This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2016 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

MNE3050 - Underground mining systems

6 points, SCA Band 2, 0.125 EFTSL

Undergraduate - Unit

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

Faculty

Engineering

Coordinator(s)

Professor Jerry Tien

Offered

Clayton

First semester 2016 (Day)

Synopsis

This unit provides the principles of overall planning, development and operating of an underground operation. Cost effective mining methodology: room-and-pillar, sublevel open stopping, vertical crater retreat, shrinkage, sublevel caving, longwall, etc. Auxiliary operations and selection of mine equipment for underground mining operations; optimization of mine performance.

Outcomes

At the conclusion of this unit, students will be able to:

comprehend and explain the elements required to design and operate a modern underground mining operation, coal and/or noncoal
analyse and critically evaluate the different components of the underground mine planning process, including exploration, sampling and dilution
analyse and evaluate the different underground mining methods, including room-and-pillar, longwall, sublevel caving, block and panel caving, cut and fill, shrinkage stopping, and vertical crater retreat (VCR)
comprehend and be able to explain and interpret the various auxiliary functions critical to a modern mechanized underground operation: rock mechanics, supporting system, ventilation, fragmentation (drilling and blasting or mechanical excavation), transportation, and utilization
comprehend the critical role of mine health and safety in a modern day mining environment and employ this knowledge to develop and implement a mine safety package

Assessment

Assignment/Practical/Project work (continuous assessment): 50%
Closed Book Examination (3 hours): 50%

Students are required to achieve at least 45% in the total continuous assessment component (assignments, tests, mid-semester exams, laboratory reports) and at least 45% in the final examination component and an overall mark of 50% to achieve a pass grade in the unit. Students failing to achieve this requirement will be given a maximum of 45% in the unit.

Workload requirements

3 hours lectures, 2 hours practice class and 7 hours private study per week

Chief examiner(s)

Professor Jeffrey Walker

Prerequisites

ESC2111