ore pass

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Last updated

July 1, 2026

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An ore pass is a vertical or near-vertical opening in an underground mine used to transport ore by gravity. Ore mined from different levels is directed into these passes, where it falls to the lowest level. There, it is crushed, stored in a bin, and loaded into skips for transport to the surface. While ore passes are common, vertical openings are also sometimes created for waste rock transport, though most mines aim to leave waste underground. Raises, which are openings driven from a lower level upward, can be used as ore passes, waste passes, or ventilation openings.1

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mining
Vertical openings: shafts and raises
…vertical or near-vertical openings called ore passes, through which it falls by gravity to the lowest level in the mine. There it is crushed, stored in an ore bin, and charged into skips at a skip-filling station. In the head frame on the surface, the skips dump their loads and…
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…vertical or near-vertical openings called ore passes, through which it falls by gravity to the lowest level in the mine. There it is crushed, stored in an ore bin, and charged into skips at a skip-filling station. In the head frame on the surface, the skips dump their loads and…
Read More