ABSTRACT
The ore deposits being mined by open pit techniques today vary considerably in size, shape, orientation and depth below the surface. The initial surface topographies can vary from mountain tops to valley floors. In spite of this, there are a number of geometry based design and planning considerations fundamental to them all. These are the focus of this chapter. By way of introduction consider Figure 4.1 which is a diagrammatic representation of a volume at the earth’s surface prior to and after the development of an open pit mine.
