The mining method most appropriate for a disseminated ore in relatively weak and fractured rock is:

• A. Open-pit mining
• B. Block caving
• C. Room-and-pillar
• D. Sublevel stoping

Answer: (B)

When ore is disseminated in relatively weak, fractured rock, the mining method that enables very large-tonnage extraction by using gravity to break and move the rock is most suitable. This approach, block caving, starts with undercutting the ore body so the surrounding fractured rock can progressively cave and break into a loose mass that can be drawn to the surface. The ore is distributed through a wide volume, so you don’t rely on mined-out high-grade blocks; instead, you exploit the rock mass’s tendency to collapse under its own weight, which lowers operating costs and allows rapid, continuous production. Open-pit mining tends to be impractical here if the deposit is deep or the rock is too unstable, while room-and-pillar and sublevel stoping are better suited to more competent rock and different ore geometries. The combination of low-grade, disseminated ore and weak, highly fractured rock makes block caving the best fit for efficient, large-scale extraction.