Underground mining is a complex field that requires different techniques depending on the orebody’s depth, shape, and geotechnical conditions. These methods can be classified into three main categories: 1. Naturally Supported Stopes These methods rely on the strength of the ore and surrounding rock to provide natural support during extraction. Gophering: A primitive method where miners follow high-grade veins or deposits. Minimal planning and used in small-scale operations. Room-and-Pillar Mining: Large rooms of ore are mined, leaving pillars to support the roof. Commonly used for coal and flat-lying deposits. Vertical Crater Retreat (VCR): Involves drilling vertical holes and blasting ore in retreating slices. Ideal for steeply dipping, massive deposits Sublevel Stoping: Ore is blasted from sublevels within the deposit and extracted through draw points. Requires good orebody stability. 2. Artificially Supported Stopes These methods require external support to ensure safety and stability in weaker rock conditions. Longwall Mining: A fully mechanized method where a long wall of ore is mined in a single slice. Often used for coal mining with hydraulic roof supports. Shortwall Mining: Similar to longwall but with shorter mining faces. Used in smaller deposits or lower-production scenarios. Shrinkage Stoping: Ore is broken in slices and temporarily left in the stope to provide support. Ore is removed after the stope is fully mined. Cut-and-Fill Mining: Ore is mined in horizontal slices, and the void is backfilled with waste rock or cement. Suitable for high-grade, irregular deposits. 3. Caving Methods These involve controlled collapse of rock to extract ore with minimal drilling or blasting. Top Slicing: Ore is mined in horizontal layers from the top downward, with caving occurring at each level. Suitable for deposits with weak overlying rock. Sublevel Caving: Ore is blasted in sublevels, and the caved rock flows into draw points for extraction. Common in steep, large ore bodies. Block Caving: Involves large-scale caving where ore is extracted as it collapses under gravity. Best for massive, low-grade deposits like copper and diamonds. 🔎 Each method has unique advantages, and the choice depends on factors like orebody geometry, rock stability, and economic feasibility.