Definition of caving

i. A stoping method in which ore is broken by induced caving. This may be achieved by (1) block caving, including caving to main levels and caving to chutes or branched raises; or (2) sublevel caving.

See Also: stope

ii. In coal mining, the practice of encouraging the roof over the waste to collapse freely so that it fills the waste area, thereby avoiding the need to pack. In metal mining, caving implies the dropping of the overburden as part of the system of mining.

See Also: block caving, sublevel caving, top slicing

Ref: Nelson

iii. The failure and sloughing in of sidewalls of boreholes, mine workings, or excavations.

Ref: Long

iv. Fall of rock underground.

See Also: cavings