Sublevel Open Stope Method
• Sublevel Open Stoping
• In sub level open stoping (Figure), ore is recovered in open
stopes normally backfilled after being mined. Stopes are often
large, particularly in the vertical direction.
• The ore body is divided into separate stopes. Between stopes,
ore sections are set aside for pillars to support the hanging wall.
Pillars are normally shaped as vertical beams across the ore
body. Horizontal sections of ore, known as crown pillars, are also
left to support mine workings above the producing stpes.
• Enlarging stope dimensions influences mining efficiency. Miners
therefore aim for the largest possible stopes. The stability of the
rock mass is a limiting factor to be considered when selecting
the sizes of stopes and pillars. Sublevel stoping is used for for
mining mineral deposits with following characteristics:
• • Steep dip-the inclination of the footwall must exceed
• the angle of repose,
• • Stable rock in both the hanging wall and the footwall,
• • Competent ore and host rock,
• • Regular ore boundaries.
• Bighole Stoping
• Bighole stoping (Figures 1.11-1.13) is
a scaled-up variant of sublevel open
stoping in which longer blastholes
with larger diameters (140 to 165
mm) are used.
• The holes are normally drilled using
the in-the-hole (ITH) technique. Hole
depths may reach 100 m, which is
double the length that can be drilled
with tophammer rigs. Blast patterns
are similar to those used in sublevel
open stoping.
• The 140-mm-diameter blasthole
breaks a rock slice 4 m thick with a 6-
m toe spacing.
Design Principles
o Geometry: In SLOS, we delineate stopes vertically and then slice off
segments of the ore through drilling and blasting. The blasted ore is
removed through draw points.
o Sublevel Division: We often divide the stope vertically by driving
sublevels longitudinally. Sublevel rings are drilled, charged, and initiated
for blasting1.
o Cavability and Fragmentation: Every tonne of ore is drilled and
blasted, resulting in improved cavability and fragmentation compared to
other methods like block caving.
o Selective Mining: SLOS allows selective mining of ore while leaving
waste rock in place.
o Mechanization and Automation: SLOS is amenable to mechanization
and automation, making it suitable for efficient mining operations.
1. Operating Considerations:
o Recovery: With care, recoveries of around 80% can be achieved.
o Dilution: Dilution can be kept below 25%.
o Development Cost: SLOS has relatively high development costs.
o Popularity: SLOS is declining in popularity, being replaced by other
methods like block caving or sublevel open stoping2.
2. Operational Practices:
o Blasting: Ore is blasted in the stope, and the broken material accumulates
near the draw points.
o Loading: Miners use equipment (such as loaders or trucks) to load the ore
from the draw points.
o Transport: The extracted ore is transported to the surface for processing.
Draw points
• In Sublevel Open Stoping (SLOS), the design of draw points is crucial for
efficient ore extraction.
1. Draw Points Purpose:
o Draw points serve as openings or access points for removing blasted ore from the stope.
o They allow miners to extract ore safely and efficiently.
2. Design Considerations:
o Location: Draw points are strategically positioned along the sublevels to ensure even ore
extraction.
o Size and Shape: The size and shape of draw points depend on the stope geometry and
the desired flow of material.
o Spacing: Proper spacing between draw points prevents excessive dilution and ensures
optimal ore recovery.
o Support: Draw points require robust support systems to prevent collapse during
extraction.
• In Sublevel Open Stoping (SLOS), designing access to the sublevels is critical for
efficient mining operations. Let’s explore the principles related to sublevel access design:
1. Sublevel Start Positions:
o Sublevel start positions are created using a trackless ramp with a typical gradient of
approximately 1 in 7. This ramp is usually located in the footwall.
o The ramp provides access to the sublevels where mining activities take place.
2. Stope Development:
o Stopes are mined by advancing sublevel development along the vein until reaching
the stope limit.
o On retreat, slot raising and progressive blasting of intermediate pillars occur using
longholes.
o The stope remains open during its working life but may be subsequently filled for
convenience or to aid pillar recovery.
1. Drawpoints and Loading:
o Broken ore falls to the bottom of the stope.
o Drawpoints are strategically positioned openings used for loading the extracted ore.
o Miners use equipment (such as loaders or trucks) to load the ore from these
drawpoints.
2. Variations Based on Vein Conditions:
o The planning options for sublevel orientations depend on the vein characteristics:
▪ Narrow Vein (2–5 m): Parallel long hole drilling with good recovery and
dilution.
▪ Medium Vein (5–12 m): Wide sublevels, parallel long hole drilling.
▪ Medium to Wide Vein (>10 m): Fan drilling due to a weak orebody, more
expensive layout.
▪ Wide or Variable Vein (>20 m): Ring drilling, potentially poor recovery and
dilution.
• Irregular Vein: Parallel drilling, recovery and dilution depend on vein straightness
between sublevels.
• In Sublevel Open Stoping (SLOS), the design of stopes is a critical aspect that directly impacts
mining efficiency and safety. Let’s explore the principles related to stop design:
1. Stope Geometry and Layout:
o Stopes are the excavated areas where ore is extracted.
o The geometry of stopes depends on factors such as vein shape, orebody thickness, and rock
mechanics.
o Common stope shapes include rectangular, trapezoidal, or sublevel rings.
2. Stope Dimensions:
o Width: The width of a stope is determined by the vein width and the desired ore recovery.
o Height: The height of a stope is influenced by the sublevel spacing and the need for efficient
ore extraction.
o Length: The length of a stope depends on the strike length of the orebody.
3. Sublevel Division:
o Stopes are divided into sublevels (horizontal slices) along the vein.
o Sublevel rings are drilled, charged, and blasted to create the stope void.
1. Access and Drawpoints:
o Access: Sublevel access ramps or declines provide entry to the stopes.
o Drawpoints: These openings allow miners to load the broken ore from the
stope.
2. Pillars and Stability:
o Rib Pillars: These are left between adjacent stopes to maintain stability.
o Waste Pillars: Waste rock is left in place to support the hanging wall.
o Proper pillar design ensures safety during mining operations.
• design principles and operational aspects of the Sublevel Open
Stoping (SLOS) mining method.
• key features and considerations for SLOS:
1. Method Overview:
o Objective: Efficiently extract ore while minimizing waste rock movement.
o Mechanization: SLOS is highly mechanized, making it suitable for trackless excavating equipment.
o Safety: Good safety due to most mining operations occurring in roadways and chambers.
2. Stope Geometry and Layout:
o Stope Shape: Rectangular, trapezoidal, or sublevel rings.
o Width: Determined by vein width and desired ore recovery.
o Height: Influenced by sublevel spacing and efficient ore extraction.
o Length: Depends on the strike length of the orebody.
1. Access and Drawpoints:
o Access: Sublevel ramps or declines provide entry to the stopes.
o Drawpoints: Openings for loading broken ore from the stope.
o Ore is transported from mining roadways to mineral bunkers via ore
passes or inclined planes.
2. Pillars and Stability:
o Rib Pillars: Left between adjacent stopes for stability.
o Waste Pillars: Support the hanging wall.
o Proper pillar design ensures safety during mining.
3. Ventilation and Airflow:
o Ventilation intakes air from mining preparation ramps or service raises.
o Wind flows through sublevel transportation drifts to return air raises.
o Minimizes exposed surface areas and enhances safety.
Some important parameters in SLOS
1. Average Thickness:
o The average thickness of a sublevel in SLOS can vary but is often around 10 to 20
meters1.
o This thickness allows for efficient ore extraction while maintaining stability.
2. Optimal Values:
o A case study at the Yingfangzi silver mine in China found that optimal values for
sublevel height were 10 meters2.
• These values led to significant reductions in dilution and improved ore production.
1. Considerations:
o Sublevel height depends on the orebody characteristics, rock mechanics, and safety
requirements.
o Balancing ore recovery, dilution, and stability is crucial when determining sublevel
height.
2. Width:
o The width of a stope depends on the vein width and the desired ore recovery.
o Typical widths range from 6 meters to 20 meters1.
3. Height:
o The height of a stope is influenced by sublevel spacing and efficient ore
extraction.
o Common stope heights range from 10 meters to 35 meters21.
4. Strike Length:
o The length of a stope along the strike depends on the orebody geometry.
o It can vary from 90 meters to 120 meters3.
• layout design principles for Sublevel Open Stoping (SLOS) mining.
1. Top-Down Mining Sequence:
o SLOS follows a top-down mining approach.
o Production drifts are oriented either longitudinally or transversely within the orebody.
o Fan drilling and blasting occur from these production drifts.
2. Ore Extraction and Backfilling:
o Ore is drawn from the stope while backfill is introduced at the top.
o Backfill flows down by gravity, supporting the walls and preventing caving.
o Continuous backfilling distinguishes SLOS from other methods like sublevel caving (SLC).
3. Suitable Deposit Types:
o SLOS is viable in steeply dipping, moderately thick, tabular deposits.
o It can be an alternative to other stoping methods like SLC, sublevel open stoping (SLOS), or longhole
open stoping (LHOS).
1. Geotechnical Constraints:
o SLOS is useful when caving must be prevented or when the hanging wall rock mass lacks
caveability due to rock properties or deposit geometry.
o It can address limitations posed by geotechnical factors.
2. Infrastructure Considerations:
o Critical points include dilution with backfill and the backfill handling infrastructure.
o High-capacity infrastructure is essential for efficient backfill handling.
o Stability monitoring of the infrastructure is crucial.
