Mining Terms and Definitions

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Questions and Answers

What is the function of berms in open pit mining?

To measure the vertical rise or fall

To increase the bench height

To control the movement of falling boulders (correct)

To support overburden material

What does the term 'specific gravity' refer to in geological contexts?

The volume of minerals in equal weight

The weight of minerals excavated from a pit

The amount of vertical rise over horizontal distance

The ratio of a mineral's mass to the mass of an equal volume of water (correct)

What is indicated by a 'high grade ore'?

Ore with a low profit margin

Ore that requires extensive mineral separation

Ore extracted from the maximum allowable stripping ratio

Ore that provides a significant profit margin (correct)

What does the term 'grade' signify in mining terminology?

The percentage of vertical rise or fall in 100 units of horizontal distance Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of a long-range mining plan?

To establish the initial step in open pit mining design Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'stipping ratio' refer to in mining?

The ratio of overburden to ore at the ultimate boundary of the pit Signup and view all the answers

Which tool is used to determine the area of a cross-section of an ore body?

Planimeter Signup and view all the answers

In surface mining, what does the term 'outcrop' signify?

Surface exposure of a mineral deposit Signup and view all the answers

What is a 'muckpile' in mining terminology?

The accumulation of broken rock resulting from blasting Signup and view all the answers

What defines the 'angle of repose' in mining?

The maximum angle at which loose material can remain stable Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of stripping in open pit mining?

To remove overburden and waste material Signup and view all the answers

Which mining method is specifically applied to near-surface seams of coal?

Strip mining Signup and view all the answers

What is a recommended pit slope angle for solid country rock?

63-72 degrees Signup and view all the answers

What does long-range production planning supplement in the mining process?

Pit design and reserve estimation Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the term 'optimum pit limit'?

The area required for extracting maximum ore Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of materials handling in mining operations?

To manage all unit operations of excavating and moving materials Signup and view all the answers

What defines a vein in mining terminology?

A mineralized zone with tabular form and regular development Signup and view all the answers

Which software is known for computer-aided mine design?

Liscad Signup and view all the answers

How is tonnage factor defined in mining operations?

The ratio of cubic feet of ore per ton in a deposit Signup and view all the answers

What does short-range mining plans focus on?

Defining steps to reach final pit limits Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Mining Terms

Ore: A mineral deposit that can be mined at a profit given the current economic conditions.
Outcrop: The surface exposure of a mineral deposit.
Mine: An excavation made in the Earth to extract minerals.
Drop cut (box cut): The initial cut or prism made in the floor of an open pit mine to develop a level below the floor.
Power shovel: The workhorse of the surface mining industry.
Cut-off grade: The minimum economic tenor of an ore.
Burden: The distance between the explosive charge and the free face in blasting.
Muckpile: The accumulation of broken rock resulting from blasting.
Truck performance: The criteria for road grades in open pit mining, with an ideal gradient of 8-12%.
Base failure: A failure that occurs below the toe of a mined bank.
Planimeter: A device used to determine the area of a cross-section of an ore body.
Dredging: A continuous-mining method used to extract minerals from unconsolidated deposits.
Slope failure: A failure that occurs between the crest and toe of a mined bank.
Angle of repose: The maximum slope at which loose materials will stand without sliding.
Berms: Features used to contain or slow falling boulders in open pit mining.
Bench: A horizontal rock shelf in an open pit mine.
Bench height: The vertical distance between the crest and toe of a bench.
Crest: The top edge of a bench in an open pit mine.
Specific gravity: The ratio of the mass of a substance to the mass of an equal volume of water at a specific temperature.
Placer deposits: Unconsolidated deposits of detrital material containing valuable minerals.
Quarry: An open pit mine used to extract rock materials like slate or limestone.
Sluicing: A method of separating minerals using a flowing stream of water.
Switchback: A road arrangement used to overcome steep climbs in an open pit mine.
Grade: The amount of vertical rise or fall in 100 units of horizontal distance, expressed as a percentage.
Stripping ratio: The ratio of overburden to ore at the pit limit where the profit margin approaches zero.
Overall stripping ratio: The volume of overburden divided by the weight of ore in the entire mineable ore body.
Pit-limit: The vertical and lateral extent to which the mining of a mineral deposit by open pit can be economically justified.
Maximum allowable stripping ratio: The ratio of overburden to ore at the pit limit where the profit margin is zero.
Open pit mining (open cut mining): A mining method that creates benches, resembling an inverted pyramid.
Stripping: The removal of overburden external to the mineral deposit and waste material within the boundaries of the open pit.
Mining: The process of obtaining useful minerals from the Earth’s crust, encompassing both underground and surface methods.
Prospecting: Searching for ore.
Development: The work of driving openings to and inside a proven ore body to prepare it for mining and ore transportation.
Prospect: A mineral property where the value hasn’t been proven by exploration.
Exploration: The work involved in acquiring knowledge about the size, shape, position, and value of an ore body.
Single-bench: A bench that forms a single level.
Rock fragmentation: Freeing or detaching rock masses from their parent deposits.
Long-range mining plan: The initial step in open pit mining design that outlines the final pit design.
Multiple-bench: An open pit mining style employed in massive, thick-bedded, or wide vein tabular deposits.
Short-range mining plans: Intermediate steps needed to reach the final pit limits.
Strip mining: A type of surface mining primarily used for extracting near-surface seams of coal.
Vein: A mineralized zone with a tabular form, commonly inclined.
Long-range production planning: Supplements pit design and reserve estimation work, typically performed for feasibility and budget studies.
Hydraulicking: A method of both excavating and fragmenting rock, using high-pressure jets of water.
Blasting: A method of both excavating and fragmenting rock using explosives.
Crude pit design: A preliminary pit design using the Whittle 3D computer software.
Mine application software: Computer-aided software used for mine design.
Jet: A method used for both rock fragmentation and penetration.
Rotary-drag bit drilling: One of the shelf technologies for drilling in soft rock, with the lowest penetration cost.
Materials handling: The unit operations involved in excavating and moving bulk materials during mining.
Optimum pit limit: A line defining the area where open pit operations can be conducted to obtain the maximum amount of ore material.
Tonnage factor: The number of cubic feet of ore per ton in a deposit.
Bench slope: The angle, measured in degrees, of a bench's deviation from the horizontal.
Liscad: Surveying software.
High-grade ore: Ore that yields a large profit margin per ton.
Mine waste: Soil or rock materials from surface or underground mining operations with no current economic value.
63-72 degrees: Recommended pit slope for solid country rock.
37 degrees: Recommended pit slope for gravel.
4000-5000 ft.: The rule of thumb for open pit mining that states for every 4 to 5 tons of required daily production, 1 foot of ore face must be exposed.
1.5 meters: The maximum vertical height of working benches.
Cycle time: The time it takes for trucks to perform a full cycle of spot, load, and haul, which must be less than the time required to spot and load the entire truck fleet.
Proper cycle balance: Maintaining a balance in hauling operations to ensure the entire truck fleet can be loaded and unloaded efficiently.

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Test your knowledge on essential mining terminology with this quiz. Explore definitions related to ore extraction, mining methods, and equipment. Perfect for students or professionals interested in the mining industry.