleton, Colorado.
• Laubscher, D.H. 1990. A Geomechanics Classification System for the Rating of Rock Mass in Mine design. Journal of the South African Institute of Mining & Metallurgy, vol. 90, no 10, pp. 257-273.
• Laubscher, D.H. 1994. Cave mining – the state of the art. The Journal of The South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 94(10): 279-93.
• Marchand, R., Godin, P., and Doucet, C. 2001. Chapter 19: Shrinkage stoping at the Mouska Mine. In: Underground Mining Methods: Engineering Fundamentals and International Case Studies (eds W. A. Hustrulid and R. L. Bullock), 189-194. Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration: Littleton, Colorado.
• Villaescusa, E. 1996. Excavation design for bench stoping at Mount Isa mine, Queensland, Australia. Trans. Instn Min. Metall., 105: A1–10.