overhand cut-and-fill mining

mining method

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June 17, 2026

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Overhand cut-and-fill mining is an underground mining method used to extract ore. This technique involves removing ore in horizontal slices, starting from the lowest level and working upwards. After each slice of ore is extracted, the resulting void is filled, typically with waste material from the mineral processing plant. This fill material provides a stable base for mining the next slice of ore above. In this method, access raises are often constructed within the fill as mining progresses upward, serving functions like manways or ore passes. Alternatively, ore can be transported to an ore pass using load-haul-dump (LHD) equipment.1

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mining
Cut-and-fill mining
In overhand cut-and-fill mining, the most common variation, mining starts at the lower level and works upward. In underhand cut-and-fill mining, work progresses from the top downward. In this latter case cement must be added to the fill to form a strong roof under which to…
Read More
In overhand cut-and-fill mining, the most common variation, mining starts at the lower level and works upward. In underhand cut-and-fill mining, work progresses from the top downward. In this latter case cement must be added to the fill to form a strong roof under which to…
Read More