Application of concepts of Rock Mechanics for designing the methods of mining and strata control: Design and stability of structures in rock; design of support and reinforcement for open pits; Types of bench and dump slope failures,Theories of ground movement and strata control; rock bolts, cable bolts; wire mesh; monitoring of rock mass performance, mechanics of rock fragmentation; Dump types, internal and out of pit dumps, Dump construction, size,shape, Site selection and preparation for dumping, Methods of dumping, machines required for dump construction,consolidated and unconsolidated dumps, slope stability; slope angle, benches, berms, factors affecting slope stability, design criteria and monitoring systems; dump stability; dump management.

Opencast Mining: Mine Planning, Opening of coal seams and preparation for excavation; box cut, types; selection of site; Layout of Opencast mine, parameters, formation of production benches; ripping; types of rippers; concept of rippability and cycle of operation; drilling; blast hole drills; performance parameters; requirement of number of drills; blasting; blast design; factors influencing blast design; deep hold blasting; calculation of charge per hole; ground vibration; secondary blasting and problems and hazards related to blasting; cast blasting; environment friendly non- blasting techniques, safety aspects. Discontinuous / cyclic methods of excavation and transport: shovel dumper operation; applicability of electric shovel and hydraulic excavators; cycle time and productivity calculation; estimation of equipment fleet; dragline operation; side casting; Dragline balancing diagram; calculation of reach; cycle time; productivity calculation; bucket capacity requirement; scrappers; types; methods of work; push pull operation etc., Bucket Wheel Excavator - operational methods (lateral block, half block and full block etc.,)productivity calculation; continuous Surface Miner - operational methods (wide / full base methods, wide / full bench, block mining, stepped cut, empty travel back, turn back and continuous mining methods); conveyors; shiftable and high angle conveyors; mode of operation etc;, OITDS operator independent truck dispatch system); in-pit crushing, Coal Handling Plants, Silo and rapid loading system, strip-mining; opencast mining over developed coal seams; high-wall mining; safety aspects.

Construction of Haul roads and ramps: width, super elevation / camber, central bund, side bund, slope, base, sub-

base, surface, Surface friction, materials required, drainage, curve, visibility, machines to be used, maintenance, monitoring, Haul road crossings, T-junction, tri-junction, four-way crossings, parameters, Parking of HEMM, parking of dump trucks, GO-line design, Shelter construction, view point construction. Watering of mine roads for dust suppression, methods to be used, hazards due to overwatering, type of water spraying, spot or strip watering. Extraction of Methane: Surface to Inseam Methane Drainage, Coal Bed Methane, Abandoned Mine Methane and Gas content of Coal; Resource and Reserve estimation; Methods of drilling and precautions required while exploration and extraction of methane; Gas production rate, project life and economy; Methods of Collection and conveying/transportation of methane; Installation of extraction wells; Hazards involved.