How are ramps used in open-pit mines?

In open-pit mining, ramps serve as the essential infrastructure for accessing different working levels, known as benches, within the pit.1

Because open-pit mines are organized into horizontal layers, ramps provide the necessary path for equipment to travel between these levels. When mining begins on a new level, a ramp is extended downward to create an initial "drop cut," which is then progressively widened to establish the new pit bottom.1

The design and dimensions of these ramps are critical to operational efficiency. Their width is determined by the size of the equipment being used, typically ranging from 20 to 40 metres (65 to 130 feet). As the pit deepens, these ramps facilitate the movement of heavy machinery—such as large-capacity trucks and shovels—required for the drilling, loading, and hauling operations that define open-pit mining.12