2017

Sub-level Stoping
Underground

MINE 416 MINE UNDERGROUND DESIGN

BILLY B BONAY

UNIVERSIY OF NEVADA, RENO | College of Science, Mackay Mining School

Introduction
This report presents a preliminary mine design for the provided block model 4.02. We were tasked to
design the development of the underground mining. This design can be used as a starting point for more
detailed analyses. The scope of work is summarized as:

 Mining Method Selection

 Production rate
 Designing access and ventilation ways
 Developing a preliminary development and production schedule
 Selecting equipment
 Basic economic analyses

Block Model
The block model of this deposit is irregular in shape and has a height of 423m, between 15-60m thick. The
top of the deposit is approximately 500m below the ground. The deposit is assumed to be above the water
table of the regional aquifer and only limited inflows are expected. At this time, only the block model is
available, and major geologic structure is unknown thus limiting further geologic interpretation. Using the
block model we create a solid for the ore body.

The solid body has a volume of 17,409,370.00 m3 and using the specific gravity of 2.8 we have the tonnage
48,746,236.00

Figure 1 Ore body vertical view

Mining Method and Design

Selection of Mining Method is to determine the most appropriate mining method(s) for this deposit, the
UBC mining method selector was used. This approach uses orebody shape, plunge, depth, grade, and
thickness in addition to ore, footwall, and hanging wall strength to assign numeric scores to various mining
methods. Using all the parameter from the given block model, and using the mining method selection
software, The Sublevel-Stoping was the best method use. So then we draw the basic development into
the block model sliced as seen in the figure below.

Figure 2 Vertical View and design plan

Figure 3 Plan view of the block model

Primary Development Access
The development of the underground mine is provided by a portal and main decline, and the cross cuts
access to the stopes. Two vent raises will be excavated on the north and south sides of the stoping levels.
Stoping sublevels will be accessed by horizontal primary development, and the Stoping Ramp connects
these levels vertically. Level 6 outside the ramp is designed for the access to the Water Facilities, on the
level 8 there is an access to the Equipment shop. And the level 10 will serve as the main haulage way
between the Upper Stoping Ramp and the Stoping Ramp. This development has a ventilation shaft from
the surface to the bottom connect to the ore access, the spacing between access to the stopes is about
25 m based on the size of the stope. The main haulage is designed based on the length of the ore body
which is about 800m. We use the ore pass to drop mined ores into loading points or underground bins.
The ores can be hoisted to the surface from the loading points on the bottom of the development. For
this development, LHD will be used to transport the ore, from the stopes and to the ore pass. The ore
coming from the ore pass will be transported with the conveyor to the ore crushing station before loaded
to the hoisting and transported to the surface.

The development of the underground mine for this ore body is shown below.

Figure 4 Development of the underground mine

Equipment Selection
The selection on the equipment is based on the size of the tunnel, stopes, speed, emission, and the fuel.
For this model we have chosen some of the equipment and the number of how many units equipments
are required to fulfill the production target.
Below is the table of the equipments used in this mine and its productivities

ore tpd 3000 5000 6000

units required for production

Drill Jumbo 2 3 4

Roof Bolter 2 3 4

LHD - 6 cu m 3 5 6

Long Hole Drill 1 2 3

Raise Bore 1 0 0

Production Schedule
A preliminary production schedule was developed for 28-day backfill cure time before developing
undercuts was factored into the schedule. For the stopes the schedule was designed to maintain 2 or 3
working stopes at any given time. The number of stopes targeted to be mined in one year is 67 stopes
with a 5000 tonnes from the blasthole.

Because of the production rate of 6,083.01 tpd, we would need at least 19 active stopes in the operating.
The life of stopes would be around 40 days with curing or 70 days without curing.

Summary
This deposit model is significant as for the underground mine. With the depth of 500m from the ground
surface, it is also can be categorize to be a deep mining underground. Sublevel Stoping was the best to
use for the mining method based on the characteristic of the ore body and the assumptions that were
made on this model. After created the solid, we can calculate the volume and tonnage for the production
cycle, and scheduling. Some spreadsheets are used for the calculation of this design. The Life of mine is
estimated to about 37 years. There are more parameters and references that can be used for a better
designing in this project.