MINING METHOD OF THE WEEK - SHRINKAGE STOPING!!

The shrinkage stoping method is similar to cut and fill, but instead of removing the ore after blasting and backfilling, the initial broken ore is left in the void to create a working platform for the next level (and to support the wall stability of the stope). After all the planned levels have been blasted, then all of the ore is removed for processing. This method is very selective and keeps dilution low, but requires many active stopes because ore is not removed from each mining area until completion – meaning longer lead times for ore to get to the process plant compared to cut and fill operations - New Pacific Metals Corp.