Open Cast Mining

Open Cast Mining or Quarrying is extraction of Ore or Minerals from the earth crust above or below the ground level by forming benches or stepped work faces.
Open Cast Mining can be done by:
1. Manual Mining or Quarrying.
2. Semi Mechanized Mining.
3. Fully Mechanized Mining.
Open Cast mining by manual methods is adopted
(1) where mechanization is likely to prove insufficient either due to the large size pits or to the shape of the pits and their location.
(2) where large investment is not warranted.
(3) where mineralization is erratic and selective mining with sorting is necessary.
(4) where large sale work is possible with cheap labour.
Open Cast Mining by Semi Mechanization by utilization of both man power and machinery is adopted
(1) where cheap labour is available.
(2) where mineralization is not sufficient for high mechanization.
(3) where drilling and blasting is possible.
Open Cast Mining by High Mechanized Mining by Heavy Earth Moving Machineries is adopted
(1) where high production is required.
(2) Where high mineralization is available.
(3) Where large scale investment is possible.
Heavy Earth Moving Machineries (HEMM) such as Dragline, Power Shovel, Hydraulic Excavator, Scrapers, Land dredges, Rippers and Dozers, Wheel Loaders, Spreaders, Bucket Wheel Excavators.
In India the some Open Cast Mines are Neyveli Lignite Corporation in Neyveli, Tamilnadu, V M Salgaocar & Bros Pvt Ltd in Goa, Sesa Goa in Goa, T M L Mines in Karnataka, Rajhara Mines in Chattisgarh, Iron ore mines at Noamundi in Bihar and Jodha East in Orissa etc