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Mining Methods(18)Mining Machinery(27)

Mining Methods

18 Questions

GATE→2026→Mining Methods and Machinery→Mining Methods

Q1

MCQ[1 Mark]

A 20 m thick orebody is dipping at an angle of $75^{\circ}$. The orebody and host rock are strong. It is proposed to deploy a 150-200 mm diameter drill for production. The suitable stoping method is

(A)

block caving

(B)

long hole stoping

(C)

shrinkage stoping

(D)

post and pillar stoping

Explanation

GATE→2026→Mining Methods and Machinery→Mining Methods

Q2

NAT[2 Marks]

The information for a dragline operation is given: Bucket capacity: $20\text{ m}^3$, Fill factor: 0.9, Digging and filling time: 20 s, Swinging time: 32 s, Dumping time: 10 s, Utilization: 90%. The output of the dragline, in $\text{m}^3\text{h}^{-1}$, is

Explanation

GATE→2026→Mining Methods and Machinery→Mining Methods

Q3

NAT[2 Marks]

A regular shaped cut and fill stope is shown. Pillars of size $4\text{ m} \times 4$ m are left at an interval of 13 m along the length of the stope. If density is 2.5 tonne/m$^3$, the total tonnage of ore recovered from the $1^{\text{st}}$ slice of the stope (in $\times 10^3$ tonnes) is

Explanation

GATE→2025→Mining Methods and Machinery→Mining Methods

Q4

MCQ[1 Mark]

A steeply dipping metalliferous ore body is non-susceptible to spontaneous heating. The blasted ore is used as the platform to work in a stope. Appropriate mining method for this orebody is

(A)

room and pillar

(B)

sublevel caving

(C)

block caving

(D)

shrinkage stoping

Explanation

GATE→2025→Mining Methods and Machinery→Mining Methods

Q5

NAT[1 Mark]

In a bord and pillar panel, the following data are obtained: Number of blasting rounds per shift = 8, Face dimension $(m\times m) = 4.2\times2.5$, Average pull (m) = 1.2, Specific gravity of coal = 1.4, Manpower per shift = 100. The OMS (output per manshift) of the panel, in tonne, is

Explanation

GATE→2025→Mining Methods and Machinery→Mining Methods

Q6

MSQ[2 Marks]

The CORRECT statement(s) of dragline operation is/are -

(A)

The initial cut is called "Key" cut.

(B)

Tandem method of operation requires at least two draglines.

(C)

Dragline excavates material above the working bench.

(D)

Dragline can move with walking pad.

Explanation

GATE→2025→Mining Methods and Machinery→Mining Methods

Q7

NAT[2 Marks]

A continuous miner serves two shuttle cars of 12 tonne capacity each. Shuttle cars I and II operate with a total cycle time of 12 minutes and 15 minutes respectively, which includes loading time of 8 minutes for each car. The production rate of the continuous miner, in tonne/hour, is (rounded off to 2 decimal places)

Explanation

GATE→2025→Mining Methods and Machinery→Mining Methods

Q8

NAT[2 Marks]

In a sublevel stope, a ringhole blast round is designed for winning 2500 tonne of ore with 8.0% metal content. The blast results into breakage of 90.0% of the design blast round. Overbreak of 250 tonne wallrock with 0.5% metal content dilutes the blasted ore. The total metal content, in tonne, considering 95% recovery of the blasted muck from the stope, is (rounded off to 2 decimal places)

Explanation

GATE→2025→Mining Methods and Machinery→Mining Methods

Q9

NAT[2 Marks]

A mine void of dimension $100.0\text{ m}\times2.0\text{ m}\times1.2\text{ m}$ is to be filled in 3 hours by hydraulic stowing. The sand to slurry ratio is 0.4. If the hydraulic fill factor is 0.9, the hourly consumption of water for the operation, in $\text{m}^{3}$, is (rounded off to 2 decimal places)

Explanation

GATE→2024→Mining Methods and Machinery→Mining Methods

Q10

NAT[1 Mark]

For a circular path of radius 300 m, the super elevation is restricted to 0.1 m for a width of 1.6 m. The maximum speed, in $\text{m/s}$ of vehicle to avoid overturn is

Explanation

GATE→2024→Mining Methods and Machinery→Mining Methods

Q11

MCQ[2 Marks]

Match the method of mining with orebody geometry, orebody strength and type of supports.

(A)

P->L->Y->3; Q->N->Z->1; R->M->X->2

(B)

P->M->Y->2; Q->N->Z->1; R->L->X->3

(C)

P->L->Y->2; Q->M->Z->3; R->N->X->1

(D)

P->M->Y->1; Q->L->Z->3; R->N->X->2

Explanation

GATE→2024→Mining Methods and Machinery→Mining Methods

Q12

NAT[2 Marks]

A longitudinal section of a mined out stope block in a copper mine is shown by the shaded portion. For a uniform thickness of the stope block, the percentage of ore recovery, is

Explanation

GATE→2023→Mining Methods and Machinery→Mining Methods

Q13

MCQ[1 Mark]

A tabular, near-flat ($dip<30^{\circ}$), and less than 2 m thick copper orebody having erratically located grade is to be mined underground. Wall rock and orebody are competent. The most suitable mining method is

(A)

Cut and fill stoping.

(B)

Sub-level stoping.

(C)

Underhand open stoping.

(D)

Breast stoping.

Explanation

GATE→2023→Mining Methods and Machinery→Mining Methods

Q14

NAT[2 Marks]

A continuous miner served by two shuttle cars produces $240\text{ tonne/hr}$. The capacity of each shuttle car is 10 tonne. When a single shuttle car operates, the cycle time becomes 4 min. In case one of the shuttle cars is under break-down, the reduction in hourly production from that of two cars in percent is [rounded off to 1 decimal place]

Explanation

GATE→2023→Mining Methods and Machinery→Mining Methods

Q15

NAT[2 Marks]

A mine void of width 20 m, length 50 m and height 30 m is to be filled with mill tailings based cemented paste backfill (CPB). The CPB contains tailings:cement:water as 1.0:0.1:0.2 by weight. The specific gravity of tailings and cement are 2.8 and 2.4 respectively. Assuming 20% of the original volume of water is retained in the final backfill, the amount of cement in tonne required so as to fill the void completely is [rounded off to nearest integer]

Explanation

GATE→2022→Mining Methods and Machinery→Mining Methods

Q16

MCQ[1 Mark]

The bottom section of a stoping block has dimensions $200\text{ m}\times40$ m. If the modified RMR of rock mass is 50, the appropriate method of mining on the basis of Laubscher's chart in the figure is

(A)

Shrinkage stoping

(B)

Cut and fill

(C)

Block Caving

(D)

Sublevel stoping

Explanation

GATE→2022→Mining Methods and Machinery→Mining Methods

Q17

MCQ[1 Mark]

The correct order of pavement layers for a haul road from top to bottom is

(A)

Wearing course -> Base -> Sub base -> Sub grade

(B)

Wearing course -> Sub base -> Base -> Sub grade

(C)

Wearing course -> Sub grade -> Sub base -> Base

(D)

Wearing course -> Base -> Sub grade -> Sub base

Explanation

GATE→2022→Mining Methods and Machinery→Mining Methods

Q18

NAT[2 Marks]

In a bord and pillar development panel, headings of $4.4\text{ m}\times2.5$ m are advanced using solid blasting. The average pull per round of blast is 1.2 m. On an average 12 faces are blasted per day. Density of coal is $1500\text{ kg}/\text{m}^{3}$. The mine operates in three shifts. If the average daily employment is 330 persons, labour productivity (OMS) of the panel in tonne, is

Explanation

Mining Machinery

27 Questions

GATE→2026→Mining Methods and Machinery→Mining Machinery

Q19

MCQ[1 Mark]

The ideal load - deformation characteristic curve of a hydraulic prop is

(A)

P

(B)

Q

(C)

R

(D)

S

Explanation

GATE→2026→Mining Methods and Machinery→Mining Machinery

Q20

NAT[1 Mark]

The shaft of a motor rotating at 50 rev s$^{-1}$ is uniformly retarded to 20 rev s$^{-1}$ in 15 s. The number of complete rotations the shaft makes in the given time is

Explanation

GATE→2026→Mining Methods and Machinery→Mining Machinery

Q21

NAT[1 Mark]

A belt is wrapped around a pulley as shown. The coefficient of friction between the belt and pulley is 0.3. If there is no slippage between the belt and pulley, the angle of wrap ($\theta$), in degrees, is

Explanation

GATE→2026→Mining Methods and Machinery→Mining Machinery

Q22

NAT[2 Marks]

A rake of wagons, with inter-wagon gap of 100 cm, is moving at a speed of 0.4 km per hour under a silo loading system. The dimensions of the wagon are $8\text{ m} (L) \times 3\text{ m} (W) \times 3\text{ m} (H)$. Considering fill factor 0.95 and bulk density 1.2 tonne/m$^3$, the loading rate of the silo, in tonne per hour, is

Explanation

GATE→2026→Mining Methods and Machinery→Mining Machinery

Q23

NAT[2 Marks]

A turbine pump is designed to generate water head of 60 m. The impeller speed of the pump is 2000 rpm and the manometric efficiency is 70%. Neglecting impeller blade curvature, the impeller diameter of the pump, in cm, is

Explanation

GATE→2026→Mining Methods and Machinery→Mining Machinery

Q24

NAT[2 Marks]

A coal seam of 2.4 m thickness is mined with a DERD shearer at a cutting speed of $0.6\text{ km h}^{-1}$. The web depth of the cut is 0.5 m. The average cross-sectional area of coal on the AFC during transportation is $0.24\text{ m}^2$. For evacuation of cut coal from face with 10% spillage, the required minimum velocity of the AFC, in $\text{m s}^{-1}$, is

Explanation

GATE→2025→Mining Methods and Machinery→Mining Machinery

Q25

MCQ[1 Mark]

The safety device used to arrest forward runaway tubs in rope haulage, is

(A)

monkey catch

(B)

drop warwick

(C)

stop-block

(D)

backstay

Explanation

GATE→2025→Mining Methods and Machinery→Mining Machinery

Q26

MCQ[1 Mark]

As per CMR 2017, haulage ropes shall be recapped once at least in every

(A)

6 months

(B)

12 months

(C)

18 months

(D)

24 months

Explanation

GATE→2025→Mining Methods and Machinery→Mining Machinery

Q27

NAT[2 Marks]

A constant feed of $400\text{ mL/s}$ is maintained by a Xanthate column of height H as shown in the figure. The outlet cross section area is $1.0\times10^{-4}\text{ m}^{2}$. The acceleration due to gravity is $10\text{ m/s}^{2}$. Neglecting friction and other losses, the value of H, in cm, is (rounded off to 2 decimal places)

Explanation

GATE→2025→Mining Methods and Machinery→Mining Machinery

Q28

NAT[2 Marks]

A direct rope haulage has the following details: Output = 24 tonne/hour, Length of trip = 6101 m, Gradient = 1 in 12, Capacity of mine car = 1.0 tonne, Tare weight of mine car = 0.5 tonne, Average rope speed = 1.694 m/s, Change over time of cars = 3 minute, Acceleration due to gravity = $10.0\text{ m/s}^{2}$. Neglecting all frictional resistance and mass of the rope, the minimum power required, in kW, to raise the loaded mine cars is (rounded off to 3 decimal places)

Explanation

GATE→2025→Mining Methods and Machinery→Mining Machinery

Q29

NAT[2 Marks]

A 2.5 tonne diesel locomotive hauls 5 mine cars upslope having a gradient of 1 in 20. The constant tractive force of the locomotive is 1800 kN. The gross weight of a car is 3 tonne. Acceleration due to gravity is $10.0\text{ m/s}^{2}$. If the acceleration of the system is $0.5\text{ m/s}^{2}$, the rolling resistance in kN/tonne is (rounded off to 3 decimal places)

Explanation

GATE→2025→Mining Methods and Machinery→Mining Machinery

Q30

NAT[2 Marks]

A double ended ranging drum (DERD) shearer uni-directionally cuts coal in a longwall panel having the following details: Shearer drum diameter = 1.4 m, Panel dimension = $1200\text{ m}\times200\text{ m}\times2.4$ m, Web depth = 0.6 m, Average cutting speed = 5 m/minute, Average retreating speed = 10 m/minute, Average operational delay between cuts is 2 hour. There are two production shifts, each of 8 hour duration. The number of days required for complete extraction of the panel is (in integer)

Explanation

GATE→2024→Mining Methods and Machinery→Mining Machinery

Q31

MCQ[1 Mark]

For a geared engine winding system, the man winding cage is placed at its normal position at pit top of the shaft. As per CMR 2017, the minimum space, in m, between the center of the hole of the detaching hook attached to the rope shackle and detaching belt plate is

(A)

3.6

(B)

2.4

(C)

1.8

(D)

1

Explanation

GATE→2024→Mining Methods and Machinery→Mining Machinery

Q32

NAT[2 Marks]

Water is pumped from a mine sump at the rate of $300\text{ m}^{3}/\text{hr}$ to an inverted conical water tank, as shown. The rate of rise in water level in m/min at the instant water level reaches at 5 m height from bottom of the tank, is

Explanation

GATE→2024→Mining Methods and Machinery→Mining Machinery

Q33

NAT[2 Marks]

Data for a centrifugal pump discharging water from a sump to the surface are given. Head = 180 m, Discharge = $320\text{ m}^{3}/\text{hr}$, operating 14 hrs/day for 270 days and 20 hrs/day for remaining 95 days, overall efficiency = 0.70, specific weight = $10.20\text{ kN/m}^{3}$. The annual electrical power consumption in GWh, due to pumping operation, is

Explanation

GATE→2024→Mining Methods and Machinery→Mining Machinery

Q34

NAT[2 Marks]

A 35.0 kW motor transmits power to a pulley of 600 mm diameter, which rotates at 400 rpm to drive a flat belt. The tension in the tight side is 2.5 times of the slack side. Neglect all transmission losses. If the maximum allowable tension is 8.0 N per mm of belt width, then the minimum width of the belt in mm, is

Explanation

GATE→2024→Mining Methods and Machinery→Mining Machinery

Q35

NAT[2 Marks]

A 1.2 m diameter drum winding system is shown. One of the winding ropes will be replaced for the manwinding cage... Neglecting fleet angle, the minimum length, in m, of new winding rope is

Explanation

GATE→2024→Mining Methods and Machinery→Mining Machinery

Q36

NAT[2 Marks]

For a continuous miner (CM) panel, the following data are given... The non-working time in min, in working hours per shuttle car to dispatch all coal cut by the CM, is

Explanation

GATE→2023→Mining Methods and Machinery→Mining Machinery

Q37

NAT[1 Mark]

A coal seam of 3.0 m height is mined with a double-ended ranging drum shearer (DERDS) for a web depth of 0.5 m. The coal density is $1.4\text{ tonne}/\text{m}^{3}$. If the panel width is 150 m, the production per cycle in tonne is [rounded off to 1 decimal place]

Explanation

GATE→2023→Mining Methods and Machinery→Mining Machinery

Q38

NAT[2 Marks]

Data related to a surface miner operation are given below: Drum width = 3.0 m, Average cutting depth = 20 cm, Average cutting speed = 25 m/min, Length of pit = 500 m, Turning time = 2 min, Truck exchange time = 30 s, Truck capacity = 15 m^3. Considering in situ volume, the production rate of the surface miner in m^3/hr, is [rounded off to 1 decimal place]

Explanation

GATE→2023→Mining Methods and Machinery→Mining Machinery

Q39

NAT[2 Marks]

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with payload of 2 kg reaches vertically 100 m in 10 s at uniform velocity. The self-weight of the UAV is 1.2 kg. The power required in lifting in kW is [rounded off to 2 decimal places]

Explanation

GATE→2023→Mining Methods and Machinery→Mining Machinery

Q40

NAT[2 Marks]

Data related to a water turbine pump with backward bladed impellers are given below: Impeller diameter = 35 cm, RPM = 1200, Angle of curvature of blade = $30^{\circ}$, Radial velocity of discharge = $2\text{ m/s}$, Manometric efficiency = 0.8. The number of impellers required in the pump to lift water by a height 300 m is [rounded off to higher integer]

Explanation

GATE→2022→Mining Methods and Machinery→Mining Machinery

Q41

MCQ[1 Mark]

Match the machine with its component.

(A)

P-III, Q-IV, R-I, S-II

(B)

P-IV, Q-III, R-I, S-II

(C)

P-III, Q-IV, R-II, S-I

(D)

P-IV, Q-III, R-II, S-I

Explanation

GATE→2022→Mining Methods and Machinery→Mining Machinery

Q42

NAT[1 Mark]

In a friction winder, the skip accelerates to a steady speed over a time span of 15 s from the start. The torque vs. time diagram for the winding cycle is shown in the figure. The deceleration time in seconds is

Explanation

GATE→2022→Mining Methods and Machinery→Mining Machinery

Q43

NAT[2 Marks]

In a small metal mine a battery powered locomotive hauls a train of mine tubs such that: Weight of train = 3.0 tonne, friction coeff = 0.06, adhesion coeff = 0.2, time to reach speed of $1.8\text{ m}/\text{s}$ through constant acceleration = 3.0 min, upward gradient = 1 in 20. The minimum weight of the locomotive in tonnes to meet these design requirements, is

Explanation

GATE→2022→Mining Methods and Machinery→Mining Machinery

Q44

NAT[2 Marks]

A pump lifts mine water of density $1020\text{ kg}/\text{m}^{3}$, at $250\text{ m}^{3}/\text{hr}$ from a depth of 150 m. The overall pumping efficiency is 68%. Considering a head loss of 15 m due to pipe friction and shock, the motor input power, in kW is

Explanation

GATE→2022→Mining Methods and Machinery→Mining Machinery

Q45

NAT[2 Marks]

In a longwall face, the full seam thickness of 3 m is cut by a shearer with a web of depth 0.7 m. The hauling speed of shearer during cutting is $12\text{ m}/\text{min}$. The trough cross-section of AFC is $0.4\text{ m}^{2}$ and the average loading coefficient is 0.7. In order to evacuate coal from the face without spillage, the speed of AFC, in m/s is

Explanation