Stripping and Trenching

Stripping
There are two different types of mining operations that can be done in order to obtain get to an ore body and these include open pit mining - which consists of removing the top layers of soil or rock and is more commonly known as stripping so as to uncover the reef. The other type of mining that is done is underground mining – in this process (which is more complicated) a decline or a vertical shaft is sunk into the ground and there are diverse levels at which horizontal development is done of the main shaft or decline. What this does is allow for more development of reef at certain mining areas where the ore body has been found. When underground mining is done, holes are drilled into the body of ore and are then filled with explosives and blasted. These are then picked up and the released ore is then taken out of the mine area. In the case of open pit mining, it is possible that drilling and blasting will also need to be done in order to loosen the rock that bear gold and the ore is then loaded onto an ore transport system. As far as the transportation is concerned, the underground ore is taken by means of a horizontal or vertical transport system and after it is on the surface, the ore is usually transported to the treatment plant with conveyor belts. In the case of open pit mining the transporting to the ore treatment plant is done in vehicles that are able to carry very big and heavy loads. Mining activities involve and have the need of a great amount of services in both underground and surface mining. Some of the things and professionals that are required are: engineers, planning of the mine, ventilation, supply of resources that can be consumed, engineering services, administration, financial, human resource services and environmental development services. The mine plan should allow stripping of barren areas or low value area before the gold bearing strata is mined on. If there are important areas of barren ground that have high value areas beneath them, overall project routines can be made better with the help of high speed stripping and then by normal speed of mining.

Trenching
The main purpose of trenching is to uncover a part of fresh un-oxidized vein or shear material to make sure it is appropriate for sampling. The work is usually done in parallel with the stripping on a showing. No stripping will be needed, though in the area where the vein is not covered by overburden. If the rock has not undergone much weathering making it solid, it will not be very useful to go further down beyond one foot at most. If the values start to increase with depth as it believed to happen by some, it will be occur in depths that are of hundreds of feet and not at just at a few feet. If trenches are found they will need to be numbered and a picket like or marked stakes will need to be utilized so the prospector is able to map the area.