Selection of the most appropriate underground mining method for Sareke copper mine Online publication date: Wed, 26-Oct-2016
by Sammy O. Ombiro
International Journal of Mining and Mineral Engineering (IJMME), Vol. 7, No. 4, 2016
Abstract: One of the major challenges facing an underground mine planner is selection of the most appropriate mining method to extract the ore. Sareke Copper ore being flat and tabular favours the application of room-and-pillar and/or stope-and-pillar mining methods. Though these mining methods may be preferred for extracting this ore, a further analysis indicated that geotechnical properties of the hosting rock may not support the suggested excavation sizes. This paper, therefore, investigated the suitability of the above mining methods for extracting this ore. The research found out that due to geotechnical nature of the hosting rock, the pillars would be too big to be economical. It was found out that the suggested excavation size could not stand up on its own without major support. Hence, other mining methods, though expensive when compared with the above two mentioned mining methods, may be more appropriate for extracting the ore.
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Mining and Mineral Engineering (IJMME):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:
Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.
If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com
Our Blog 
Follow us on Twitter 
Visit us on Facebook