MNGDP601: Underground Design and Plan Content

Introduction

The relative merits of surface and underground mining are widely and frequently debated. 

• Some deposits can be mined entirely with surface methods,  
• Others can only be worked underground.
• Finally, other deposits are best mined initially as open pits, with production shifting to an underground method as deeper portions of the ore body are extracted.

Underground mine development begins with the positive investment decision to mine and ends with inception of full-scale exploitation.  It incorporates all activities, personnel, and equipment required for creation of underground access to a mineral deposit.