Stope

A stope is an underground excavation in a mine where valuable minerals or ore are deliberately removed from the surrounding rock. It is formed by mining methods that create open spaces within the earth, often following the vein or deposit of the mineral. These excavations allow miners to access and extract the ore safely and efficiently. Once the ore is taken out, the surrounding area may be supported or filled to maintain stability. In summary, a stope is the underground void created during mining to recover resources from beneath the earth’s surface.