No. 2, 2013 Mining & Metallurgy Engineering Bor 21 MINING AND METALLURGY INSTITUTE BOR ISSN: 2334-8836 UDK: 622 UDK: 622.272(045)=20 DOI:10.5937/MMEB1302021M Vitomir Milić * , Igor Svrkota * , Dejan Petrović * ANALYSIS OF BLOCK STABILITY FOR SEMI – LEVEL CAVING METHOD WITH LATERAL LOADING Abstract In the current conditions for global underground mining, with the new ore deposits lying deep- er and deeper, with reduced ore grades, the bulk mining is a necessity. Only high production level provides chances for positive economic results of underground mining. The high productive min- ing methods enable significant reducing of costs per ton of excavated ore. Different variants of block methods belong to this group of bulk mining methods. One of them, named the semi – level caving, is present in this paper, with analysis of its block and drawbells stability. Keywords: underground mining, mining method design, drawbells * University of Belgrade, Technical Faculty in Bor INTRODUCTION The underground mining in Bor ore de- posit has experienced serious difficulties for many years. Formerly active ore bodies, like Tilva Ros, P 2 A and Brezonik are either in the final stage of mining or became inactive due to various problems. Low – scale ore bodies, such as T 1 , T 2 and D are interesting and currently active or in preparation, but they are only considered as a transition to only possible future of underground mining – the ore body Borska Reka. Preparation and development of smaller ore bodies is in progress, including explora- tion works, design of mining method and determination of different technical and technological solutions for their operation. All of that in order to maximize production efficiency. Considering the ore body Borska Reka, there were many research works, analyses, studies and suggestions for the method de- sign in lthe ast twenty years. Each part of technological process has been closely con- sidered, including opening, development, mining method, transport, hoisting, ventila- tion, dewatering, servicing, etc. Since main properties of this ore body are significant depth, low – graded ore and huge ore re- serves, the goal of each consideration was to minimize the costs and enable positive eco- nomic results [1]. In researches related to the mining meth- od design, it was of a great importance to determine the optimal construction parame- ters, construction stability, stability of drawbells and enabling safe and secure working conditions at such huge depth.