Believe it or not, mining process is actually responsible for most of the energy that we are using in powering our appliances like microwave, TV, buildings and the likes. It has become an integral part of the American economy and the phase of mining have had bit of fluctuation for the past years.
Stages of Mining
There are generally 6 steps to perform mining and these are as follows:
Stage 1. Surveying/Prospecting
The initial stage in the process will demand skilled workers or even AI to use geological knowledge to be able to identify locations where a particular ore could be found. In this process, there are two known methods that machines and workers can use and these are:
- Direct Method
- Indirect Method
Stage 2. Exploration
In the next phase, core samples will be gathered and analyzed to evaluate the weight and grade of deposits. Diamond drills will be used in order to obtain the samples. As soon as the reserve estimation is determined, then it will be preceded by a feasibility study. This will be crucial in order to determine whether to develop the deposit or simply, abandon it.
Stage 3. Planning/Mine-site Design
After figuring out whether to work on the site or not, the design and plan stage starts. This procedure will require several studies that will be focused on determining whether the said project is going to be safe, socially responsible, economically viable and environmentally sound.
Stage 4. Development
In this stage, it will need to establish a path to mineral deposit. The path on the other hand will be requiring more than just excavation.
To start working, mining rights should be secured, access roads ought to be constructed to assist workers in having easy navigation on the site and also, a power source needs to be established.
Stage 5. Production
By the time when the elements are gathered, the physical mining process or stage 1 of the production will finally begin. Under this procedure, it can be grouped into two categories, which are surface and underground mining.
Stage 6. Reclamation/Closure
Say that the ore has already been shipped for sale, the last step of the process starts. The land that was mined will be rehabilitated and parts of this objective include ensuring public safety and health, minimize environmental impact, preserve water quality, establish new landforms and vegetation, stabilize land to protect against erosion and remove waste and hazardous material.
