Underground Mining Drilling Techniques: A Comprehensive Overview

Underground mining relies on precise drilling for blasting, ground support, and development. Understanding the different drilling techniques helps operators select the right equipment and optimize their operations.

Face Drilling

Face drilling is used to advance tunnels and development headings. Hydraulic drill jumbos equipped with one or more booms drill the blast pattern into the rock face. Accuracy is critical for maintaining tunnel profile and minimizing overbreak.

Long-Hole Drilling

Long-hole drilling is used for production blasting in stopes. Holes are drilled from one level to another, typically 15-30 meters in length. This technique requires high-precision equipment and quality drill rods to maintain hole straightness.

Raise Boring

Raise boring creates vertical or inclined shafts without blasting. A pilot hole is drilled downward, then a large reamer is pulled upward to create the full-diameter raise. This technique is used for ventilation shafts, ore passes, and escape routes.

Bolt Drilling

Rock bolt drilling is essential for ground support in underground excavations. Bolts are installed in a regular pattern to reinforce the rock mass and prevent falls of ground.

Equipment Selection

Nova Rock Drill can advise on the correct rock drill and spare parts for any underground drilling application. Contact our technical team for expert guidance.