Which mining method is most suitable for extracting iron ore that occurs in a deep underground deposit?
Answer
Room‑and‑pillar mining
The correct answer is Room‑and‑pillar mining — Select room‑and‑pillar mining as the appropriate technique.
Step-by-step solution
- Recall that deep underground deposits require mining methods that work below the surface.
- Identify that room‑and‑pillar mining creates a network of rooms while leaving pillars of ore to support the roof, suitable for deep metallic ores.
- Eliminate open‑pit and strip mining as surface methods, and dredging as a method for underwater sediments.
- Select room‑and‑pillar mining as the appropriate technique.
Common mistake: Choosing open‑pit mining, forgetting that the deposit is deep underground.
Concept tested: Underground mining techniques
Published · How this solution was prepared and checked
Related questions
- 1 A copper ore body is located at a depth of 800 m and occurs as a vein with a steep dip. Which mining method is most appropriate for extracting this ore?
- 2 Which of the following is a non‑metallic mineral used primarily in construction?
- 3 Discuss the major environmental impacts of coal mining in India and suggest two appropriate mitigation measures.
- 4 Which of the following minerals is classified as a metallic mineral?
- 5 A coal seam is 2.5 m thick, extends 1 km in length and 100 m in width. Assuming the seam has uniform thickness, calculate the approximate volume of coal in cubic metres.
- 6 A river has a flow rate of 250 m^3 /s, a usable head of 30 m and the overall efficiency of the hydro‑electric plant is 85%. Using ρ = 1000 kg /m^3 and g = 9.81 m /s^2, calculate the electrical power output in megawatts (MW).