METHOD OF EXPLOITATION

SUBTERRANEAN
CATEO
Indicators of mineralization.

UPRISING
Geological and Topographic Survey with plan reports.

ACTIVITY
Geological topographic survey.
WORKING GROUP
Personal Geologists, Topographers, Assistants
Equipment: Theodolite, level, GPS, total station
processor and accessories.
Fieldwork and office work sequence.
- RESULTADOS
Geological reports with plans.
-CHARACTERISTICS
Professional team confirms the indications of
mineralization to a cost greater than the search.
PROSPECTING
DEFINITION
-METHODS
Geochemists
Geophysicists

EXAMPLE OF ANOMALY DETERMINATION

CHARACTERISTICS
Determination of anomalies with technical work
specialized at a higher cost than the previous ones. Use two
or more methods.
EXPLORATION
DEFINITION
-METHODS
-OBJECTIVES
Know dimensions, obtain geological information and
tectonics and extract samples to determine their weight
specific and mineral laws, in order to calculate their
reservations.
-CLASSIFICATION OF RESERVES
EVALUATION OF REVERSES OR STUDY
Economic Technician
- CHARACTERISTICS
It determines the mineral reserves and the needs
for its exploitation, at a high economic cost and
extended time.
DEVELOPMENT

DEFINITION

MINING WORKS
To determine proven, extractable reserves,
accessible and affordable.
For access of personnel, equipment, services, and extraction
of mineral.

-EVALUATION (ETE)
Feasibility Study
Basic Engineering.

CHARACTERISTICS
Depositreadyforexploitationatacostgreaterthan
the previous activities.
 OBJECTIVES OF A EXPLOITATION METHOD

1. Greater recovery of mineral reserves

Greater recovery means higher cost.

High-grade mineral, requires greater recovery, for

the amount justifies a higher cost.

Low-grade ore, requires low cost, therefore

the recovery is less important.

Losses due to bridges, pillars, landslides, and others

causes.

Do not confuse recovery improvement with the false one.

tonnage caused by dilution.
2. Greater economic benefit

The best difference between Vm and Cp should always be determined.

Many times Cp is reduced and economic considerations are taken into account.
lower cost can also mean lower Vm and an economy
negative.
Low-cost methods can have high dilution and the
reduced economy due to the decrease of the law.
In general, the greatest economic benefit of a project
it is expressed in present value of the economic flow of the plan
exploitation.
The greatest benefit will be obtained with high-cut laws (cost
operational, administrative, financial and utilities) in the first
years and gradually decrease as it is amortized
loans and other obligations.
Greater security and preservation of the environment
environment

Every method must ensure safety.

Greater security for personnel, equipment and
installations.
Greater safety in exploitation can mean
smaller recovery of reserves or smaller benefit
economic.
Economic concerns can never take precedence over security.
or the environment.
The best method will be the one that meets all three.
objectives.
 CLASSIFICATION OF UNDERGROUND METHODS

A. Self-sustaining methods
Sub-level stoping

2.- Open stopes.

3.- Tajeos por acumulación. (Shrinkage stopes)

4.- Rooms and pillars.

 B. Methods with artificial support
5.- Conventional cut and fill.
6.- Mechanized cut and fill.
7.- Square set method.
8.- Cut and fill descending. (Under cut & fill)

C. Sinking methods

9.- Block caving.

10.- Subsidence due to sub-levels. (Sub-level caving)
Long boxes. (Long wall)
 SELECTION CRITERIA FOR A METHOD OF
Underground exploitation

First, the characteristics of the deposit must be known, such as:

1. Shape, dimensions, and spatial location

- If they are regular veins, irregular veins, mantles, vein-like structures,

bodies of different shapes, etc.
To know its power, whether it is uniform or variable, erratic; as well as
in its vertical and longitudinal projection, which allows to know its
volume and tonnage.
The location with respect to the surface can determine its
open-pit or underground exploitation and which methods of these.
These characteristics are known when the exploitation tasks and
development has defined a block of reserves with the least risk
of error.
2.- Physical and chemical characteristics of
mineral and the enclosing boxes.
It is necessary to know the specific weight, the
the hygroscopicity, the porosity the
fracturing of both the mineral and the crates
framing
Chemical reactions of the mineral and the
boxes due to the presence of water or air in the
mining operations.
To know these characteristics, one must
access for your observation, measurement and
sampling through the tasks of
exploration and development.
3.- Content and spatial distribution of the values
metallic.

It is necessary to know how the values are presented.

metallic in the vein or body, if they are massive in the
formation, or are dispersed, or are presented in
branches, in general, how they vary in height and in
longitude.
If the veins or bodies are of high grade or low grade,
also if there are impurities and how they present themselves to see
its exploitation.
These characteristics are known with the tasks of
exploration and development, as they can be observed
and obtain samples for testing.
4.- Economic aspects
One must know the works, tasks and
necessary equipment to apply a method,
therefore the required investment.
The production costs, not only of
exploitation, but also those of treatment of the
mineral.
The value of the mineral to be extracted and thus calculate the
MO or the present value of the economic flow.
Compare results between the two or three methods
in evaluation, for choose the best.
5.- Government provisions
Know the T.U.O. of mining
Apply what is stipulated by the safety and hygiene regulations.
mining and the environment.
Discard the methods that are not suitable for these devices
governmental.

6.- Effects of auxiliary operations

It is necessary to understand how auxiliary operations influence, such as
ubicacion y acceso a la planta concentradora, suministro de aire,
water and energy.
Construction, buildings, and other operational facilities.
Transport costs of ore to the plant.
7.- Otros aspectos
No two mines are the same, you can always find
special aspects and different from those listed.
It is the responsibility of the mining engineer to know these.
special aspects of each case to define the most suitable method
suitable
INTRODUCTION TO THE
METHODS OF
EXPLOITATION
The exploitation of a mine is defined as the
set of operations that allow the
startup, loading and extraction of mineral, that
for a normal operation it is essential that
all the ancillary services such as:

Ventilation
Fortification
Drainage
Supply of Energy, Air, Water.
The objective of the exploitation of a deposit is the
extraction of ores and mineral substances
systematically, in such a way that the
marketing of the mineral substance.
provide the expected utility.
The exploitation of a mine
composed of three operations
basic minerals:

Access and development of openings

mining companies
Mine preparation or infrastructure
Start or exploitation of the mine.
ACCESS

They correspond to those tasks that

they connect the mineralized body with the
surface, for its exploitation. The accesses
they can be:

Sinkholes
Vertical peaks
Blows or inclined peaks.
DEVELOPMENT

Developments can be:

Productive Development
Unproductive Development
sinkholes
Vertical Peaks
Posición del Pique respecto a la veta.

The following can be presented

alternatives

On alert
2. Intercepting the vein
3. Adjacent
Slope peak
Advantages:
Ordered development, good pillars of
protection.
Allows finding parallel veins

Disadvantages.
Excessive cost due to development in waste.
Excessive cost due to development in waste.
Slipping, upon finding the vein. It is lost.
stability and control of the ground.
One can end up losing the edge.
Intercepting the Vein.
Intercepting the Vein.
Advantages.
- Easy access to the deposit. Generates quickly the
cash flow.
The initial development cost is lower.
The development is more harmonious at the levels

Disadvantages.
Land control problem
Protection pillars in mineral
High maintenance cost.
Exploitation Unit:

It is a geological mass that has a geometric shape.

well defined, for example a panel or a block. It is to divide
the yacirrliento, in such a way that it forms its own unit of
exploitation, which must meet the following
características:

That equipment can be easily transported and

materials.
That the start can be carried out properly.
independent.
Facilities in ore extraction.
Independent ventilation
In cases of gaps left by exploitation,
these can be easily filled.
Main Rules for dividing a Deposit:

In most of the deposits, a

division by levels (except in low deposits
inclined and of little extent.
Levels are expensive, both in their construction
such as its equipment and maintenance, therefore
the minimum cost must be obtained (US$ / TON.)
for the same number of levels.
The vertical deposits at levels according to the
vertical, its exploitation can be upward or
descendant.
A protective pillar is left on the surface for
avoid leaks, given that extraction by pits
is expensive.
Main Rules for Dividing a Deposit:
The exploitation is carried out according to the run and in
horizontal direction (ascending or descending).
The extraction is carried out from the lower level.
principal. If the mantling is strong, the ore can
falling by gravity and transporting in direction
horizontal.
If the construction of accesses is expensive, because of the
existence of folds, it can be transported
in ascending order by means of belts
carriers, trailers, etc. What it is about is
avoiding is to elevate the mineral (due to cost, time
lost, etc. )
Main Rules for dividing a Deposit:
The withdrawal tillage is more convenient for the
start. The extraction notches must remain
in free zones, not subject to exploitation.
In very steep deposits, traffic of
personnel is carried out from the upper level to
inferior through grooves, chimneys, and ramps. If
the body has little inclination the personnel traffics
the entrance is through the lower level and the exit is through work
inclined or ramps.
Distance between Levels:
The most relevant factors that control the
spacing between levels is:

Geological Factor.

Mechanical Characteristics of Rock.

Economic Factors.

Other Factors
Pillars of Protection.

The thickness of this column depends on:

Power of the mineralized body

Manteo
Mineral resistance
Coating or overload thickness
Startup Speed.
FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE THE ELECTION
OF THE EXPLOITATION METHOD

In the choice of the exploitation method,

the following mainly intervene
factors:

1. Geographic Features
2. Geological and Physical Characteristics of
deposit.
3. Economic Conditions
TYPES OF DISSOLUTION

Massive: Porphyry Copper (Teniente, Salvador)

Manto: Parallels to stratification, Power

limited (Tabular)

Clearly delimited by rock no

mineralized (Great inclination)

Lens or Bag: Isolated deposit

- Placeres:Oro, Plata
CHOICE OF EXTRACTION METHOD

Selection Factors:

Depth, shape, and size of the body

- Ubicación ( Recursos)
Geomechanical quality of the mineralized rock and
box rock
Distribution and Laws
Economic
Regulation (Environment).
Selection Criteria
Performance and productivity
Safety for Personnel, Equipment and
Infrastructure
Recovery
N (%) = Extracted Reserves
On-site Reservations
Entrance Exam
Dilution
Simplicity
- Costos:
a.- Investment
b.- Operation
 MINED WITH
NATURAL MAINTENANCE
 EXTRACTION BY THE OPEN STOPER METHOD

Principio.

In the exploitation by the Open Stope method, the ore is

it starts in horizontal strips, starting from the
lower body and moving upwards. Everything
the shot mineral is recovered by the Box-Hole, for
to be transported in convoy to the ore pass,
Prior to the job, a wooden platform is built.
that will serve as work with the appropriate distance for
continue with the next cut. And so on until
to explode the whole deal.
Objectives

Increase the mining speed, obtaining a higher

mineral breakage
Get up to 4 consecutive cuts
Reduce the wooden framing
Have accumulated ore in the mining operation.
Control the excess load

Scope

Applied in the cuts that meet the following

characteristics

Major inclination greater than 70°

Rock of regular quality RMR > 40
No openings near the drainage.
Power from 0.5m to 1.5m
Scopes
 DESCRIPTION OF THE METHOD

Preparation Stage
Stages of Exploitation
Wooden
 MINED BY CAMERAS AND PILLARS
(Room and Pilar)

The most important economic factor in this method is

the size of the pillars and the distance between them, this
factor depends on:

Stability of the ceiling box.

Mineral stability.
Reservoir power.
Pressure of the overlying rock.
Geological discontinuities such as faults,
folds, etc.
Shape and size of the pillar, etc.
It applies under the following conditions:

In bodies with horizontal dip,

It should normally not exceed 30°.

The mineral and the enclosing rock must be

relatively competent.

Minerals that do not require classification in the

exploitation.

in high-capacity and large-area deposits.

Minado
The mining cycle consists of:
Drilling
Blasting
Ventilation
Loading and transportation; it is occasionally usual
carry out the temporary support or
permanente.
Advantages:

1. Extraction can be easily adapted to

market fluctuations.
The consumption of wood is small.
3. No filler is needed.
4. The irregularities of the deposit affect
little to the exploitation.
5. When there are failures or dislocations in a
place of exploitation, the extraction drop is
reduced.
Advantages

6. Limited maintenance expenditure.

7. Possibility of using buckets of
high capacity extraction or 'skip'.
8. Easy adjustment of the extraction.
9. No wood is needed for the shoring.
Starting and loading are easy.
Disadvantages:

The ventilation is faulty.

The pillars are difficult to recover.

3. The performance per guard-man is in

general, moderate.

4. The consumption of wood or rock bolts

it can be greater when the ceiling is
unstable.

5. Large number of preparatory galleries.

Disadvantages

6. Considerable consumption of explosives.

7. The staff is in danger during the

work due to rockfalls
of the ceiling, which is of great height and difficult to
to control.

8. Miners can easily fall into the

shelters or grills.

9. Difficulty of mineral classification in

the exploitations.
Variants of the chamber mining method and
pillars
As a summary, the systems can be indicated
different ones that can be used:

a) The most common is in horizontal layers and in

steeper deposits of higher power.
b) In bodies with a dip of 20° to 30°, the
the takedowns continue in an upward manner, in
stairs or a ladder.
c) The third system is adapted to cuttings
horizontals for inclined bodies (shape of
descending staircase.
Horizontal mining
Staircase Mining
 MINED BY SUBLEVELS
(Sublevel Stoping)
Design considerations

Generally, it can be applied under the following

conditions:
The deposit must be vertical or close to it.
having to exceed the angle of repose of
mineral.
The enclosing rocks must be competent and
resistant.
The mineral must be competent and with good
stability.
The limits of the deposit must be broad and
regulars.
Development and preparation

Understand the following jobs:

Access to the cuts is done by

inclined or pits, these being located
usually on the floor box.
It is important to define the intervals between
levels, since this influences the optimal size
from the camera; this height ranges from 60 to 130 m
depending on the height of the deposit.
The transport gallery must be
developed in the lowest part of the work
parallel to the mineralized zone and in barren rock.
The chimneys must be developed as
access to the sub-levels for subsequent development
of these.
The drilling galleries must be carried out
inside the mineral as sub-levels.
The cut or start must be made from the bottom.
of the brawl.
For the recovery of the fallen mineral we
they develop the so-called 'draw-points'.
The funnels or 'raise slot' must be developed.
under the cutting, those that are used to open the area of
blasting.
Design of the cut
Design of the cut
Production

with long drills in parallel

It is advantageous to use this system in deposits.

verticals of good power. The operations of
drilling at sub-levels is carried out exclusively
through long parallel drills using
extension bars to achieve a depth
appropriate, with diameters between 2" to 7,7/8" up to a
length of 90 meters.
b) With ring or fan drills

Mining begins at the front rose

prepared at the bottom of the suit; the
drilling is carried out. through the sublevels
with drill bits arranged in a fan or ring, the
mineral disprado falls to the bottom of the tajeo or to the
funnels, and it is discharged through the chutes to the
wagons or dump trucks, or it is loaded with equipment
"Ioad haul dump", through the "draw-point".
according to the system used.
LOADING AND TRANSPORT
 MINED WITH
ARTIFICIAL SUPPORT
 MINED BY TEMPORARY STORAGE
Dynamic Reduction - Shrinkage
Design conditions.

The following characteristics of the deposit are required:

The deposit must have a dip greater than 60° to allow
that the mineral flows easily; it must have direction and power
uniform.
2. Consistency of the relatively firm mineral, to maintain the
ceiling without support and only with partial shoring.
3. The mineralized body must be regular in shape,
Another way the mineral is found in the surrounding rocks, or presents
high dilution.
4. The enclosing rocks must be relatively stable.
5. The mineral must have uniform grade.
6. The mineral should not be affected during storage. Certain
minerals oxidize and decompose when exposed to air I
and this is inconvenient.
Conventional shrinkage
Preparation and development:
Conventional shrinkage

Levels
Chimneys
Sub levels and 'box holes'.
Minado:
ADVANTAGES

The advantages of this method are fundamentally the

following:

The extracted mineral is removed by gravity.

This method allows to temporarily hold the

side walls of the large house with the same material
pulled out. Furthermore, the worker can control the roof of
tajeo.

3. Have a reserve of extracted mineral that can

extract quickly from the mine and with high yield.
DISADVANTAGES

The disadvantages of this exploitation method are

fundamentally the following:

1. Security, in certain cases this method may be

dangerous due to the formation of vaults during the
gravity evacuation of the puffiness, since the
workers confined to the horizontal plane of the mineral floor
torn away, they can start to work and be suddenly
sucked in by the collapse of these vaults. They also
they can form vaults during the emptying period of
big house that, when collapsing, can damage the roof of the
basement gallery in case it has an artificial roof.
2. Dilution of the law, the Shkinkage implies, for
general, a dilution of the law due to the fact that during
the emptying phase of the mansion is mixed
currently areas of barren lands that are collapsing
from the walls. It is common that at the end of the phase
of emptying it may be necessary to discard layers of
mineral of too low grade decreasing further
more the recovery of the deposit.

3. Some mineral species oxidize very

easily causing difficulties related to
the recovery in the plant. We know several cases
where a loss can be appreciated
recovery of 5% just for the fact that the
metal sulfides have oxidized.
The possibility of instant production is low.
in the first phase, due to it is extracted
only 40% of the extracted mineral. Of course,
Once the start of a work is completed, it is
possible the creation of another production cycle
regular, compensated in this way for the low
production of a segment in the startup phase with
each one in the emptying phase.

5. The accumulation of mined mineral in the

stumbles during the first phase and before reaching
a regular production cycle requires a
additional investment needed for the startup of
60% of the remaining ore from those cuts.
6. Finally, it is quite cumbersome to control.
the costs and the returns of this method of
exploitation, due to the influence of the mineral
accumulated.
LOCOMOTIVES
In transport with locomotives, there are
following characteristics:

They are of considerable volume and high

production over long distances and low costs
unit prices per trip.
b) The railway requires careful
installation.
c) Requires a high investment cost.
They cannot move on slopes greater than
of 3%.
They can transport any type of material
sea granular or large blocks with trains.
 TROLLEY LOCOMOTIVES
Ventajas y desventajas de la locomotora a «trolley».

They are compact and easy to operate.

b) They can be used for the transportation of large
tonnages.
They are used over long distances and levels
principles of extraction.
d) The cost of energy is lower compared to others.
Its use is restricted only to places where there is
the installation of rails.
f) Its initial installation is costly, there is a risk of
electrocution.
g) It is not advisable to use in coal mines.
BATTERY LOCOMOTIVES
Advantages and disadvantages.

They are of simple operation; they only require

rail installation.
2. Due to its relative safety, it can be used in
coal mines.
3. No registration is required for its operation
investment.
4. It is necessary to have a station of
recharge for batteries.
5. Its application is limited to a certain radius of
action and small tonnages.
 MINED BY CUT AND FILL
Static Reduction
Corte y relleno ascendente
Design conditions

It can be applied in deposits:

With pronounced bulging.

In any deposit and land.

3. With moderately competent boxes.

4. The boxes of the deposit can be irregular I and not competent.

The mineral must have a good grade.

6. Availability of filling material.

Development and preparation:

consists of:
A transport gallery is developed along the deposit.
at a main level.
b) Chimneys and roads must be built at a distance
required according to the design or development planning
and/or exploitation.
c) The area of the cut must be 5 to 12 m above the gallery.
transport
d) The chimneys for ventilation and filling transport must be
built from the lower level to the upper level.

The preparation is carried out taking into account the following objectives:

a) A good conception and execution connect. These works

they are the condition for the success of the entire operation.
b) The costs of this phase of work have considerable impact
in the total costs.
The possible arrangements in the layout of the base galleries are:

a) A single gallery on a vein.

b) A parallel outside the vein and its cuts.
c) A parallel and another auxiliary in the mineral.

For powers greater than 7 m, the base gallery is often double,

the two galleries are connected to each other by cuts; this network of
base plays an important role, such as:

a) Transport of the mineral.

b) Upper level of the cuts, cutting level of the cuts of the level
inferior.
c) Drainage of the water from the hydraulic fill.
d) Path for personnel, installation of water and air pipes
compressed.
e) Ventilation, etc.
 Drilling

The small area influences the efficiency of the equipment in

horizontal drilling, the drilling face offers several advantages
about vertical drilling and these are:

a) The drills are horizontal and the cantilevered ceiling leaves a surface
Filled or smooth, it is also easy to control the ceiling.
b) The 1Tontal face allows for selective drilling where the
Low-grade materials can be left in the excavation as fill.
c) It allows for adjusting the overall cutting plan, thus enabling extraction.
existing mineralization in the irregular boxes.

Types of drilling:
Horizontal drilling with 'jackleg' or 'jumbo'.
Vertical or steep drilling with the help of a 'stoper'.
Types of front arrangement:

- Drilling with 'jackleg' or 'jumbo'; on ceiling in the shape of

inverted steps.
- Perforación con «stoper» en techo plano y horizontal.
- Cone-shaped roof.
- Lateral drilling with the help of gallery drillers,
flat roof, horizontal, partially uncovered.
- Arch-shaped roof drilling in the stoping.
- Drilling with a "stoper" of a large inverted step
height.

Blasting. -The layout of the drilling mesh influences the

fragmentation of the mineral, as well as the density of explosive charge,
initiation sequence and other parameters, which are deduced in
based on the experiences of supervisors and some existing theories
In our environment; nowadays there is a variety of
software in the market for the calculation of blasting parameters.
As an explosive, dynamites from different factories are being used.
ANFO, emulsions, etc. are used as blasting accessories.
["funnel","nonel","slow fuse","detonating cord","blasting caps","connectors"]
etc.
Carrying and transport: The transport in the method cutting of the cut and
Filling is one of the most important unit operations. The form
the stitching conditions the cleaning that actually forms two
operations, hauling and transportation. In general, the distances are from
according to the performance radius of each hauling equipment and
transport, the loading equipment is at the same time the one that performs the
transport in many mines. Only in the case of narrow veins.
(long paths), two different teams can be seen.

Filler: It acts as a support, it is a necessity in the

exploited or empty containers, the use has become widespread throughout the
mundo. El objetivo es que no afecte a otras áreas de trabajo, evitando
the sinking and other tectonic effects and even more to seek
safety in exploitation, as it deepens
labor, the pressures are greater.

Three types of fill are the most used in underground mining:

Conventional, hydraulic, and hydro-pneumatic filling.
a) Conventional filling
Hydraulic fill

Advantages over conventional filling such as:

a) The tailings as material are found for free.

b) It is much more efficient, economical, and fast.

c) The fill in the cut seeks its level.

d) The addition of cement in the top layer reduces the mixture.

of the mineral with the filling.

e) Flexibility in mining techniques allowing to transform the

method of low efficiency to more efficient method.

h) It allows for more accurate planning.

i) Facilitates the loading of the material shot by LHD equipment,

etc.
Within the limitations, we can indicate:

a) High initial investment.

b) A larger volume of water is introduced to the mine, requiring the

evacuation by pumping or by gravity.

c) If the drainage is poor, there will be leaks causing blockages.

in the lower galleries.

d) If the percolation is not adequate, it creates the funnel phenomenon.

causing collapse in the aftermath.

e) Problems with clogged, worn-out pipes, replacement of

valves will cause shutdowns of the pump and/or preparation plant of
filling.

f) When there is a high amount of pyrite in the tailings, the

temperature and produces sulfur dioxide, which can even cause
fires
Hydropneumatic filling

It is similar to hydraulic fill, used for transporting pipes.

of metal. The hydraulic fill consists of sending crushed material,
it can be mixed with cement and water, which is prepared in
mixers for this purpose; the load passes through a pipe with a diameter
appropriate; the same that gives way to a pneumatic pump for
send to those with high air pressure to fill the empty spaces.
VENTAJAS Y DESVENTAJAS DEL METODO CUT AND FILL.

Advantages.
The recovery is close to 100%.
It is highly selective, which means that it can be worked on.
sections of high grade and leave those low grade areas untouched.
It is a safe method.
It can achieve a high degree of mechanization.
It is suitable for deposits with physical-mechanical properties.
incompetents.

Disadvantages:
High operating cost.
Low performance due to the halt in production as
consequence of the filling.
High consumption of fortification materials.
 Descending cut and fill
Application of the method

a) It is applied in highly mineralized bodies when the

cleaning and filling system are machined.
b) It is possible to work on irregular bodies.
e) It is applied in the recovery of pillars left by the method
of cut and upward fill.
d) Work is done in areas of low consistency material.
e) It is generally applied in reserve extraction.
considerable.
D It is a proprietary method for the application of hydraulic fill.
g) It presents better safety and conditions for the staff.

Development and preparation

Transport and service galleries
Extraction chimneys
Ramps
Drilling and blasting.- Drilling is done either
with jackleg or jumbo drilling machines. It is worth noting
some important characteristics of drilling with
jumbo

The strokes used are simple due to the

characteristics of the land. Generally, drills are
espacian a una distancia de 3 pies; los cortes que se usan
generally, they are the burning and cutting in 'V'.

The explosives used are conventional.

When the ground is hard and consistent, it
uses ANFO while in soft terrain and with
presence of water, dynamite cartridges are used with
60% and manually loaded, explosive No. 6, guides of
safety, simple connectors and ignition cord.
Variants of the method

In the cut and fill descending method, it

they have employed three variants:

1. Pillar method
2. Panel method
3. Method 'Michi'.-
 MINED WITH WOODEN BOXES

Conditions of application

The square set method is applicable in many

circumstances, commonly under the following
conditions:

Recovery of high-grade pillars between the cuttings

of cut and fill, as well as above and below
from the access galleries.
Exploitation of mineralized bodies in the field
incompetent, which is too narrow, too
flat or too irregular to be mined by "block"
caving or other methods
3. Exploitation of high-grade mineralized bodies in
where the losses from dilution of the methods of
undermining should be unacceptable.

4. Exploitation of large mineralized bodies in

where an immediate and closed support is necessary, and
where undermining methods are unacceptable
due to possible spontaneous inflammations due to presence
of sulfurous

5. In deposits with a minimum power of 3 to

3.5m
Advantages of the method

1. Great recovery, losses generally

they increase from 3 to 5%, the dilution of the mineral is also
small..
2. They can be separated during exploitation.
classes of minerals.
3. The gangue can already be left in the mines.
how to fill or support.
4. The mineral can be extracted even when the rock
the box is irregular or the veins are prone to
to crumble. One can follow the ...
ramifications of mineralization in the boxes.
5. From the exploitation areas, routes can be drawn.
with ease galleries of Exploration and to be carried out
polls.
Disadvantages of the method

Very high extraction costs.

Low productivity.

3. High consumption of materials, the consumption of

wood reaches 0.03 to 0.045 m) /t of ore.

4. Difficulties in transportation caused by the large

consumption of fortification and filling materials.

5. Fire hazard.
Wooden

Preparatory work

Exploitation method

The fractured rock is dropped or dragged.

through winches from the floor box to the
mailboxes. In some cases, they can be used.
small charging teams in the areas
wooden, but in general, they are predominant.
winches, those that can be of two or three
drums;
Most of the cuts for 'square set' require a
posterior filling, since the frames cannot support
too much weight, being support methods
provisional.

The trenches are generally filled with rubble or

hydraulic fill. The excavation for the fill comes from
of:

1. Manual classification of cutting material; it is costly and

it is generally not practiced.
2. Increases in the box ceilings executed with the only
purpose of obtaining filling material, preferably
they are executed where the boxes are competent.
3. From places outside the logging area, including
dismantling of development areas, river gravel, etc.
 MINED BY COLLAPSE

Generalities

The methods of exploitation by sinkholes,

they are also referred to as "caving methods".
These are based on mineral fracturing and
the surrounding box under controlled conditions.
The broken mineral fills the empty spaces created,
where the continuous and total collapses are
essential, since the larger gaps
dimension can cause sudden collapse
with alterations of the mineral during the
operation.
MINED BY COLLAPSE DUE TO SUBLEVELS

Application conditions

The sublevel sinking exploitation method is

apply under the following conditions

It is generally used in vertical bodies

massive and in deposits that have large dimensions and
high bending.
2. The suitable minerals for the use of this method
they are of medium resistance, brittle and good
stratified, that allow to uncover a
relatively large surface that is cut into pieces with
ease, whether with explosives or by themselves due to the
ceiling pressure.
3. The limits of the deposit must be regular.
4. The surface terrain must allow for collapses without creating
serious problems.
5. This method is applied due to mineral losses.
only in minerals of medium value, and that do not appear
problems in metallurgical treatment.
6. The method is particularly favorable for
large volume deposits.
7. The deposit must be very powerful and have a great
horizontal extension, as this way the pressure of the ceiling
it is greater and the sinking will be uniform.
8. The method is applied to deposits that do not require
classification.
9. The minimum requirements for mineral stability
they require that the sublevel gallery must support itself
alone, with occasional support. The carrying allows for the
extraction of the mineral shall be continuous.
The main disadvantages of Sub Level Caving
son

A certain degree of dilution must be accepted.

mineral.
A production control must be implemented.
meticulous.
There are losses of ore; upon reaching the point
extraction limit, the highly diluted mineral
remaining is lost, in addition, they can be generated
passive areas, that is, without runoff, which
involves losses.
The method requires a high degree of developments.
When the sinking occurs, subsidence takes place with
destruction of the surface, furthermore, the work
permanent structures such as ventilation chimneys and ramps
they must be located outside the subsidence cone requiring
greater development.

Dilution is the factor that influences practical application.

of the techniques of 'sublevel caving'. The method is
preferred for deposits in which the stripping and the
economic minerals are easily sinkable. However,
this situation is different when the limits of the mineral
are determined by the cutoff law.
Development

The development works consist of drilling for

prepare the sublevels. During this stage, it is possible to
extract more than 20% of the mineral, it is also necessary
develop the inclined 'ore pass', as well as communicate
to the main levels.

The amount of development work in the sublevels is

substantial; however, the galleries and sublevels are
repetitive tasks that can be organized and executed
efficiently with modern equipment.

The main extraction gallery, the dumps, highlights,

staff access and services are frequently located
outside the deposit; these are often used for
the ventilation.
Development

The drilling is carried out with a 'fanshaped' mesh of

radial shape and upwards from the sublevels,
specifically the used drills.
they are ring-shaped with long drills, executed with
mechanized drilling system.

Loading and transportation

In production areas, the transportation of the mineral consists of

in transporting the mineral from the sublevels to the 'ore
pass. These operations promote the use of the equipment
LHD. The sublevels are designed for transport to
distances that match the equipment attributes;
achieving good efficiency in the loading and
transport
Planning and ventilation

Sublevel caving is systematic and utilizes good work.

of planning for the execution of the operation. E]
Development, production, and loading are carried out on fronts.
different, each of which is a continuous operation
independent from others; always being a front
available for the operation. These are factors that compel
that the method be mechanized, and therefore equally efficient.
 MINED BY BLOCK COLLAPSE
Application conditions

Block caving is used in large and massive bodies.

con las siguientes características:

The body must have a high inclination, it must be vertical and

of great extent.

After the cut, the rock should be able to break in

suitable fragments.

The surface conditions must allow for the

subsidence of the excavated area.

The mineral must be homogeneous and disseminated.

Justification and background

The following background information is taken into consideration:

This method is applicable due to its low production cost in

comparison with other underground systems.

Some unit operations are reduced such as,

drilling and blasting.

The method is applicable to massive deposits or

stratiform with pronounced dipping and low grade.

This system offers high production in each cycle.

start, also has good fragmentation for
acción de la gravedad.
As background for application we have:

The implementation of the system in our country occurred in the

my Cerro de Pasco, reaching a productivity of
200 t/h-g in production quality trial.

In Latin America, it is used as an example in the deposit

massive gold El Teniente in Chile.
Development

Include the following steps:

The transport and loading galleries are developed in the
bottom part of each block.

The 'ore pass' or 'fmger raise' are located at the level

of the catcher ('grizzly').

A "grizzly" level is developed to control the

fragmentation and when the secondary blasting is
necessary.

The 'raise fmger' is developed in the form of cones

at the cutting level.

A gallery is developed beneath the blocks.

Production

"Block caving" is a subsidence method applied.

mostly to large and massive bodies due to their
inherent low cost and high production capacity,
sufficiently large arches are removed by
a proper cut, so that the mass above
it will naturally sink.

In general, with the Block Caving method, one can

recover 90% of the mineral included in the area of
exploitation. This recovery coefficient depends
mainly in the way in which it is carried out
extraction of the first third of the block production.
Advantages

Under favorable conditions, the "theblockcabin" is a

economic mining method.
Mining is highly productive compared to others.
mining system, requires little drilling, little
blasting and little support.
Production is centralized and allows for efficient
supervision resulting in high productivity.
It allows for good control of working conditions.
Allows for high production.
It is advisable to apply it to low-grade bodies.
It is low cost.
Disadvantages:

It requires more preparation time and has a

longer recovery period compared to others
systems.

Additional cost for the preparation of the 'Blocks'

and the accesses.

Secondary blasting is common, increasing the

production cost.

Mineral recovery may be low due to

the adverse conditions of the terrain bringing constant
mineral losses due to poor design.