There are a couple types of Sub Surface mining. Underground Hard Rock mining deals with searching and mining for minerals such as zinc, nickel, lead copper and gold. Normally it is accessed using a vertical shaft that gives access to lower levels of the mine.
After a shaft is installed then it will be possible to access the Ore or lode deposit.
In Production mining there are two methods, short hole and long hole. Short hole mining is similar to production mining. The five steps are to remove previously loosened material or blasted material, drilling short holes in the rock face, loading or placing explosives into the area, blasting the material, and then shorting up or support excavation.
In sub surface mining there are different important steps, one of them is ventilation. It is necessary to remove toxic fumes from exhaust or blasting. Fumes from gasoline or diesel equipment are necessary to be vented or else it is dangerous to breathe.
Often ventilation shafts can be constructed so they can be used for emergency evacuation routes. The primary ventilation shafts can be set up to remove heat also, heat from rock temperature, machinery, human body heat and blasting.
Supporting of the ground when underground mining is also important. Using wooden or metal supports to hold the ground together and the ceiling and floors up is important. Mechanical Bolts, Grouted Bolts, and friction bolts are all used to help keep things together underground.
There are many methods of underground sub surface mining. One type still used in some cases is room and pillar, where pillars of the mineral or substance are left in place to help hold the ceiling and floors up.