Stages in life of a mine

1. Prospecting
2. Exploration
3. Development
4. Exploitation
5. Reclamation
 Stages in life of a mine
 Prospecting
it is the first stage in the search of ore.
In this we study the literature and maps of an
area.
There are two methods of prospecting.
1. Direct method
2. Indirect method
 Stages in life of a mine
 Direct method
 It is limited to deposits on surface or near
surface.
 it consists of visual examination of either
outcrop or loose fragments that have weathered
away from the outcrop
 The samples are collected from the potential
site for microscopic study in laboratory.
 Video prospecting
 Stages in life of a mine
 Indirect method
 These can be used for deeper deposits.
 They include seismic ,radiometric , magnetic
and many other methods.
 Find pics for seismic and these surveys
 Stages in life of a mine
 Exploration
 2nd stage of mining
 Core samples are obtained by diamond drills.
 Different laboratory analyses are carried out to
evaluate the grade and tonnage of deposit.
 Video core sample,diamond drill bit and core
samples and diamond drilling.
 Stages in life of a mine
 Final conclusion is drawn regarding worth of
the deposit.it is called reserve estimation.
 At the end of this stage feasibility study is
carried out which helps to decide, whether to
abandon or develop the deposit.
 Stages in life of a mine
 Development
 It is work of opening a mineral deposit for
exploitation.
 With it proper mining begins
 In this stage mining rights are acquired
 Access roads to site are constructed
 Power source is acquired
 Stages in life of a mine
 Ore handling and treatment plants constructed .
 Then access to deposit may be gained by

1. Stripping overburden (surface mining)

2. By excavating openings from surface to more
deeply burried deposits(underground mining).
 access roads,plants pic
 Stages in life of a mine
 Exploitation
 It is actual recovery of mineral
 While development work continues through
out life of mine, in exploitation stage main
emphasis is on production.
 In this stage mining method is also selected.
 Stages in life of a mine
 Mining method selection
 The selection of mining method depend upon

1. Economics (comparing costs)

2. technology available
3. Size , shape and depth of ore
4. Ground water,strength of ore and host rock
5. Environmental factors as subsidence on
surface,ventilation,work force etc.
 Stages in life of a mine
 Mining method may be
1. Surface
2. underground
 Stages in life of a mine
 Surface methods
 Two main types

1. Mechanical excavation
2. aqueous excavation
 Stages in life of a mine
Mechanical excavation methods
1. Open pit mining (thick deposit)
2. Quarrying (thin deposit)
3. Opencast mining,etc
Open pit
 Video open cast mining
 Stages in life of a mine
 Aqueous excavation
1. Placer mining
2. Solution mining,etc
 Video placer mining
 Video solution mining
Solution mining
 Stages in life of a mine
 Underground mining methods
 Three classes

1. Unsupported methods(room and pillar)

2. Supported methods(cut and fill, )
3. Caving(, block caving)
 Vide,cut and fill stoping , block , room and
pillar
 reclamation