Cut and fill mining method - Epiroc

Summary

Cut and fill mining is a versatile method for extracting steeply dipping and irregular ore bodies, offering selective mining and adaptability. It involves mining in horizontal slices, with backfilling using waste materials like tailings or waste rock. This method allows for high selectivity and ore recovery with minimal dilution, though it is considered low productivity. The process includes drilling, blasting, mucking out ore, and reinforcing the rock as needed, with mining continuing until the entire ore body is extracted.

Takeaways

• ⛏️ Cut and fill mining is a preferred method for steeply dipping and irregular ore bodies.
• 🔄 It offers adaptability to variations in the rock mass and selective mining capabilities.
• 🏗️ This method is considered small-scale and is carried out in horizontal slices along the ore body.
• 🔄 The bottom slice is mined first, followed by backfilling and then mining upwards.
• 🚧 Backfill material can be reused waste such as tailings, sand, or waste rock.
• 🔩 Backslashing is used for access to upper slices within the stope.
• 🚧 After a stope is completed, a new access drift is created to continue mining in the upper stope.
• 💥 The mining process involves drilling, blasting, ventilation, mucking out, and rock reinforcement.
• 🔄 Cut and fill mining allows for the mining to be tailored to the shape of the ore body, reducing dilution.
• 🔄 It is a low productivity method but offers high selectivity, good ore recovery, and low dilution.

Q & A

What is cut and fill mining?

Cut and fill mining is a small-scale mining method favored for steeply dipping and irregular ore bodies. It is preferred by mines that require selective mining and adaptability to variations in the rock mass.

How is mining carried out in cut and fill mining?

Mining is carried out in horizontal slices along the ore body, starting with the bottom slice. The excavated area is backfilled, and production continues upwards, with each level being mined by drifting until the entire slice is mined.

What is the purpose of backfilling in cut and fill mining?

Backfilling serves to provide a working platform for mining the next level and also allows for the reuse of waste materials such as tailings sand or waste rock from development.

How does access to upper slices within the stope occur in cut and fill mining?

Access to upper slices is provided by back slashing, which is done for providing access to the upper slices within the stope. Once a stope is completed, a new access drift from the ramp is created to continue production.

What are the advantages of using cut and fill mining?

Cut and fill mining offers the advantage of reusing waste for backfill material, high selectivity with good ore recovery, and low dilution, allowing for the minimization of waste rock dilution.

What are the steps involved in mining one of the slices?

The steps include drilling blast holes, charging and blasting the ore, ventilating toxic blast fumes, mucking out the ore into an ore pass or onto a truck, and then continuing with the next round.

How is the rock reinforced in cut and fill mining?

The method of rock reinforcement is decided by the mine for each individual situation, ensuring stability and safety as the mining progresses.

Why is cut and fill mining considered a low productivity method?

Cut and fill mining is considered low productivity due to the sequential nature of mining and backfilling, which can be time-consuming and labor-intensive compared to other methods.

How does the shape of the ore body influence cut and fill mining?

The shape of the ore body allows cut and fill mining to be tailored to suit its contours, which can help minimize dilution and maximize ore recovery.

What equipment is typically used for cut and fill mining?

The equipment used for mining the ore is usually the same as what is used for development, indicating a versatility in the tools needed for this method.

How does the increase in rock stresses affect cut and fill mining?

As the ore body is mined, the rock stresses increase in the pillars above the mined area, which may require additional support or changes in mining strategy to ensure safety and stability.

Outlines

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🔨 Cut and Fill Mining Method

Cut and fill mining is a preferred method for steep and irregular ore bodies, offering selective mining and adaptability. It is a small-scale approach where mining is conducted in horizontal slices, starting from the bottom. After each slice is mined, it is backfilled to provide a platform for the next level. This method allows for the reuse of waste materials like tailings sand or waste rock for backfill. The process involves drilling, blasting, ventilation, mucking out the ore, and reinforcing the rock. Cut and fill mining is characterized by high selectivity, good ore recovery, and low dilution, albeit with low productivity. It can be customized to the ore body's shape and can include additional entrances for more production points.

Keywords

💡Cut and Fill Mining

Cut and fill mining is a method used for extracting minerals from steeply dipping or irregular ore bodies. It is favored for its adaptability and selective mining capabilities. In the script, it is described as a small-scale mining method where mining is carried out in horizontal slices, starting from the bottom slice. This method is highlighted as it allows for backfill with waste materials, showcasing its sustainability and adaptability.

💡Selective Mining

Selective mining refers to the process of extracting only the valuable ore while leaving behind waste rock. This approach is crucial for maximizing the efficiency of resource extraction and reducing waste. The script emphasizes the method's capability for selective mining, highlighting its importance in optimizing the mining process.

💡Backfill

Backfill in mining is the process of filling the excavated space with materials such as tailings, sand, or waste rock to provide support and stability. The script mentions backfilling as a step after mining each slice, which not only supports the structure but also reuses waste materials, contributing to the method's sustainability.

💡Drifting

Drifting is the process of creating a horizontal tunnel or opening in a mine. In the context of the script, drifting is used to access the ore body and to create production levels for mining. It is a critical step in the cut and fill mining process, as it allows for the progression of mining activities.

💡Mucking Out

Mucking out is the removal of broken ore from the mine after blasting. The script describes this process as a step following the blasting of ore, where the broken material is cleared out and transported, either into an ore pass or onto a truck, for further processing or disposal.

💡Ore Pass

An ore pass is a vertical or inclined shaft used to transport ore from the mining area to the processing plant. The script mentions ore passes as a destination for the mucked-out ore, indicating their role in the transportation of extracted materials within the mining operation.

💡Reinforcement

Reinforcement in mining refers to the process of strengthening the rock or walls of a mine to ensure safety and stability. The script discusses the need for rock reinforcement, which is tailored to each individual situation, highlighting the importance of safety measures in mining operations.

💡Dilution

Dilution in mining is the mixing of waste rock with valuable ore, which can reduce the overall grade of the extracted material. The script mentions the method's ability to minimize dilution, emphasizing the efficiency and selectivity of cut and fill mining in preserving the quality of the ore.

💡Stolp

A stolp is a vertical or steeply inclined body of ore that is mined using cut and fill methods. The script uses the term to describe the body of ore being mined, and the process of back slashing to provide access to upper slices within the stolp, illustrating the method's adaptability to the ore body's geometry.

💡Ramp

A ramp in mining is an inclined passage used for accessing different levels of a mine. The script refers to a ramp as a means of creating new access drifts for continuing production in upper stopes, showcasing the infrastructure's role in facilitating mining operations.

💡Productivity

Productivity in mining refers to the efficiency of extracting ore from a deposit. The script describes cut and fill mining as a low productivity method due to its small-scale and selective nature. However, it also emphasizes the high selectivity and good ore recovery, which can offset the lower productivity in terms of overall mining effectiveness.

Highlights

Cut and fill mining is a preferred method for steeply dipping and irregular ore bodies.

It offers the capability of selective mining and adaptability to variations in the rock mass.

This method is suitable for small-scale mining operations.

Mining is conducted in horizontal slices along the ore body, starting from the bottom slice.

Excavated areas are backfilled to provide a working platform for the next level.

Backslashing is used for access to upper slices within the stope.

Waste materials such as tailings sand or waste rock can be reused for backfill.

Drilling, blasting, and ventilation are part of the ore extraction process.

Ore is mucked out and transported via ore pass or truck.

Rock reinforcement is necessary and is determined by the mining situation.

The mining method can be tailored to the shape of the ore body to minimize waste rock dilution.

A second entrance can be opened for more production points.

Equipment used for mining is often the same as that used for development.

As mining progresses, rock stresses increase in the pillars above the mined area.

Cut and fill mining is considered a low productivity method but offers high selectivity and good ore recovery.

The method allows for low dilution and efficient use of waste materials.

Transcripts

cut and film mining is a favorite choice

for steeply dipping and sometimes

irregular or bodies and preferred by

mines that require the capability of

selective mining and adaptability to

variations in the rock mass it is

generally referred to as a small-scale

mining method mining is carried out in

horizontal slices along the ore body

where the bottom slice is mine first the

excavated area is then backfilled and

production continues upwards each

production level is accomplished by

drifting until the entire slice has been

mined the slice is then backfilled and

the fill becomes the working platform

from which the next level is mind back

slashing is done for providing access to

the upper slices within the Stolp when a

stope is completed a new access drift

from the ramp is created to continue the

production within the upper stope one of

the advantages with cut and fill mining

is the possibility to reuse waste for

backfill material such as tailings sand

from the processing plant or waste rock

from development to mine the ore in one

of the slices we first need to drill

blast holes the next steps are charging

and blasting the ore and then ventilate

the toxic blast fumes the ore is then

mucked out and dumped into an ore pass

or on to a truck

before continuing with the next round

the rock needs to be reinforced how this

is done is decided by the mind for each

individual situation the mining

continues until the entire slice of the

ore has been mined since the mining can

be tailored to suit the shape of the ore

body it is possible to minimize dilution

of waistb rock to get access to more

production points a second entrance can

be opened at another level in the ore

body and excavated in parallel the

equipment used for mining the ore is

usually the same as what is used for

development as the ore body is mined

The Rock stresses increase in the pillar

above the mined area cut and film mining

is regarded as a low productivity mining

method but the advantage is high

selectivity with good ore recovery and

low dilution

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