Mining Method for a Vein

Orebody
Group 3
Mayara Carvalho, Jiayi Lu, Long Sheng, Bowen Hu, Kecheng Chao
31 May 2016
Introduction
An orebody was given with the following properties:

• Type of orebody - Vein

• Grade distribution - Uniform
• Dipping angle - 70°
• Depth of orebody - 120-280 m
• The thickness of orebody - 2 m
• The contact between walls and orebody - Regular both along dip and
strike
• The strength of hanging wall - Moderately strong
• The strength of footwall - Moderately strong
• The strength of ore - Ore is firm and strong
• Planned yearly output - 200 000 tonnes
• The following classification systems were used to define the
orebody:

Table 1. Tabular deposits classified by attitude and related to bulk handling and rock strength
Table 2. Underground deposits classified by thickness
 Table 3. Deposits classified by depth

• Based on to those classifications criteria, the characteristic of the given ore body
is a steep, medium and shallow deposit with moderately strong hanging wall and
footwall.
Conclusion
• In conclusion, three methods are considered more adequate to this
orebody: sublevel open stoping, shrinkage stoping and vertical crater
retreat (VCR)

• The final ranking of mining methods was made using Nicholas’

classification system

• The classification system determine that sublevel stoping is the best

method in this situation
• Sublevel stoping can be used in an orebody size as low as 1.5 m in
width, with a tabular or lenticular shape, depth up to 2400 m and dip
greater than 50°, what applies to the orebody specifications.

• Also the method has a moderate to high productivity, moderate

mining cost, moderate to high production rate, fair low breakage cost
and handling cost, it is easy to ventilate and it has a good recovery
around 80