🔹 1. Introduction

Mine surveying is a critical scientific discipline that ensures accuracy and safety during mining operations.
Survey instruments help determine:

• Mine boundary & lease area
• Bench RLs & slope angles
• Pit advancement
• Dump height & spread
• Haul road alignment
• Volume (OB/ore) calculation
• Preparation of statutory mine plans

DGMS mandates that every surface & underground mine must maintain updated Working Plans, Sections, Surface Plans, and Ventilation Plans using approved surveying instruments.

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🔹 2. Major Surveying Instruments Used in Mines 

 We cover the three primary instruments used in mining:

• Theodolite
• Total Station
• GPS (Global Positioning System)

Plus essential supporting tools used daily.

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⭐ A. Theodolite Definition: A precision instrument used to measure horizontal and vertical angles. Types:

1. Transit Theodolite – full-circle rotation
2. Non-Transit Theodolite – limited rotation

Main Parts:

• Telescope
• Vertical circle
• Horizontal circle
• Tribrach
• Levelling screws
• Spirit level

Applications in Mining:

• Mine boundary survey
• Setting out alignment of haul roads
• Measuring bench slope/angle
• Checking dump height & alignment
• Alignment of conveyor systems
• Shaft & incline surveying

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⭐ B. Total Station 

 A modern digital instrument combining:

• Theodolite (angle measurement)
• EDM (Electronic Distance Measurement)
• Processor & internal memory

Key Features:

• Measures distance + angles simultaneously
• Auto data storage
• High accuracy (2–5 mm)
• On-board software for area, volume, RL, coordinates
• Quick setup and fast operation

Uses in Mines:

• Mine pit surveying
• Slope monitoring (prism-based)
• Bench advancement survey
• Blast hole marking
• Volume calculation for OB & ore
• Dump profiling
• Road alignment

Total Stations are now the standard instrument for all large mines.

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⭐ C. GPS (Global Positioning System) 

 GPS uses satellite signals to determine:

• Latitude
• Longitude
• Elevation (MSL)
• Velocity

Types of GPS Used in Mines:

1. Handheld GPS
2. DGPS (Differential GPS) – cm accuracy
3. RTK GPS (Real-Time Kinematic) – highest precision

Uses in Mining:

• Mine boundary demarcation
• Large-area mapping
• Stockpile mapping
• Haul road layout
• Elevation marking
• Monitoring dump expansion

Advantages:

• Works across large areas
• Fast and accurate
• No intervisibility needed between stations

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🔹 3. Supporting Survey Instruments 

  ⭐ 1) Auto Level / Dumpy Level For levelling, RL measurement, profiling. 

  ⭐ 2) EDM (Electronic Distance Meter) Measures distances using electromagnetic waves. 

  ⭐ 3) Prisms & Reflectors Used with Total Station. 

  ⭐ 4) Levelling Staff Graduated rod for RL determination. 

  ⭐ 5) Laser Rangefinders Quick short-range distance measurement. 

  ⭐ 6) Clinometer Used for slope angle measurement in benches & dumps. 

  ⭐ 7) Compass Used for orientation & direction.

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🔹 4. Mine Surveying Methods 

  ⭐ A. Traversing Series of connected lines used for mine boundary surveys. 

  ⭐ B. Triangulation Used for wide-area reference point establishment. 

  ⭐ C. Levelling Determination of RLs & elevations. 

  ⭐ D. Tacheometry Distance measurement using a theodolite. 

  ⭐ E. GPS Survey Satellite-based coordinate mapping.

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🔹 5. Errors in Surveying 

 ⭐ A. Instrumental Errors

• Mis-centering
• Misadjusted telescope
• Faulty tripod
• Optical defects

⭐ B. Personal Errors

• Wrong sighting
• Incorrect focusing
• Parallax error
• Reading mistakes

⭐ C. Natural Errors

• Temperature variation
• Wind
• Light refraction
• Curvature of Earth

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🔹 6. Care & Maintenance of Survey Instruments

• Store instruments in protective box
• Avoid direct sunlight & moisture
• Regular calibration
• Batteries fully charged
• Clean lenses gently
• Check tripod stability

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🔹 7. Applications of Surveying in Mines (DGMS Required)

• Bench & face RLs
• Pit advancement
• Dump height & slope monitoring
• Mine boundary security
• Volume calculation (cut–fill)
• Blast pattern marking
• Slope deformation monitoring
• Preparation of Working Plans & Sections
• Land acquisition & rehabilitation mapping

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🔹 8. Text Diagram – Total Station Working Principle

 (Laser Beam) Total Station -----> Prism | | |<---- Reflected beam ----| Calculates: Distance + Angle + Coordinates

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🔹 9. Comparison Table – Theodolite vs Total Station vs GPS

Feature	Theodolite	Total Station	GPS
Measures angles	✔	✔	✔ (derived)
Measures distance	✖	✔	✔
Data storage	✖	✔	✔
Accuracy	Medium	Very High	High–Very High
Intervisibility	Required	Required	Not required
Ideal use	Small area	Pit surveys	Large mapping

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🔥  25 MCQs (DGMS Pattern) with Answers

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1. Theodolite is used to measure —

a) Height only
b) Distance only
c) Angles (Horizontal & Vertical)
d) Slope only
e) None
Ans: c

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2. Total Station is a combination of —

a) Compass + level
b) Tape + staff
c) Theodolite + EDM
d) Tripod + GPS
e) None
Ans: c

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3. GPS works on —

a) Laser beam
b) Compass
c) Satellite signals
d) Prism reflection
e) None
Ans: c

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4. RL stands for —

a) Rock Level
b) River Line
c) Reduced Level
d) Reference Level
e) None
Ans: c

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5. Prism is used with —

a) Dumpy level
b) GPS
c) Total Station
d) Compass
e) None
Ans: c

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6. Parallax error occurs due to —

a) Loose tripod
b) Wrong focusing
c) Sunlight
d) Wind
e) None
Ans: b

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7. Best method for boundary survey in mines — a) Tacheometry
b) GPS/DGPS
c) Compass
d) Rangefinder
e) None
Ans: b

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8. Angle measurement instrument —

a) EDM
b) Theodolite
c) Staff
d) Tape
e) None
Ans: b

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9. Auto level used for —

a) Coordinates
b) Angle measurement
c) Levelling
d) Dumping height
e) None
Ans: c

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10. Total Station accuracy —

a) 10 cm
b) 1 cm
c) 2–5 mm
d) 20 cm
e) None
Ans: c

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11. DGPS accuracy —

a) 1–5 m
b) 50 cm
c) 2–10 cm
d) 5–10 m
e) None
Ans: c

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12. Clinometer measures —

a) Direction
b) Gas
c) Slope angle
d) RL
e) None
Ans: c

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13. Volume calculation is done using —

a) Staff
b) Total Station
c) Tape
d) Compass
e) None
Ans: b

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14. GPS does NOT need —

a) Clear sky
b) Battery
c) Tripod
d) Intervisibility
e) None
Ans: d

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15. Least reliable sampling —

a) Channel
b) Chip
c) Grab
d) Core
e) None
Ans: c

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16. Survey error caused by heat —

a) Personal
b) Natural
c) Instrumental
d) Random
e) None
Ans: b

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17. Chain survey is used for —

a) Large mines
b) Small areas
c) Dumps only
d) Haul roads
e) None
Ans: b

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18. Prism reflector used for —

a) Elevation
b) Distance measurement
c) Gas detection
d) Lighting
e) None
Ans: b

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19. Dump profiling uses —

a) Compass
b) Total Station
c) Tape
d) Auto level
e) None
Ans: b

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20. GPS elevation is measured from —

a) Bench datum
b) Mean Sea Level
c) Arbitrary point
d) Ground level
e) None
Ans: b

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21. Tripod provides —

a) Water
b) Storage
c) Stability to instruments
d) Calibration
e) None
Ans: c

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22. Tacheometry uses —

a) Staff
b) Rangefinder
c) Theodolite
d) GPS
e) None
Ans: c

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23. EDM stands for —

a) Energy Distance Meter
b) Electrical Distance Meter
c) Electronic Distance Meter
d) Enhanced Distance Marker
e) None
Ans: c

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24. Best for rapid area mapping —

a) Tape
b) Staff & level
c) GPS
d) Theodolite
e) None
Ans: c

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25. Survey plan accuracy improves with —

a) Old instruments
b) Calibration & error correction
c) Guesswork
d) Random reading
e) None
Ans: b

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🔚 Conclusion 

Surveying instruments are the foundation of accurate mine planning.
From setting boundaries to tracking pit advancement, measuring RLs, monitoring slopes and calculating volumes — Total Station, Theodolite & GPS are indispensable. Modern computerized surveying ensures:

• High accuracy
• Fast operation
• Safer mining
• Better DGMS compliance
• Efficient resource extraction

Every mining professional must master these tools for safe & productive operations.

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