Syllabus - Surface Mining (MI 503 (A))

Introduction to Surface Mining

Definition of important terms, Advantages and disadvantages of surface mining, mineral deposits amenable to surface mining, Various surface mining methods, Introduction to unit operations in surface mining. Introduction to various types of machineries used in surface mining.

Open Pit Design and Layouts

Classification of surface mining method mineral deposits suitable for open pit mining, Important parameters of Open pit design; Design of Benches, Ultimate pit, Stripping ratio, Break even stripping ratio, Different methods of opening up the deposits; Box cuts, internal and external box cut, Methods of driving Box cuts; Layout of open pits; Layout of waste dumps, unit operations in opencast mining.

Exploratory & Rock Drilling

Theory of Rock Drilling, Different Types of Drill Machines Used in Open Pits; Rotary, Percussive and Rotary Percussive Drilling, Selection of Drill Machines on the basis of Drillability; Computation of Productivity of Drill Machines; Inclined Drilling; their Advantages and Disadvantages. Drilling machines used for exploratory drilling viz. Rotary & Percussive, their attachments; Core Barrels; Conditions of applicability of drilling methods; Borehole Survey, Directional drilling, Underground methods of exploratory drilling

Pit preparation, Loading and Excavation

Dozers, Scrapers, Front-End Loaders, Grader, Back Hoe, etc.; their Construction, Operation, Suitability and applicability; Calculation of Their Productivity Different Types of Excavators used in Open Pits; Shovel, Dragline, Hydraulic Excavators, Multi Bucket Excavators, their Construction, Specifications, Operation, Suitability and Applicability; Calculation of their Productivity.

Transport in open pits

Automobile Transport, Rail Transport and Conveyors; their Suitability; Computation of their Productivity; Automation in Open Pit transport such as Truck Dispatch System.