Atlas Copco

Mining Methods
in Underground Mining

Mining Methods in Underground Mining

Printed matter no. 9851 6289 01a

Second edition 2007

2007

www.atlascopco.com
When safety comes first

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Contents
Foreword
    2 Foreword by Hans Fernberg M Sc
Mining Engineering, Senior Adviser,
Atlas Copco Rock Drills AB

Talking Technically
   3 Trends in underground mining
   7 Geology for underground mining
  13 Mineral prospecting and exploration
  17 Finding the right balance in exploration drilling
  21 Underground mining infrastructure
  25 Principles of raise boring
  29 Mechanized bolting and screening
  33 Mining in steep orebodies
  39 Mining in flat orebodies
  43 Backfilling for safety and profit 105 High speed haulage at Stawell
  46 Atlas Copco rock bolts for mining 109 Sublevel stoping at Olympic Dam
115 Improved results at Meishan iron ore mine
Case Studies
119 Mechanized mining in low headroom at Waterval
  47 Innovative mining at Garpenberg 121 Large scale copper mining adapted to lower seams
  53 Changing systems at Zinkgruvan 125 Underground mining of limestone and gypsum
  59 Increasing outputs at LKAB iron ore mines 129 Sub level caving for chromite
  63 From surface to underground at Kemi 133 Getting the best for Peñoles
  69 Mining magnesite at Jelšava 137 Keeping a low profile at Panasqueira
  73 All change for Asikoy copper mine
  77 Mining challenge at El Soldado
Front cover: Headframe at Australia´s Golden Grove mine.
  83 Pioneering mass caving at El Teniente
  91 Boxhole boring at El Teniente All product names such as Boomer, Boltec, Simba, COP, Scooptram
and Swellex are registered Atlas Copco trademarks. For machine
  97 Modernization at Sierra Miranda
specifications contact your local Atlas Copco Customer Center or
  99 Mount Isa mines continues to expand refer to www.atlascopco.com/rock

Produced by tunnelbuilder ltd for Atlas Copco Rock Drills AB, SE-701 91 Örebro, Sweden, tel +46 19 670   -7000, fax -  7393.
Publisher Ulf Linder ulf.linder@se.atlascopco.com Editor Mike Smith mike@tunnelbuilder.com Senior Adviser Hans Fernberg
hans.fernberg@se.atlascopco.com Picture Editor Patrik Johansson patrik.johansson@se.atlascopco.com
Contributors Marcus Eklind, Patrik Ericsson, Jan Jönsson, Mathias Lewén, Gunnar Nord, Björn Samuelsson,
all name.surname@se.atlascopco.com, Adriana Potts adriana.potts@ntlworld.com, Kyran Casteel kyrancasteel@aol.com,
Magnus Ericsson magnus.ericsson@rmg.se. The editor gratefully acknowledges extracts from Underground Mining Methods
– engineering fundamentals and international case studies by William A Hustrulid and Richard L Bullock, published by SME,
details from www.smenet.org

Designed and typeset by ahrt, Örebro, Sweden Digital copies of all Atlas Copco reference editions can be ordered from the
Printed by Welins Tryckeri AB, Örebro, Sweden publisher, address above, or online at www.atlascopco.com/rock. Reproduction
Copyright 2007 Atlas Copco Rock Drills AB. of individual articles only by agreement with the publisher.

underground mining methods 1