UNDERGROUND MINING OF METALLIFEROUS DEPOSITS

Lecture No: 49 – OPEN STOPING METHODS

SUBLEVEL STOPING
BIBHUTI BHUSAN MANDAL and KAUSHIK DEY
DEPARTMENT OF MINING ENGINEERING
IIT KHARAGPUR

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INTRODUCTION
 LEARNING BACKGROUND :
Students taking this course lecture should preferably have a preliminary
understanding of the mineral reserves and mining technology.
• Lateral development of metal mines (Drives, X-cuts etc.)
• Different methods of Raising
• Ventilation and mine services
• Underground ore movement

Dr. B. B. Mandal and Dr. Kaushik Dey

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INTRODUCTION

 LEARNING OBJECTIVES OF THIS LECTURE:

 To understand one Open Stoping Method of ore extraction
 To understand the applicability of Sublevel Stoping Method
 To have a detailed account of stope development
 Detailed stoping operations

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SUBLEVEL STOPING: AN OVERVIEW

• 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.

Dr. B. B. Mandal and Dr. Kaushik Dey

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SUBLEVEL STOPING: AN OVERVIEW

Dr. B. B. Mandal and Dr. Kaushik Dey

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SUBLEVEL STOPING: AN OVERVIEW

Vertically the stope is divided into a number of horizons by suitably

positioned drill drives called the sublevels, and hence the name sublevel
stoping.

With advent of new drill machines with the ease of drilling large diameter
blast holes, the conventional sub-level stoping method has gone through lot
of modifications.

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SUBLEVEL STOPING: Applicability
Conditions suitable for Sub-level stoping:

Geotechnical parameters:

Ore strength: moderate to strong (> 40 MPa UCS)

Host rock (Footwall and hang wall rocks) are also strong

Geometry, disposition & orientation:

Deposit shape: tabular or lenticular, regular dip and defined boundaries

Deposit dip: steep (>45-50 degrees, preferably 60-90 degrees)
Deposit size: 6-30m wide, fairly large extent
(Very thin deposits : 0.7m; Thin deposits; 0.7 – 2m; Medium thick: 2m- 5m; Thick deposits: 5 – 20 m;
Very thick > 20 m; e.g. HCL- Malanjkhand copper deposit is 80 m thick )

Ore grade: moderate

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SUBLEVEL STOPING
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.

Dr. B. B. Mandal and Dr. Kaushik Dey

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SUBLEVEL STOPING
Stope Development:

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.

Dr. B. B. Mandal and Dr. Kaushik Dey

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SUBLEVEL STOPING

Dr. B. B. Mandal and Dr. Kaushik Dey

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SUBLEVEL STOPING

Dr. B. B. Mandal and Dr. Kaushik Dey

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SUBLEVEL STOPING
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)
Das SK, 2001, Explosives and blasting practices in mines. Lovely Prakashan.

Dr. B. B. Mandal and Dr. Kaushik Dey

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SUBLEVEL STOPING OPERATION
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.

Dr. B. B. Mandal and Dr. Kaushik Dey

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SUBLEVEL STOPING OPERATION

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.

Dr. B. B. Mandal and Dr. Kaushik Dey

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SUBLEVEL STOPING OPERATION
Blasting: ANFO with 60% S.G. as primer initiated with short
delay (25 ms) 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.

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SUBLEVEL STOPING OPERATION
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.

Dr. B. B. Mandal and Dr. Kaushik Dey

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SUBLEVEL STOPING OPERATION

Retreating from two starting points

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SUBLEVEL STOPING
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.

Dr. B. B. Mandal and Dr. Kaushik Dey

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SUBLEVEL STOPING OPERATION
Working multiple sublevels: After repeating a several rounds
of blasting + mucking from the lowest sublevel, the situation
permits operation of multiple sublevels in a phased retreat
with the lowest one advancing (retreating faster).

For wider orebodies, LHDs of 2.3 m3 bucket capacity

are commonly used for transporting 250 t/hr
depending on lead distance. An OMS of 25 is quite
Sublevel Stoping - YouTube common in Sublevel stoping method.

Dr. B. B. Mandal and Dr. Kaushik Dey

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SUBLEVEL STOPING
Backfill and Support
In sublevel stoping a backfill program is usually established
in large openings created during production.

Backfill allows for the recovery of support pillars, permitting

up to 90% ore recovery.

Apart from this, backfill provides additional ground support,

reduces dilution and helps with the redistribution of stresses
around openings, which reduces rock bursting events.

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SUBLEVEL STOPING
Backfill and Support
Typically the types of backfill used are un-cemented rock and sand
fill, and cemented hydraulic/high density tailings fill made from the
waste rock and tails produced from mining operations.

Cemented tailings have also been known to warrant the elimination

of rib pillars between stopes, which allows for a further increase in
ore recovery.

However, preparation and installation of cemented fill is costly and is

not always economically justified, in this case recovery of the
support and rib pillars is not practical.

Additional support at drill level and draw levels are to be provided

wherever required using Rock Bolts and Cable Bolting.

Dr. B. B. Mandal and Dr. Kaushik Dey

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TEXT AND REFERENCE BOOKS
1) Hartman H. L., 2002, Introductory Mining Engineering, Publishers John Willey and sons
2) Peter Darling, 2011, SME Mining Engineering Hand book, SME Publication
3) Deshmukh D. J., Elements of Mining Technology Vol. II, Vidyaseva Publications, Nagpur.
4) De Amithosh, 1995, Latest Development of Heavy Earth Moving Machinery, Annapurna
Publishers
5) M. Agoshkov and S. Borisov, 1983, Mining of Ores and Non- Metallic Minerals, Mir publications
6) W. A. Hustrulid, Richard L. Bullock, Richard C. Bullock., 2001, Underground Mining Methods:
Engineering Fundamentals and International Case Studies, Publishers SME
7) Das SK, 2001, Explosives and blasting practices in mines. Lovely Prakashan.

Dr. B. B. Mandal and Dr. Kaushik Dey

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Dr. B. B. Mandal and Dr. Kaushik Dey
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