BASIC CONCEPT OF METAL MINING

MINING:

Mining is the operation to win the valuable mineral economically

                         or

Mining means any operation for the purpose of searching for, obtaining minerals has been carried or being carried on either manually or mechanically

MINING ENGINEERING:

It is the branch of engineering/technology in which various operations for the extraction of minerals is carried  on the following factors

a. Scientific

b. Modern technologies

c. Latest engineering parameters,

d. Plans and layouts,

e. Various ground situations,

f. Hazardous condition

g. Safely,

h. Economic.

ORE:

1. An ore is a rock containing mineral ,which can be used for economical extraction of metal after processing to separate mineral from gangue

2. It is the combination of mineral or number of minerals mixed up with barren matters /gangue

3. When valuable mineral is mixed with other less valuable mineral /waste

4. Ores usually occurs as veins/loads.

       Ex:-Hematite, Chalcopyrite ,Bauxite

ORE DEPOSIT:

Accumulation of Ore in heavy concentration in the earth’s crust is known as ore deposit

It may be formed by igneous,sedimentary , metamorphic process.

WASTE/GANGUE:

Any less valuable mineral associated with the ore mineral

The gangue material generally comprise of Quartz, Calcite,Kaolinite

MINERAL:

Naturally occurring inorganic solid bodies having a definite chemical composition and displaying definite physical properties      Ex:-Mica

All substances which can be obtained from earth by mining, digging, drilling, dredging and quarrying or by other operation Includes mineral oils

MINERAL DEPOSIT:

Minerals of economic value, occurs in huge quantity in the earth`s crust 

Usually occurs as veins and beds.

Vein Type Deposit

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Bed Type Deposit

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RAISE  - WINZE:

Raise :- A connection between two levels in an ore body driven in upward direction. Or a upward excavation made to meet the above level or access to a mineral body

Winze :-A dipping connection in the ore body joining two levels.(top level to bottom level)

Raise/Winze is located mostly near the foot wall of the ore body.

DIP - RISE

Dip :-A road way driven along the dip of the coal seam is called ‘Dip gallery’ or simply ‘Dip’.or a road way driven from upper level to lower level

Rise :- A road way driven upwards in a coal seam along the plane of dip to meet the top level is called ‘Rise’ or ‘Rise gallery’.

HANGING WALL :

Hanging wall :-The adjoining rock occurring above the vein or ore body or seam is known as hanging wall.

It is also called roof in bedded deposits.

FOOT WALL:

Foot wall :- the rock below the ore body or vein is called ‘Foot wall’.

It is also called floor in bedded deposits.

Cross Cut:

A level tunnel or road way, which leads from the shaft, or shaft level and passes through the country rock in order to cut across the lode at an angle to the strike

LEVEL DRIVE  & DIP DRIVE:                                                                                                CROSS CUT:

LEVEL DRIVE 

A level drive road way driven driven in the body or vein, which follows the strike.

when the under ground road way is driven in the strike direction it is known as ‘level drive’ simply level

LEVEL INTERVAL

Distance between two adjacent levels called as level interval

DIP DRIVE:

when the underground road way is driven in the dip direction, it is known as dip drive or simply ‘Dip’

DRIVE  OR  DRIFT:

It is a horizontal tunnel parallel to strike of the lode or vein,

Can be located in the country rock either on the foot wall side of the lode (called foot wall drive ) or hang wall side of the lode ( called hang wall drive )

STAPLE PIT

Also called blind pit(shaft)

It is a vertical pit from one under ground working place or road to another under ground working place or road, but does not extend to the surface

INSET:

Means a landing platform in a shaft and includes an excavation there from between the top and the bottom of the shaft

                  

GALLERY:

Under ground drivages in coal seam are termed as galleries

 A road way driven in a coal seam called gallery

If it is driven along dip of the seam is called dip gallery or simply ‘Dip’

A road way driven along the strike of the seam is called a level gallery or simply ‘level’

HEADING:

A gallery in the process of being driven is called a ‘heading’

Blind heading : The end of the gallery is called ‘blind heading’ ( non –working end of the gallery or dead end of the heading )

FACE:

The moving front of any working place of the gallery or in bye end of any gallery, road way or drift is called ‘Face’    {or}

The place where the workers are legally permitted to work such moving end is known as ‘Face’

ORE PASS

Any passage which is made for the transport of broken ore in stope is known as ore pass

Ore chute :

It is an opening or window provided in the ore pass for loading of material or broken ore is known as chute

Ore bin:

It is a storage of broken ore near the shaft is known as ore bin