Exploratory Mining Excavations

excavations made in the earth’s crust when searching for and exploring complex-shaped mineral deposits with an uneven or low useful-mineral content. Exploratory mining excavations are divided into opening excavations (drifts, tunnels, shafts), access excavations (crosscuts, stone drifts), and exploratory excavations proper (cross drifts and winzes). If ore bodies are exposed on the surface, they are opened and tested by means of ditches, trenches, or pits. In hilly or mountainous terrain the ore bodies are opened by tunnels, and in level terrain shafts and pits are used.

Exploratory mining excavations are subjected to systematic geological, geophysical, geochemical, hydrogeological, and geological engineering analysis and testing. Technological and technical samples are also taken from the excavations.