1. •These are basic steps employed to produce mineral from
deposit.
•Theses are of two types
1. Production operations
Steps contributing directly to mineral extraction
2.Auxiliary operations
Steps which support the production cycle

2. Unit operations of mining
 Unit operations involved in production cycle are
divivded in two groups
1. Rock breakage(by drilling and blasting)
2. Material handling(loading,hauling,hoisting)

3. Unit operations of mining
 Production cycle=drill+blast+load+haul.

4. Unit operations of mining
 Surface mining
 Several inches hole drilled
 Charge inserted
 Blasted to reduce ore to fragments
 Broken material loaded by excavators
 Haulage unit may be trucks ,belt conveyor, rail road
cars.
 In dimension stone blocks are freed by saws without
blasting.

5.  Video Surface drilling,blasting

6. Unit operations of mining
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Underground mining
Smaller drill holes
Special machinery
Production cycle same as surface mining
Auxiliary operations
Roof support
Ventilation
Power supply
Pumping
Maintenance
Lighting
Communications etc
Waste disposal
In suface the first two are not necessary

7.  Video underground mining cycle.underground
drilling,charging,scaling

8.  Nowadays trying mining to be continuous
 Continuous miner video