Sub-level Open Stoping
Method
Dr. Sunil Kumar Bisoyi
• In this method the orebody
is vertically divided into
levels, and between two
levels the stopes of
convenient size are formed.
• A rib pillar is left in between
two adjacent stopes.
• Leaving a crown pillar at the
top of the stope protects the
level above, whereas lower
level is used as haulage level
to gather the ore from the
stopes.
Conditions suitable for Sub-level stoping:
Geotechnical parameters:
Ore strength: moderate to strong (> 40 MPa UCS)
• Vertically the stope is divided Host rock (Footwall and hang wall rocks) are also
into a number of horizons by strong
suitably positioned drill drives
called the sublevels, and hence
Geometry, disposition & orientation:
the name sublevel stoping.
Deposit shape: tabular or lenticular, regular dip and
defined boundaries
• With advent of new drill
Deposit dip: steep (>45-50 degrees, preferably 60-90
machines with the ease of
degrees)
drilling large diameter blast
Deposit size: 6-30m wide, fairly large extent
holes, the conventional sub-
(Very thin deposits : 0.7m; Thin deposits; 0.7— 2m;
level stoping method has gone
Medium thick: 2m- 5m; Thick deposits: 5 —20 m;
through lot of modifications.
Very thick > 20 m; e.g. HCL- Malanjkhand copper
deposit is 80 m thick )
Ore Grade: Moderate
Stope Development:
• A slot raise is made at the centre of H/W side of
the stoping block.
• X-cuts are driven from the sot raise on both
side towards H/W and Foot wall.
• After reaching the H/W & F/W, drill drives are
made along the strike. Usually two drill drives
are made in parallel.
• Sub-levels are driven between raises at the
ends of the stope block.
• A single sublevel at a horizon suffices up to 15m
width of ore body but beyond this two
sublevels are usually driven from a cross cut
extending from the slot raise.
• For narrow veins — one sublevel in one horizon
is sufficient.
• Sublevel interval generally varies from 10 to 20
m with haulage levels placed 50 — 90 m apart.
• The crown pillar below upper
haulage level is about 10m thick.
• On the sides of the stoping block,
a 9m side barrier or rib pillar is
left.
• Above the bottom haulage level,
sill pillars of —8m height is left.
• Chute raises are driven at an
interval of 15m (centre to centre)
through the centre line of the
block (width of orebody)
Drilling: Ring drilling is a common
practice from each sublevel covering
both sides and up to the lower
immediate sublevel.
The fan drilling are generally directed at
an angle of 75-80 degree from the
horizontal leaning towards the free face
to reduce back break and increase
forward throw.
Simba 25 or RMT 120F are popular drill
rigs with 48 - 57 mm ( 25 metres )/64 - 75
mm ( 15 metres ) options.
Simba 25 or RMT 120F
This is also known as "Ring Drilling Machine" and "Long
Hole Drilling machine.
It is the most versatile percussion drill machine for
Tunneling, Drifting, Long Hole Drilling, and Cable Bolting
Holes for Roof Supports. A ring drilling machine is
specially designed to drill holes in 360-degree rotation
for conventional drilling.
Lateral movement version is used for parallel drilling by
"manual feed screw" of 54 mm to travel the feed beam in
either direction up to 500 mm from the center.
Blasting: ANFO with 60% S.G. as
primer initiated with short delay
(25ms) are commonly used for
blasting.
The delays are used between two
successive holes in each row starting
from the middle of the fan ring
progressing towards the walls.
Drilling is extensive but it is overall
economical.
Explosive consumption is about 0.15
to 0.30 kg per ton of ore blasted.
Mucking: During blasting operations,
first of all, the front ring in the
bottom most level is blasted. The
blasted ore is
collected by LHD from the bottom
haulage drifts through the mill holes
(funnel shaped: see figure).
The blasted ore is, naturally, swelled.
After drawing sufficient quantity of
ore, the next ring is blasted.
(Retreating pattern) And the ore is
again drawn from the chute or the
haulage drift as the case may be.
Mucking: Ore from mill holes or trough
passes down to draw point cross-cuts.
Secondary blasting of boulders, if required
is done in the draw point cross-cut. The
draw point cross-cuts can directly lead to
the haulage level where ore loading is
done by loaders into mine cars.
But with the introduction of LHDs it is a
common practiced today to connect the
draw point cross-cuts to a gathering drive
which is in turn connected to the haulage
level below through a transfer raise.
Where availability of LHDs is poor, a
gravity transfer system with a grizzly level
is preferable because of its reduced cost of
ore transfer.