A block caving mine configuration including one or more drawbells that each funnel into a respective intersection of drives in an extraction level, such that there are at least four draw points at the base of each of the one or more drawbells.

An apparatus and method for assisting design of charging and blasting of stopes in an underground stope excavation is provided. The apparatus includes a data processing device and is provided with data on realized drill holes drilled for the stope. The apparatus is also provided with data on an initial free space located below the stope. The apparatus assists in dividing an initial first stope ring into several blast sections, which are blasted in several partial blasts towards an available free space. The apparatus estimates volumes of rock materials, compares the estimated volumes to available free volumes and then examines whether the selected blast section fits in blasted expanded state into the available free space.

An apparatus and method for assisting design of charging and blasting of stopes in an underground stope excavation is provided. The apparatus includes a data processing device and is provided with data on realized drill holes drilled for the stope. The apparatus is also provided with data on an initial free space located below the stope. The apparatus assists in dividing an initial first stope ring into several blast sections, which are blasted in several partial blasts towards an available free space. The apparatus estimates volumes of rock materials, compares the estimated volumes to available free volumes and then examines whether the selected blast section fits in blasted expanded state into the available free space.

The present invention regards a detonator support device (1) configured for internally supporting an elongated detonator unit (3), the detonator support device (1) exhibits an upper end (5) and a lower end (7) and comprises a first elongated sidewall (9) hingedly coupled to a second elongated sidewall (11) via a hinge member (13), a latching member (15) of the detonator support device (1) is wall (11) in a closed state. A first cord clamping surface (17) of the first elongated sidewall (9) is configured to come in position opposite a second cord clamping surface (19) of the second elongated sidewall (11) in said closed state for engagement with at least one cord member (21). The present invention further regards a method of preparing a detonator support device and a blasting system (100).

The present invention regards a detonator support device (1) configured for internally supporting an elongated detonator unit (3), the detonator support device (1) exhibits an upper end (5) and a lower end (7) and comprises a first elongated sidewall (9) hingedly coupled to a second elongated sidewall (11) via a hinge member (13), a latching member (15) of the detonator support device (1) is wall (11) in a closed state. A first cord clamping surface (17) of the first elongated sidewall (9) is configured to come in position opposite a second cord clamping surface (19) of the second elongated sidewall (11) in said closed state for engagement with at least one cord member (21). The present invention further regards a method of preparing a detonator support device and a blasting system (100).

An explosive cartridge delivery tube is provided and includes an explosive delivery tube body, wherein the explosive delivery tube body has a length greater than a depth of a blast hole, an explosive delivery chamber is formed inside the explosive delivery tube body, the explosive delivery chamber is arranged in a length direction of the explosive delivery tube body in a running-through manner, and an internal diameter of the explosive delivery chamber is greater than a diameter of an explosive cartridge.

An explosive cartridge delivery tube is provided and includes an explosive delivery tube body, wherein the explosive delivery tube body has a length greater than a depth of a blast hole, an explosive delivery chamber is formed inside the explosive delivery tube body, the explosive delivery chamber is arranged in a length direction of the explosive delivery tube body in a running-through manner, and an internal diameter of the explosive delivery chamber is greater than a diameter of an explosive cartridge.

The present invention relates to an integrated raise caving mining method for mining deposits in rock mass comprising: developing at least one raise (102,102a-f,202,302a-g,402a-e) in the rock mass (10), developing a drawbell (100,100a-c, 200a-g,300a-f,400a-e) in the rock mass (10), wherein at least a portion of the drawbell is excavated from the at least one raise (102,102a-f,202,302a-g,402a-e), initiating caving through undercutting, wherein at least a part of an undercut is created by gradually expanding the drawbell (100,100a-c, 200a-g,300a-f,400a-e) in upwards direction by excavation, developing at least two drawpoints (106,206,406) into the drawbell (100,100a-c, 200a-g,300a-f,400a-e), wherein the drawpoints (106) are developed from drifts (115,207,407) arranged on different levels and progressively drawing fragmented rock (101) from the at least one drawbell through the drawpoints (106,206,406). The present invention also relates to use of an integrated raise caving mining method for mining deposits. The present invention also relates to an integrated raise caving mining infrastructure, a machinery, a control system of an integrated raise caving mining infrastructure, and a data medium.

The present invention relates to an integrated raise caving mining method for mining deposits in rock mass comprising: developing at least one raise (102,102a-f,202,302a-g,402a-e) in the rock mass (10), developing a drawbell (100,100a-c, 200a-g,300a-f,400a-e) in the rock mass (10), wherein at least a portion of the drawbell is excavated from the at least one raise (102,102a-f,202,302a-g,402a-e), initiating caving through undercutting, wherein at least a part of an undercut is created by gradually expanding the drawbell (100,100a-c, 200a-g,300a-f,400a-e) in upwards direction by excavation, developing at least two drawpoints (106,206,406) into the drawbell (100,100a-c, 200a-g,300a-f,400a-e), wherein the drawpoints (106) are developed from drifts (115,207,407) arranged on different levels and progressively drawing fragmented rock (101) from the at least one drawbell through the drawpoints (106,206,406). The present invention also relates to use of an integrated raise caving mining method for mining deposits. The present invention also relates to an integrated raise caving mining infrastructure, a machinery, a control system of an integrated raise caving mining infrastructure, and a data medium.

There is provided a method of mining rock using a disc cutter comprising a cutter body with a diameter, d, and a thickness, t, a plurality of tool holders mounted about a peripheral surface of the cutter body and a plurality of cutting elements attached to the tool holders, the method comprising the steps: cutting a first slot in the rock at a first cutting position of the disc cutter, moving the disc cutter to a second cutting position which is to the left or right of the first cutting position, and cutting a second slot in the rock, such that the second slot is spaced apart from the first slot by distance S, at least one of the first and second slots having a depth of slot D, and wherein a ratio of depth of slot D, to distance S, is in the range of 2 to 16.