METHOD OF OPENCAST MINING OF MINERAL DEPOSITS Russian patent published in 2003 - IPC

FIELD: opencast mining of extensive and with especially high thickness horizontal and flat mineral deposits. SUBSTANCE: method includes excavation of working trench, making in adjacent blocks of overburden and mining benches and internal dump formation. Overburden rocks from excavation of working trench are located on its mining flank in direction of development of mining operations with their subsequent storage in internal dump. Formation of overburden and mining benches and also internal dump are effected simultaneously in initial block on mineral dip, and in adjacent block on-dip and up-dip. Flank of adjacent block is worked without trench excavation, simultaneously with trench filling on boundary of two adjacent blocks, and flank trench from preceding block is used in mining of adjacent block, then, operations in block are repeated. EFFECT: increased efficiency and intensity of stripping, stopping and dumping operations, reduced volumes of mining operations and areas of alienated land for dumps in excavation of working trench. 5 dwg