stripping ratio

The term "stripping ratio" in mining refers to the proportion of waste material (overburden) that must be removed to access a specific amount of ore. This ratio is a critical factor in determining the economic viability of an open-pit mine.1

Strip mining is a surface mining technique where soil and rock above a mineral seam are removed to expose the valuable commodity. This method is commonly used for deposits like coal. As an open pit deepens, the amount of waste rock that needs to be stripped increases. Eventually, a point is reached where the cost of removing waste exceeds the revenue generated by the ore, leading to the cessation of mining operations. The break-even stripping ratio is calculated based on the ore's value and the associated costs.21