How is molybdenum ore mined from open-pit deposits?

Molybdenum ore is extracted from porphyry-disseminated deposits using open-pit mining methods. This process relies on four primary unit operations to move large volumes of material:123

• Drilling: Rotary drills or percussion machines create holes in specific patterns, determined by the burden and spacing required for effective rock fragmentation.3
• Blasting: Explosives, typically ANFO (a mixture of ammonium nitrate and fuel oil), are pumped into the blastholes. These are detonated in a controlled sequence to fragment the rock and displace it into piles.3
• Loading: Large electric, diesel-electric, or hydraulic shovels are used to dig the fragmented ore and waste rock.3
• Hauling: The material is transported using high-capacity trucks or, in deeper pits, belt conveyors following in-pit crushing.3

Once mined, the ore is typically sent to a mineral-processing plant, where the molybdenum is separated from gangue minerals through flotation processes.13