METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR MINING

Disclosed herein are methods and systems for mining. One embodiment provides a mining operation (100) comprising: a surface mine site (160) including a processing site situated remotely from a blast site within the mine site and coupled by a network of roads, wherein a first proportion of the roads are sealed and a second proportion of the roads have a maximum width in the range of 3 to 12 metres; a fleet of autonomous material handling units (190) located at the surface mine site (160), each autonomous material handling unit including a wireless transceiver for coupling to a communications network (150), wherein the autonomous material handling units (180) include a plurality of small capacity haulage vehicles, each having a maximum payload capacity of 80 tonnes or less, and wherein the autonomous material handling units (160) are configured to be controlled by a control centre (110) via the communications network (150).