Cristal-e College

Tawala,Panglao,Bohol

How Ores are

Found,Mined &
Processed for Human
Use

Joanna Mae Bonao

Instructor

John Gabriel H. Buli

Student

Open cut Mining

What is Open Cut Mining?

Open-cut mining is a process of resource extraction where it is dug up from the

surface. Also known as open-pit mining or open-cast mining, it is the most
common form of extraction for minerals or coal in Australia.
The technique of open-cut mining is used when the deposits are close enough to the
surface to be readily extracted. What is an example of open-cut mining? A stone quarry
is a form of open-cut mine, as are the majority of coal mines in Australia and three-
quarters of minerals mines.
Open-cut mining starts with removing the topsoil for later use in land rehabilitation,
before blasting the underground rock. Once the coal seam is reached, it is drilled,
extracted and removed to be washed and processed.
The Carmichael Mine in central Queensland is Australia’s newest open cut coal mine.
Following an 18-month construction period from July 2019, the mine will produce 10
million tonnes a year of high-quality, low ash thermal coal for the international market.
This will be done using the latest open-cut mining techniques, in partnership with
progressive land rehabilitation that will restore the land after active mining has ended.

How Does Open Cut Mining Work?

There is significant misinformation about mining processes and their impacts.

Resources extraction is essential for contemporary life, and in Australia it is conducted
using world-leading best-practice techniques.
So what is the open-cut mining process? It is a simple process of removing the surface
soil, then blasting the rock to expose coal seam, and digging out the coal.
At the start of the process, the topsoil is dug and collected at the leading edge of an
active mine. This soil is later returned for use in land rehabilitation, a key focus of
progressive sustainability efforts.
Then the rock covering the coal seam is removed to expose the coal seam. Holes are
drilled for industrial explosives to break up the rock safely. The blasted rock
(overburden) is then removed using huge draglines and trucks.
Once the coal is uncovered, front-end loaders or excavators load up the coal to be
transported and processed.

Strip Mining
 What is Strip Mining?

Strip mining is a form of surface mining that is employed to strip away a

layer or seam of soil, natural vegetation, and rocks (known as
overburden) to extract the mineral deposits underneath. Unlike
underground mining, it is predominately used to access relatively flat
sedimentary mineral reserves that are near the earth’s surface, usually
coal and lignite.
There are two common techniques under the umbrella of strip mining
categorized as area mining and contour mining, depending on the
amounts of ore under the surface. Area mining is appropriate for near-
surface, thin mineral extraction over a wide, flat terrain in a series of
parallel and long strips.Contour mining, on the contrary, progresses in
a narrower and custom shaped zone where the overburden is removed,
following the contours of outcrops and hilly terrain rather than long
strips.

How does Strip Mining work?

Strip mining is employed in coal reserves where the overburden is removed in

rectangular blocks in plan view called pits or strips. The pits are parallel and
adjacent to each other. Strip mining is fundamentally different from contour or area
mining on how the overburden is displaced, called spoil handling. In contour or area
stripping, the overburden is hauled with different equipment than what digs or removes the
overburden. In strip mining, the overburden is mined and moved by the same equipment:
draglines or continuous excavators. The movement of overburden in strip mining is called
the casting process.

The operating sequence for each pit includeincludees drilling and blasting, followed by
overburden casting, then coal removal. Some overlap exists in operational steps between
pits. Draglines and continuous excavators move or displace the overburden from the
active pit to the previous pit that has had the coal removed.

The primary planning mechanism used in strip mining is the range diagram, which is a
cross-sectional plan of the shape of the pit in various stages of mining. The range diagram
allows the dragline or continuous excavator equipment characteristics of dig depth, reach,
and physical size to be placed on the geologic dimensions of depth to seams
(overburden), and depth between seams (interburden). By comparing machinery
specifications with dimensional characteristics of the geology, the mine designer can plan
the pit width and dig depth

Dredge Mining
What is Dredge Mining?

Dredge mining is a method of extracting valuable minerals or materials from the bottom of
bodies of water, such as rivers, lakes, or the ocean. It involves the use of specialized
equipment called dredges, which are essentially floating platforms equipped with mechanisms
to excavate and collect materials from the underwater deposits.

Dredges typically use suction or mechanical means to remove sediments, gravel, sand, or
other materials from the seabed or riverbed. These materials can include valuable resources
like gold, diamonds, tin, or sand and gravel used in construction. Dredge mining can have
significant environmental impacts on aquatic ecosystems and is subject to regulations and
environmental safeguards in many regions to mitigate these effects.

How does Dredge Mining works?

Dredge mining works by using specialized equipment, known as dredges, to remove materials from the bottom of
bodies of water. Here are the basic steps involved in dredge mining:

Dredge Setup: A dredge is typically a floating platform or vessel equipped with various components, including a
dredging apparatus, a collection system, and often a processing facility. The specific design can vary depending
on the type of material being mined.

Excavation: The dredge is positioned over the area where the target materials are located on the underwater
bed. The dredging apparatus can use different methods to excavate the materials:

Suction Dredging: In this method, a powerful pump creates a suction force that sucks up sediments, rocks, or
other materials from the seabed or riverbed.

Mechanical Dredging: This approach uses buckets, scoops, or cutterheads to physically dig and scoop up
materials from the bottom.

Collection: As the materials are excavated, they are transported through pipelines or conveyor systems to the
collection area on the dredge.
Separation and Processing: Depending on the type of materials being mined, a processing facility on the dredge
may be used to separate valuable minerals or materials from unwanted debris. For example, in gold dredge
mining, sluice boxes and screens are often used to separate gold from gravel and sediment.

Leach Mining
What is Leach Mining?

Leach mining, also known as leaching, is a process used to extract valuable minerals or
metals from ore by dissolving them in a liquid solvent. Typically, a chemical solution, often
containing acids or other reagents, is used to dissolve the desired minerals from the ore. The
resulting solution, known as a leachate, is then collected and processed to recover the target
minerals through various methods such as precipitation, adsorption, or electrowinning.

Leach mining is commonly used for extracting metals like gold, silver, copper, and uranium
from their ores. It is an important technique in the mining industry for recovering valuable
resources from low-grade or hard-to-access deposits. However, it can have environmental
impacts if not managed properly, as the chemicals used in the leaching process may require
special handling and disposal to prevent contamination of the surrounding environment.

How does Leach mining works?

Leach mining works through a series of chemical and physical processes designed to extract valuable
minerals or metals from ore. Here’s a simplified overview of how it typically works:

Crushing and Grinding: The ore is first crushed and ground into smaller particles to increase its surface
area, making it more accessible to the leaching solution.

Leaching Solution Preparation: A chemical solution, often containing acids or other reagents, is prepared.
The choice of leaching solution depends on the type of ore and the target minerals. For example, cyanide
is commonly used for gold leaching, while sulfuric acid may be used for copper ores.

Leaching: The prepared solution is then sprayed or poured onto the crushed ore or placed in contact with
it. The solution percolates through the ore, dissolving the valuable minerals into the solution. This process
can take place in tanks, heaps, or in situ, depending on the specific mining operation.

Collection: The leachate, which now contains the dissolved minerals, is collected and transported to a
processing plant for further treatment.

Mineral Recovery: At the processing plant, the target minerals are separated from the leachate. This is
typically done through processes like precipitation, adsorption onto solid materials (such as activated
carbon), or electrowinning, depending on the type of minerals being extracted.

Recycling and Disposal: In some cases, the leaching solution can be recycled and reused in the process.
However, it may require adjustments and purification between cycles. Waste products or tailings, which
consist of the remaining material after leaching, may need proper disposal or containment to prevent
environmental contamination.

Refining and Smelting: For certain minerals like gold and silver, additional refining and smelting processes
may be required to produce pure metal products.

UnderGround Mining
What is Underground Mining?

Underground mining is a method of extracting valuable minerals or ores from beneath

the Earth’s surface. It involves creating tunnels and shafts to access and extract
resources that are typically located deep underground. This mining technique is used
when ore deposits are too deep to be economically extracted through open-pit mining. It
can be a complex and dangerous process, requiring specialized equipment and safety
measures to protect miners and ensure efficient resource extraction. Underground
mining is commonly used for various minerals, including coal, gold, silver, copper, and
more.

How does Underground Mining work?

Underground mining involves a series of steps and processes to extract valuable minerals or ores from beneath the
Earth’s surface. Here’s a simplified overview of how it works:

Exploration: The process begins with geological surveys and exploration to identify potential ore deposits. Geologists
use various methods, such as drilling, to gather data about the location, size, and quality of the deposit.

Accessing the deposit: Once a viable deposit is identified, miners create access points to reach it. This typically
involves digging a vertical shaft or a decline (ramp) leading underground.

Developing the mine: Tunnels and drifts are excavated to create pathways for miners and equipment. These passages
allow access to different parts of the deposit.

Extracting the ore: Specialized mining methods are used to remove the ore from the surrounding rock. The choice of
method depends on factors like the ore type, depth, and geology. Common methods include:

Room and pillar mining: Creates a grid of tunnels with support pillars, leaving some ore behind to support the roof.

Cut and fill mining: Excavates ore in horizontal slices, filling the voids with waste material.

Sublevel stoping: Removes ore in horizontal layers by drilling and blasting.

Haulage and transportation: Once the ore is extracted, it needs to be transported to the surface. This is typically done
using underground rail systems, conveyor belts, or other transportation methods.