Underground mining: Exploring the benefits of block caving and panel caving
March 25, 2026
Underground mining comes in many forms. Practical mine engineering techniques lead to operational success with block and panel caving.
All mines are not created equal. They have different geographies, ore type, deposit shape, and location. All of these are considered when determining what kind of mine is appropriate for extracting the ore. Even within the world of underground mining, there are many methods and techniques used to access the ore.
Here, we’ll explore two of the main methods used for underground mass mining: block caving and panel caving. We’ll also look at variations of these methods for underground mine design.
Both block caving and panel caving are mass mining methods that rely on gravity. They involve undercutting—cutting underneath the ore body—to cause the ore and rock to fall into the tunnels in a controlled manner. From there, it is transported to the surface for processing.
Modern underground mining operations take on many forms. In some situations, block caving and panel caving are good options.
When do caving methods make sense?
Caving mining methods are a good option for low-grade, massive ore bodies when open-pit mining isn’t feasible. And it’s not limited to just greenfield mining projects. Sometimes, it makes sense to change the mining method after a mine has already been in operation for many years.
Here are some examples where caving studies can add value.
- Open pit operations that are approaching closure. This is where a high-level caveability and infrastructure assessment can identify underground caving potential beneath the pit.
- Lower-grade underground projects. Here, block or panel caving may enable economically viable extraction at scale.
- Depleted underground mines with low-grade halos. In this case, caving methods can unlock remaining resources that were previously uneconomic.
Now, let’s explore the block caving method of underground mining.
Understanding the block caving method
Block caving is a highly efficient underground mining method. In simple terms, the process involves cutting out an entire area underneath the deposit. This causes the ore above to break apart and fall due to its own weight. Gravity does the hard work—breaking up the rock and helping move it downward.
With block caving, material flows from many draw points across the mining area at the same time. This coordinated approach helps keep ore moving steadily while limiting the amount of unwanted rock collected. The result? A reliable method to access large deposits while making the best use of gravity and careful planning.
Demonstrative fictional illustration to show the block caving underground mining method.
A key benefit of block cave footprints, with a length-to-height ratio below 0.5, is their compact design. This layout provides flexibility when planning critical systems, like material handling and ventilation. By keeping these systems close but separated, we can lower the risk of damage or interruptions caused by stress at the edges of the cave. This thoughtful placement supports safer, more reliable operations and helps manage both maintenance and costs more effectively. In the long run, this approach makes for smoother mining activities and better overall performance.
Within the mining industry, some well-known examples of block cave mines are:
- Northparkes E26 and E48 (gold/copper/silver mine in Australia)
- Ridgeway Deeps (gold/copper mine in Australia)
- Palabora (copper mine in South Africa)
- Finsch (diamond mine in South Africa)
- Cadia East (gold/copper mine in Australia)
Now, let’s explore the panel caving method of underground mining.
Within the world of underground mining, there are many different methods and techniques used to access the ore.
Understanding the panel caving method
When mining economics and deposit geometries began to support larger footprints, the traditional block caving model is challenged. This is because block caving is based on equidimensional blocks and complete undercutting. But different ore bodies require different extraction methods. And that led to the development of panel caving.
Unlike block caving, which cuts away large blocks of rock in a singular location, panel caving divides the process into smaller panels. These panels are caved progressively, meaning the ore body isn’t fully undercut before production begins.
In panel caving mines, how much ore we can extract depends on three main factors:
- The width of the mining area
- The height of the ore column
- Undercut advance rate
Demonstrative fictional illustration to show the sequencing of panel caving underground mining method.
For advanced undercut methods, the undercut advance rate is set by the speed of building drawbells—special tunnels where ore is collected—and the length of the undercut face. For post-undercut methods, this rate is mostly set by the speed of building drawbells, which makes post-undercut caves more independent from the undercut geometry. It’s also crucial to control how we draw out ore. Why? It allows us to keep a steady, angled boundary between ore and waste rock. This balanced approach helps us keep production stable and manage resources over time.
Panel caving can be a highly efficient mining method. The larger footprints also allow for a larger number of cave fronts. A good example of this rock factory concept is the Grasberg Block Cave (GBC) mine in Papua, Indonesia. GBC has been able to achieve production rates of 150,000 tonnes per day consistently since achieving full production in 2023.
Other examples of panel caving mines are:
- Henderson (molybdenum mine in the US)
- El Teniente (copper mine in Chile)
- Grasberg Block Cave (copper/gold mine in Indonesia)
- DMLZ (copper/gold mine in Indonesia)
Demonstrative fictional figure of a sample undercutting sequence on an underground mining operation, showing how undercutting may occur in segments over time. Note that the sequence advances progressively by a production panel unit differing from the block caving definition above, where the footprint progresses as an entire unit.
Caving variants: Niche options in block and panel caving
Macroblocks
Macroblocks is a caving approach used at Codelco’s Chuquicamata mine in Chile. It gives the team more flexibility because each block can be planned, built, and operated on its own.
Chuquicamata is designed for high production (140,000 tons per day). Using macroblocks makes it possible to increase the output step by step. Plus, if one block has problems, operations can continue using the other blocks. This helps keep extraction steady with several smaller, manageable block caves.
Inclined cave
Inclined caving is a different approach to underground mining compared to block caving. Instead of arranging mining points on a single horizontal level, incline caving places drawpoints (areas where ore is collected) on several levels that follow the natural slope of the ore deposit. This setup lets us work with the shape of the orebody. It makes it easier to manage how the rock breaks and how we collect the ore.
When you look at incline caving from the side, you’ll see several levels stacked on top of each other with drawpoints spread out along each one. This is similar to how sublevel caving looks in a cross-section view. But if you look at the pattern from above, the drawpoints line up in a regular grid, much like block caving.
This blend of designs helps mining operators control how the cave advances, while still providing reliable access to the ore. Incline caving works well for ore deposits that don’t have a simple shape or that slope at moderate angles. It offers flexibility and allows mining teams to adapt to the unique conditions of underground mining.
Multiple methods for underground mass mining operations
The technical process required for effective block caving involves:
- Detailed deposit analysis
- Specialized software modeling
- Integrated design of extraction techniques
This is true for both panel or block configurations. Managing a block caving project from start to finish means addressing each stage with precision. This runs from resource modeling and geomechanical analysis through to material handling design and ongoing operational planning.
Working with an experienced mining consulting team can bring a wide lens to these projects. We draw on lessons learned across multiple sites and regions rather than relying on a single operation’s experience. This broader exposure helps inform more robust, adaptable feasibility studies—and covers challenging aspects like cost modeling, structural stability, ventilation, and ore flow dynamics. These are often areas that can often stretch the capabilities of internal teams.
