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1-Open Cast Mining Methods

There are two main mining methods: surface mining and underground mining. Surface mining involves removing rock and soil above the coal seam, exposing the coal, and then removing it. It is used for shallow coal seams. Underground mining uses vertical shafts and tunnels to access deeper coal seams. Surface mining recovers around 90% of coal while underground mining only recovers about 50% due to access restrictions.

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52 views20 pages

1-Open Cast Mining Methods

There are two main mining methods: surface mining and underground mining. Surface mining involves removing rock and soil above the coal seam, exposing the coal, and then removing it. It is used for shallow coal seams. Underground mining uses vertical shafts and tunnels to access deeper coal seams. Surface mining recovers around 90% of coal while underground mining only recovers about 50% due to access restrictions.

Uploaded by

jimcorbett099
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Mining Methods

There are the two basic mining methods usually


practiced world over to exploit mineral resources:
surface mining and underground mining.
The amount of coal recovered and the impact
upon the property are both determined by which
of these mining methods is employed.
RUSSIAN MAKE 10/70 Dragline
BEML (DOZER)
MOTOR GRADER
BEML 1000 -1 WITH DUMPER
SURFACE MINER (WIRTGEN)
WHEEL DOZER G30D
Surface Mining
In surface mining, the rock and soil above the
coal (the overburden) is drilled and blasted.
Then, the broken overburden is stripped away,
exposing the top of the coal seam.
Broken rock and debris are then cleaned away
and a loader breaks the coal from the seam and
loads it onto trucks.
After the coal is removed, the overburden is
replaced, and the land is reclaimed.
All of these steps can be seen in the illustration in
the subsequent slides.
Surface mining is best used for coal seams that
are close to the surface.
The thicker the seam, the greater the thickness of
overburden that can be economically removed. As a
general rule, about ten feet of overburden can be
removed for each foot of good coal in the seam.
This means that for a five-foot-thick coal seam, about 50
feet of overburden can be economically removed.
If the overburden is thicker, then underground mining
must be used to recover the coal.
One of the greatest disadvantages of surface mining is
that it completely removes the landscape.
A lot of effort and money must then be expended to
reclaim the land to a useful condition.
Underground Mining
When the coal seam is far below the surface, underground
mining must be used. Using this method, a vertical shaft is
drilled down to the coal and workers and equipment are
lowered down the shaft to work in the seam.
The coal is removed by driving tunnels with a machine
known as a continuous miner.
A continuous miner is a vehicle with a large cutting drum
mounted on a movable boom on the front of the machine.
The continuous miner is driven up against the coal seam,
and cutting bits on the rotating drum rip the coal from the
seam.
The boom is moved up and down, and the drum cuts coal
from the entire mining height of the seam.
A continuous miner is shown in the next slide.
Underground mining
Underground mining works best in thick coal seams.
When the coal seam is less than about 30 inches in
thickness, it becomes very difficult for people and
equipment to operate in the mine.
Most underground mines are less than 1000 feet
below the surface.
When the coal is deeper, the expenses of sinking a
vertical shaft and providing ventilation within the mine
become unattractive.
One of the greatest disadvantages for underground
mining is that the abandoned mines collapse over
time. This can lead to mine subsidence and damaged
buildings, roads, water wells, and utility services at the
surface.
Recovery Rates: % of recovery
• Surface mining and underground mining
recover different amounts of coal.
• Because surface mining exposes the seam for
easy access, about 90% of the coal can be
recovered.
• The more restricted conditions of
underground mining, combined with a need to
leave coal in the mine to support the roof,
only allows about 50% of the coal to be
recovered.

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