Mining method

A drawbell defining a volume extending between and interconnecting a caved volume and an extraction level of a block cave, so that in a mining operation caved rocks can flow downwardly from the caved volume to the extraction level, whereby the drawbell comprises:

• (a) a drawbell height of at least 25 meters measured from a back of the extraction level to a highest point of the drawbell, and
• (b) the following profile in a direction of a drawbell drive in the extraction level, i.e. when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the drawbell drive:
• (i) a throat section having opposed parallel side walls extending upwardly, typically perpendicular, from the extraction level,
• (ii) a tapered section above the throat section, the tapered section having side walls extending outwardly from upper ends of the side walls of the throat section, and
• (iii) an undercut section above the tapered section, the undercut section having opposed parallel side walls extending upwardly from upper ends of the side walls of the tapered section and typically perpendicular to the extraction level.