blockcaving

*
* Block Caving Induced Subsidence
* Surface to Underground Mining Interaction
* Publications
* Websites
* Software
* Blogs
* And All The Rest

* Full Review
* Subscribe

Summary
This review describes the underground mining method of block caving. Several publications, websites, links, and software are given, and a number of blogs related to block caving are mentioned.
overview
Click Here!
Block cave mining is a mass mining method that allows for the bulk mining of large, relatively lower grade, orebodies. This method is increasingly being proposed for a number of deposits worldwide, thus the scope for a better understanding of block caving behaviour. Because many existing large open-pit mines are also planning to extend their operations underground by block caving, research is undergoing to investigate the rock deformation mechanisms associated with the transition from surface to underground mining operations.

In general terms block cave mining is characterized by caving and extraction of a massive volume of rock which potentially translates into the formation of a surface depression whose morphology depends on the characteristics of the mining, the rock mass, and the topography of the ground surface (Figure 1). Block cave mining can be used on any orebody that is sufficiently massive and fractured; a major challenge at the mine design stage is to predict how specific orebodies will cave depending on the various geometry of the undercut.
Figure 1: Diagrammatic representation of a typical block cave mining operation. (Image copyright: Atlas Copco)

Block caving has been applied to large scale extraction of various metals and minerals, sometimes in thick beds of ore but more usually in steep to vertical masses. Examples of block caving operations include Northparkes (Australia), Palabora (South Africa), Questa Mine (New Mexico), Henderson Mine (Colorado) and Freeport (Indonesia).

Another way to understand what block caving is all about is to examine this figure:

It shows the essential aspects of block caving: an underground tunnel leading to draw points where the overlying rock, broken by gravity more or less flows to the draw point, to be gathered and taken away for processing.