5 Mine Surveying

Mining Surveys
Mine Surveying
Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry
GE 12 General Surveying II
- Includes geo-physical surveys for mineral and

energy resource exploration.
- Utilizes the principles for control, land,
geologic, and topographic surveying to
control, locate and map underground and
surface works related to mining operations.
- Includes underground surveying as well as
surface operations associated with
underground work and open-pit mining.
Terminologies
Minerals refers to all naturally occurring
inorganic substance in solid, gas, liquid, or
any intermediate state including energy
materials such as coal, petroleum, natural
gas, radioactive materials, and geothermal
energy.
Outcrop exposed part of the vein.
Adit a horizontal or nearly horizontal passage
driven from the surface for working or
dewatering a mine


Terminologies
Terminologies
Shaft a vertical or inclined excavation in a

mine extending downward from the surface
or from some interior point as a principal
opening.
Cross cut a horizontal opening driven from the
shaft to a vein across the course of a vein in
order to reach the ore zone.
Collar the term applied to the timbering or
concrete around the mouth or top of a shaft
Stope underground room or working area
from which ore is removed.
Back the top of a drift, cross cut or stope. Also

called a roof.
Back fill waste rock or other materials used to
fill a mined out stope to prevent caving.
Bedded deposit an ore deposit of tabular
form that lies horizontally or slightly
inclined and is commonly parallel to the
stratification of the enclosing rocks.
Sump an excavation made at the bottom of a
shaft to collect water.
Terminologies
Level horizontal passage or drift which starts
from shafts and are commonly spaced at
regular intervals in depth. Either numbered
from the surface in regular order or are
designated by their actual elevation below
the top of the shaft.
Headframe a construction at a top of a shaft
which houses hoisting equipments.
Raise a vertical or inclined opening driven
upwards in ore from a level.

Terminologies
Foot wall the wall or rock under a vein or
other steeply inclined mineral formation.
Hanging wall the wall or rock on the upper
side of steeply inclined deposits.
Winze a vertical or inclined opening driven
downwards (sunk) from a point inside the
mine for the purpose of connecting with a
lower level.
Sill synonymous with floor.
Waste mined rocks that do not contain minerals.

Terminologies
Terminologies
Cage an elevator for workers and materials in

a mine shaft.
Chute a channel or trough underground, or
inclined trough above ground, through
which ore falls or is shot by gravity from a
higher to a lower level; can also be spelled
shoot.
Cone a funnel-shaped excavation located at
the top of a raise, and it is used to collect
rock from the area above.
Drawpoint a place where ore can be loaded

and removed; it is located beneath the
stoping area, and gravity flow is used to
transfer the ore to the loading place.
Entry manway, haulage, way, or ventilation
way below the ground, of a permanent
nature.
Face end wall of a drift or cross cut or of
bedded deposit.
Gangway a main haulage road underground.
Terminologies
Finger Raise used for transferring ore; the
usual arrangement is as a system of several
raises that branch together to the same
delivery point.
Gangue undesired minerals associated with
ore.
Grizzly an arrangement that prevents
oversized rocks from entering an ore
transfer system; consists of a steel grating
for coarse screening or scalping.

Terminologies
Ore a mineral deposit that can be worked at
a profit under existing economic conditions.
Ore pass vertical or diagonal opening
between levels to permit the movement of
ore by gravity.
Pillars natural rock, or ore supports, left in
slopes to avoid or decrease the roof
subsidence as mining progresses.
Prospect a mineral deposit for which the
economic value has not yet been proven.

Terminologies
Terminologies
Rib wall in an entry; can also be called as

wall.
Slot a vertical or inclined ore section that is
excavated to open up for further stoping.
Tunnel a horizontal or nearly horizontal
underground passage that is open to the
atmosphere at both ends.
Ramp an inclined underground opening that
connects levels or production areas; usually
driven downward.
Vein thin deposit of minerals between definite

boundaries.
Strike the line of intersection between vein and
the horizontal plane.
Dip angle of inclination of the vein from the
horizontal plane.
Drift a horizontal opening in or near a mineral
deposit and parallel to the course of the
vein or long dimension of the deposit.
VEIN

10
VEIN
ike
str
Drift
11
ike
Bearing of strike
str
Dip
ik
str
Bearing of drift
Drift
Drift
grade of drift
12
Dip and Grade of Drift
Solving for Dip
strike
D
sin = BD/AD
tan dip = CD/BD
tan dip = grade of drift

sin
D
A
grade of drift
grade of drift = CD/AD


13
examples
exercise
A vein has a strike with bearing N 27o 30 E. A drift in

the vein having a 3% grade is due N 30o 20 E. Solve
for the dip of the vein.
Answer: dip = 31o 15 14.11
A vein of ore has strike of N 45o00' E. The vein dips at
angle of 15o. Determine the bearing of the drift of the
vein having a grade of 6%, drilled NE relative to the
strike.
Answer: bearing of drift = N 57o 56 22.41 E
Please bring out a piece of paper.

A vein facing north-west has a drift driven
N 67o W in the plane of the vein on a
grade of 3%. If the vein dips at 5o 15
53.08, what is the bearing of the strike
of the vein?
(Answer it in 5 minutes)
Answer: bearing of the strike: N 48o W


14
Solving for Strike and Dip

using Boreholes
d su
groun
rface
BOREHOLES any narrow shaft bored in the

ground, either vertically or horizontally ,
constructed for extraction of water or other
liquid or gases, as part of a mineral exploration,
geotechnical investigation and environmental site
assessment.


15
d su
groun
rface
d su
groun
rface
an
Pl
of
i
Ve
a 3D coordinate system
is being chosen such that
its z-axis passes thru the
highest point (C)
16
d su
groun
rface
d su
groun
e
an
l
P
x
rface
z
of
the line connecting the

highest two points should
lie on the yz plane
in
Ve
C'
B
B'
choose the lowest point

(in this case A) to lie on
the xy plane (horizontal
plane), z = 0
an
Pl
of
i
Ve
e C'
B
B'
x
D
To solve for the strike, extend the line of the 2 highest points to the horizontal
plane. It intersects the plane at a point, D.
strike
Here, points A and D lie on the horizontal plane

and the plane of the vein
17
= azimuthAB azimuthAC
= azimuthCB azimuthAB
= 180 - -
sine law:
C'B' = (AC')sin / sin
AB' = (AC')sin / sin
similar triangle
sine law:
DB'
DB'
DA
cosine law:
(DA)2 = (DB')2 + (AB')2 2(DB')(AB')cos
bearing of strike = azimuthAB +
C ' B ' BB'

CC ' BB '
= 180
example
Three boreholes were sunk to a vein of ore. The depth of
the three holes at the points A, B, and C, and the surface
measurements connecting them are:
Elevation of surface @ A = 4750 ft ;
depth of hole = 3500 ft
Elevation of surface @ B = 4920 ft ;
Elevation of surface @ C = 4790 ft ;
AzimuthAC=60o22(from South); AzimuthAB=80o30(from
South); AzimuthCB=140o20 (from South)
AC = 1320 ft (horizontal distance)
Find the strike and dip of the vein.
18
Point
A
B
elevation @
surface
depth of
hole
elevation
@ vein
zcoordinate
4750
3500
1250
4920
2860
2060
810
= azimuthAB azimuthAC = 20o 8

= azimuthCB azimuthAB = 59o 50
= 180 - = 100o 2
4790
2080
2710
C'B' = 1320 * sin / sin

= 525.53 ft
AB' = 1320 * sin / sin

= 1503.43 ft
similar triangle
sine law:
654.89
1918
DB'
1460
525.53
= 180
= 120o 10
810
1460
1503.43
= 17o 10 11
elevation @ vein = elevation @ surface - depth of hole
z coordinate = (elevation @ vein)i - (elevation @ vein)min

525.53 ' 810 '

1460 810
= 654.89 ft
= sin-1(0.2952)
= 17o 10 11
sine law:
654.89
cosine law: (ABD)

(DA)2 = (654.89)2 + (1503.43)2 2(654.89)(1503.43)cos
= 1918 ft
19
bearing of strike = azimuthAB +

= 80o 30 + 17o 10 11
= 97o 40 11
= N 82o 19 49 W (from A)
sin = EB / AB
EB = AB sin = 1503.43 sin
Mine Survey Limitations
= 443.82 ft
tan(dip) = BB / EB = 810 / 443.82
dip = tan-1 (1.83)
= 61o 16 50
AzAB= 80o 30
Special conditions in the underground surveys:

1. Limitations of space: small instruments of
special designs with extension tripod legs or
suspension rods are used.
dip
810
= 17o 10 11
E
2. Very short and very steep (or vertical) sights:

special methods of observations are necessary
with particular care to avoid the accumulation
of excessive errors in measurements.

20
Mine Survey Limitations

Special conditions in the underground surveys:
Eccentric Telescopes
3. Instrument station markers are on the roof:

modification of the traverse procedures.
These are small telescopes attached to the

main telescope to correct the value of the
measured angles.
4. Darkness: special arrangements for

illumination of both the instrument and target.
Eccentricity (e) distance between the

eccentric telescope and the main telescope.
5. Slope distances: vertical angles are

measured and three dimensional coordinates of
instrument stations are determined.

21
Top Telescope
example
=
where:
= tan-1(e / BD)
(AD)2 = (BD)2 + e2
V = (AD) sin
elevD = elevA V
- a small telescope mounted

on top a transit or theodolite.
Point D is sighted using a theodolite with a top

telescope at an angle of 65o 23'. The distance
from the top telescope to point D is 100m. The
elevation of point C (station occupied) is 150m
and the eccentricity of the instrument is 0.05m.
Find the correct vertical angle and the elevation
of point D if the height of the instrument is 1.5m.
answer: corrected vertical angle = 65o 2116.87
elevation of pt. D = 60.61 m
22
Side Telescope
example
A side telescope was used to obtain angle and
distances. The distance to point B is 10.5 m
and it was turned clockwise 63o25' to sight
point A which is 14.3 m from the side
telescope. If the side telescope's offset is 0.20
m from the main telescope, what is the correct
horizontal angle between A and B?
- a small telescope attached at the side of a

transit or theodolite.
1= tan-1(e / OA')
2= tan-1(e / OB')
= 1 + 2
(OA)2
(OA')2
e2
=
+
(OB)2 = (OB')2 + e2

(AB)2 = (OA)2 + (OB)2

2(OA)(OB)cos
answer: corrected angle = 63o 7 36.75

23
Underground Traverse:
through adits and tunnels
Exercise
From the given data, find the corrected vertical angles
and the elevation of station X
Sta. Occ.
Sta. Obs.
Vertical angle
(using top
telescope)
Rod
reading
Slope
distance(m)
(from top telescope
to point sighted)
-3.06
X
+ 60o
(Note: negative
rod reading
means station is on
the FLOOR)
Control network of traverses (frequently openend traverses) that must follow existing net
of mining workings and excavations.
Executed with the utmost care and are usually

independently checked by a second
resurvey.
80
e = 0.06 m; HI = 1.3 m; elevZ = 200 m above msl


24
Control Network
first-order control
a) 1 : 10,000 in small and medium-size mines
b) 1 : 20,000 in large mines extended over
areas of several kilometers in diameter.
Monumentation and
marking of points
The stations of the
horizontal control network
are usually marked in the
roof (back) or walls of the
mining workings.
second-order control 1 : 5000

third-order control 1 : 1000

25
Angle and Distance

measurements
Traverse Computation
The old-type vernier transits, although still

in use, are being replaced by much smaller
and lighter theodolites with the optical
micrometer readout.
Coordinates of underground stations should be

calculated in the surface coordinate system so
that positions of details on the surface can be
analytically correlated with individual levels and
sublevels of the mine.
Steel tapes are still the most popular tools

in distance measurement. Light weight
electronic distance measurements (EDM)
instruments are also becoming popular as
long as they are fire- and damp-proof.
First-order and second-order underground

traverse loops should be simultaneously adjusted
by the method of least squares.


26


27
Traverse Computation
example
Remark:
In long traverses with many stations, the
positional accuracy of the last point may be
smaller in a traverse with measured angles,
compared with a traverse with azimuths
measured, even when the angles are measured
with a much higher accuracy than the azimuths.
If NA = 10,000 and EA = 10,000, find NE and EE.


28
Mine orientation surveys: basic

principles and classification
Very often, the only access to the mine is by way
of vertical shafts, therefore, direct traversing
from the surface is impossible.
Shaft plumbing with two or more plumblines in one

vertical shaft.
Shaft-plumbing procedure:
Plumblines P1 and P2 serve as
intermediate traverse stations
between points
Problem: solve for orientation

angles 1 and 2 which must be
determined indirectly.
Weisbach method
Quadrilateral (Hause) method
Shaft plumbing through two or more vertical shafts

with one plumbline in each shaft.


29
Weisbach Method
(triangle method)
The orientation angles, 1
and 2 are determined
from measurements of:
- the angle 1 and distance a, b1
Weisbach Method
(triangle method)
Angles 1 and 2 are calculated from the
simple trigonometric function:
and c1 on the triangle on the

surface
- angle 2 and distance b2 and
c2 in the underground triangle.
The distance a is also measured underground to

approximately check the verticality of the wires.
The angle 2 is made to the predetermined vertical
positions of the wires on the scales (one scale for
each wire) perpendicular to the line of sight.
To complete the orientation measurements, the
angles 1 and 2 are measured at stations B and C.

30
Hause Method
(quadrilateral method)
Hause Method
(quadrilateral method)
The following
values are
measured in the
quadrilateral
method: angles 1 ,
2, 1 and 2 and
distance P1P2 and
CD in the figure.

The coordinates of P1 and

P2 are calculated in the local
system by simple intersection
from the base CD.

31
Vertical control surveys

and leveling
Special steel tapes of lengths up to
1000 m stored on large reels are
available for transfer of heights
from the surface to the underground
workings.
Problem
Surface Coordinate System
STA.
NORTHING
A
1690002.675
B
1690012.198
STA
OCC
OBS
A
P1
P2
Underground Coordinate System

LINE
DIST. (m)
C-D
12.505
STA
OCC
C

OBS
D
P1
P2
EASTING
506999.507
507006.262
HOR. ANGLE
(clockwise)
0-00-00.00
217-33-59.07
253-36-11.13
A mine orientation survey was performed

using shaft plumbing with 2 plumblines in
1 vertical shaft and the following data
were gathered in the field:
DIST (m)
11.676
8.398
5.728
Assumed AZIMUTH
270-00-00
HOR. ANGLE
(counterclockwise)
0-00-00.00
51-57-27.00
76-55-53.00

STA
OCC
D
OBS
C
P2
P1
HOR. ANGLE
(clockwise)
0-00-00.00
46-21-05.00
61-16-10.00
32
For practice
References
From the results of the previous

problem, perform a check by using the
formulas discussed (Hause method).
Verify if the coordinates of A, B, P1
and P2 that you will get using the
solved coordinates of C and D is
correct.

Anderson, J. Mikhail, E. Surveying Theory and Practice

(7th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill Science, 1998.
Davis, R., Foote, F., et al. Surveying Theory and
Practice. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company,
1981.

33
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Mining Surveys

Department of Geodetic Engineering

- Includes geo-physical surveys for mineral and

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Shaft a vertical or inclined excavation in a

Back the top of a drift, cross cut or stope. Also

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Cage an elevator for workers and materials in

Drawpoint a place where ore can be loaded

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Rib wall in an entry; can also be called as

Vein thin deposit of minerals between definite

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Dip and Grade of Drift

Solving for Dip

tan dip = CD/BD

tan dip = grade of drift

grade of drift = CD/AD

Department of Geodetic Engineering

A vein has a strike with bearing N 27o 30 E. A drift in

Please bring out a piece of paper.

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Solving for Strike and Dip

BOREHOLES any narrow shaft bored in the

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Department of Geodetic Engineering

the line connecting the

choose the lowest point

Here, points A and D lie on the horizontal plane

C ' B ' BB'

= azimuthAB azimuthAC = 20o 8

C'B' = 1320 * sin / sin

AB' = 1320 * sin / sin

elevation @ vein = elevation @ surface - depth of hole

z coordinate = (elevation @ vein)i - (elevation @ vein)min

525.53 ' 810 '

cosine law: (ABD)

bearing of strike = azimuthAB +

Mine Survey Limitations

Special conditions in the underground surveys:

2. Very short and very steep (or vertical) sights:

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Mine Survey Limitations

3. Instrument station markers are on the roof:

These are small telescopes attached to the

4. Darkness: special arrangements for

Eccentricity (e) distance between the

5. Slope distances: vertical angles are

Department of Geodetic Engineering

- a small telescope mounted

Point D is sighted using a theodolite with a top

- a small telescope attached at the side of a

Department of Geodetic Engineering

(AB)2 = (OA)2 + (OB)2

answer: corrected angle = 63o 7 36.75

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Executed with the utmost care and are usually

e = 0.06 m; HI = 1.3 m; elevZ = 200 m above msl

Department of Geodetic Engineering

second-order control 1 : 5000