Open pit, underwater and underground mining. These are the three main mining methods we use to extract our products from the ground. In this Dig Deeper article, we'll take a look at these different methods and provide a brief insight into what each means.
Mining is at the heart of our business at Anglo American. It is the basis on which all our activities rest and are drawn.
And that is why it is so important that we conduct our types of mining activities effectively and intelligently.
Of course, before we begin, we must first discover the mineral resources through exploration and allow time to complete our mining Techniques to plan and make sure all the right bits and pieces are in place and ready before we start mining.
Once that's all in place, we're good to go.
But which ones Extraction methods do we use to make our diverse
lineup?
Open pit mining is one of the most common mining methods and is started from the surface, maintaining surface exposure throughout the mining period. The excavation typically has stepped sides to ensure miner safety and a wide ramp for equipment to descend, allowing for efficient product removal from the site.
Strip mining is convenient , when the ore rock bodies are large and located closer to the surface.
Underground mining is used for the safe, economical and low-waste extraction of minerals from under the earth's surface. Access from the surface to an underground mine can be through a horizontal or vertical tunnel known as a drift, shaft, or drop.
Underground mining is convenient when:
Underground mining methods that we use include room and pillar mining, plugging of narrow veins, and large-scale mechanized mining.
Room and pillar mining is a mining style in which tunnels lead in a checkerboard pattern with large squares of pillars between them, which over the course of the Gradually cut off work. We use this formation coal.
Narrow vein plugging is carried out during underground excavations along geological "veins" (distinctive sheet-like bodies of crystallized minerals within a rock) where the mineral occurs. In support of underground mine decommissioning, we also need to excavate for machine rooms and pump rooms or for access purposes such as shafts, drives, winches and elevators. We use this to mine platinum.
Large scale mechanized mining methods we use include:
We use these three different types of underground mining techniques for coal, diamonds and copper.
Underwater mining is necessary when the product you have identified is found in an aquatic environment such as the seabed. It is a unique challenge and requires a responsible approach that carefully considers the local ecosystem.
We carry out underwater mining with purpose-built vessels using either a remotely operated underwater vehicle or drilling technology at depths of 100 - 140 meters below the sea level.
Our fleet of Debmarine Namibia vessels remain at sea for approximately two and a half years and are operated from Port Nolloth, a seaport on the North West coast of South Africa.
Refueling is done at sea and fresh water is produced on board. There is a crew of 60 and they rotate 28 days, 28 days off.