Alluvial

Mining
Under the guidance
of

A presentation by

Arkaprabha Sarkar
M.Sc (P) Applied
Geology
Kurukshetra University
Kurukshetra

Ms. Sarita Mann

Alluvial Mining

What is Alluvial Mining?

Alluvial mining or Placer mining
is the procedure of extracting ore
minerals from placer deposits formed
by exogenic geomorphic processes.
Alluvial mining considered as a
special case of open cast mining and
quarrying MISCONCEPTION!!!
Alluvial Mining

Placer Deposits
Placer deposits are sedimentary ore
deposits of heavy ore minerals formed by
mechanical concentration of minerals in
sediments deposited due earth surface
processes.
Can be of the following types:
- Eluvial placers
- Alluvial placers
- Beach placers
- Aeolian placers
Alluvial Mining

Placer Deposits
Mineable placers dates from
Cretaceous to recent
Based on age, placers can be
- Old placers (deep seated and
lithified)
- Recent placers (surfacial and
unlithified)
- Forming placers (geomorphic
agents still working)
Alluvial Mining

A recent deposit
Age: Less than 20ka
Lithology: Very low degree of compaction. Composed of
loose sand
Site: Ropar, Punjab
Alluvial Mining

An old placer deposit

Age: Precambriam
Lithology: Lithified sediments
Site: South Africa
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Process of mining a
placer
Open Cast Methods

Underground
methods

Used in recently
Used in deep seated
developed placer
old placer mines
mines
Usually deposits are
NOTE:
Generally deposits are
consolidated
lithified
Thenot
choice
of methods is decided on the basis of the following

criteria:
Study of lithological characters
Simulation of efficiency of various methods on the current scenario
Simulation of modifications on existing methods for the particular
scenario
Alluvial Mining
Labour cost and capital investments

ALLUVIAL MINING
METHODS
Methods of mining are
explained taking the
reference of *Tin mining
industry of Malaysia
*Mining of tin from placers in Malaysia was started in 1820 by the
Chinese settlers. The industry continued to hold the economy of
Malaysia along with the rubber industry until 1995 when the mines
were shutdown. The mines were shutdown due to exhaustion of
resources.
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Panning

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Rocker Box

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Long Tom

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Sluice Boxes

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Hydraulicking

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Dredging

Dredge machine working in an open cast alluvial mine

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Underground Method

Favona Gold Mines, New Zealand

Alluvial Mining

Alluvial mines in India

Ilmenite-Monazite-Rutile mining in
Kerala coast
Chavakkad-Ponnani gold mines in
beach placers of Kerala
Gold mines in alluvial placers of
Ghaggar (mining has been stopped
now)

Alluvial Mining

EFFICIENCY OF MINING
METHODS
Based on the production of tin in Malaysia over the entire
period, efficiency of the various methods used is estimated
statistically.

Alluvial Mining

Production of tin over the

years

Year

Gravel
Dredge

Pump

Open
%

Cast

Under-
%

ground

Dulang
%

Washing

Others

Total

1970

23,931

32.4 40,739

55.2

2,504

3.4

2,254

3.1

2,828

3.8

1,539

2.1

73,795

1975

20,329

31.6 35,183

54.7

2,535

3.9

1,894

2.9

3,081

4.8

1,342

2.1

64,364

1980

18,222

29.7 34,484

56.2

2,705

4.4

1,085

1.8

3,246

5.3

1,662

2.7

61,404

1989

11,963

37.3 13,263

41.4

2,905

9.1

103

0.3

2,835

8.8

965

3.0

32,034

1990

10,267

36.1 12,216

42.9

2,173

7.6

102

0.4

2,601

9.1

1,109

3.9

28,468

1991

9,515

45.9

6,476

31.3

1,754

8.5

71

0.3

2,065

10.0

829

4.0

20,710

1992

6,072

42.3

3,886

27.1

1,592

11.1

71

0.5

1,640

11.4

1,078

7.5

14,339

1993

3,522

33.9

3,426

33.0

1,653

15.9

48

0.5

1,059

10.2

676

6.5

10,384

1994

1,355

21

2,438

37.8

1,375

21.3

72

1.1

721

11.2

497

7.7

6,458

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Production of tin by various

methods
Chart Title
45000
40000

Net production

35000
Dredge

30000

Gravel pump
Open Cast

25000

Underground
Dulang Washing

20000

Others

15000
10000
5000
0

1970

1975

1980

1989

1990

1991

Years
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1992

1993

1994

Efficiency of various
Percentage yield methods
of the methods used over the years
60

Percentage yield

50

Axis Title

Dredge

40

Gravel pump
Open Cast
Underground

30

Dulang Washing
Others

20

10

0
1970

1975

1980

1989

1990

1991

Years
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1992

1993

1994

Conclusion
Alluvial mining is done in
sedimentary deposits. Mining
methods are chosen on the basis of
the lithological characteristics of the
deposits.
Grade of deposit is generally low,
hence, all methods are
comparatively less expensive.
Mining projects involving alluvial
mining have generally low capital
Alluvial Mining

References
Mining Geology by R.N.P
Arogyaswamy
Ore geology and Industrial Minerals:
An Introduction by Anthony M. Evans
www1.american.edu
Google Images

Alluvial Mining

Thank You
Feel free to clear your doubts!

Alluvial Mining