Why might an open pit mine be turned into an underground mine?

Why might an open pit mine be turned into an underground mine?

This transition from open-pit to underground begins when open-pit mines are exhausted or inaccessible; meaning, they have either been depleted of minerals, rocks, and resources, or they are unfeasible to build upon.

Why is an open pit mine generally cheaper and safer to operate than an underground mine?

Open-pit mining occurs on surface and is generally the cheapest way to extract ore. This is because rock doesn’t have to be moved far up hill against gravity, equipment used can be larger than underground, and it doesn’t require more expensive features like ventilation, communications, etc.

What is the difference between an open pit mine and an underground mine?

Open pit mining is a technique used to extract copper ore near the earth’s surface. Underground mining is used when the copper ore is not near the earth’s surface. Miners dig a shaft into the ore deposit vertically or a horizontal tunnel (or adit) in order to do this.

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What are the consequences of moving from underground mining to surface mining?

Surface mining (another name for “strip mining”) can severely erode the soil or reduce its fertility; pollute waters or drain underground water reserves; scar or altar the landscape; damage roads, homes, and other structures; and destroy wildlife.

What is the process of open pit mining?

open-pit mining Mining. a method of mining in which the surface excavation is open for the duration of mining activity, employed to remove ores and minerals near the surface by first removing the waste or overburden and then breaking and loading the ore.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of open pit mining?

1.1 Features, technical and economic indicators of open pit development

Advantages Disadvantages
High production rate (essentially unlimited, although small surface mines also possible) Limited by stripping ratio
Lowest cost along with open cast mining High capital investment associated with large equipment

What is the advantage of open-pit mining?

Advantages of open-pit mining include: Powerful trucks and shovels can be used to move large volumes of rock. Equipment not restricted by the size of the opening you are working in. Faster production. Lower cost to mine means lower grades of ore are economic to mine.

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Why is open-pit mining more advantageous over traditional deep shaft mining?

Open pit mining does offer some advantages over traditional deep shaft mining. Pit mining is more cost effective than shaft mining because more ore can be extracted and more quickly. The working conditions are safer for the miners because there is no risk of cave in or toxic gas.

How open pit mining is done?

To create an open-pit mine, the miners must determine the information of the ore that is underground. This is done through drilling of probe holes in the ground, then plotting each hole location on a map. The information gained through the holes with provide an idea of the vertical extent of the ore’s body.

What is the most likely consequence of open pit mining on plant life?

The soil looses it’s fertility. This converts the mining site into a barren land. Therefore, the complete loss of plant life in the area occupied by the surface mine is the most likely consequences of open pit mining on plant life.

What is the transition from open pit mining to underground mining?

This transition from open-pit to underground begins when open-pit mines are exhausted or inaccessible; meaning, they have either been depleted of minerals, rocks, and resources, or they are unfeasible to build upon.

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How do you prevent a mine pit from turning into water?

When this process occurs, an extensive amount of water control is needed in order to prevent the mine pit from becoming a body of water. Open-pit mines are found globally and they are responsible for surfacing resources like clay and coal, as well as metals like uranium and gold.

Is underground mining more acceptable than surface mining?

Underground mining however can be considered as being more acceptable than surface mi ning from environmental and social perspectives. capacity. Many deposits can be mined entirely with the open-pit method; others must be worked underground from the very beginning. In addition, th ere are the near surface deposits with considerable

How do you go underground in mining?

Once the decision is made to change from open-pit to underground mining, there are several approaches: miners can build spiral tunnels around the desired resources, descend shafts in the ground, or form adits that rest in the side of elevated lands, such as hills.

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