MSHA Mine Maps And Surveying Awareness
Training Certification Questions And Correct
Answers (Verified Answers) Plus Rationales
2026 Q&A | Instant Download Pdf
1. What is the primary purpose of a mine map?
a) To display local landmarks
b) To track employee attendance
c) To show the layout of underground workings for safety and
operational planning
d) To record weather patterns
Rationale: Mine maps are essential for understanding the layout
of the mine, locating hazards, and planning safe travel routes.
They are not intended for tracking personnel or external
environmental data.
2. Which of the following best describes the difference between
surface maps and underground maps?
a) Surface maps are more detailed than underground maps
b) Underground maps are drawn to a smaller scale than surface
maps
c) Surface maps depict the terrain above ground, while
underground maps depict tunnels, shafts, and other subsurface
features
d) There is no difference; both show the same features
Rationale: Surface maps show the geography above ground, while
, underground maps focus on tunnels, stopes, shafts, and other
mine structures. Accurate mapping is crucial for navigation and
safety.
3. What is the standard method for determining compass direction
in a mine survey?
a) Using a stopwatch
b) Using a sextant
c) Using a magnetic compass corrected for local magnetic
declination
d) Using GPS only
Rationale: Mine surveys rely on magnetic compasses for
determining direction, with adjustments for local magnetic
declination. GPS is often unreliable underground.
4. Which of the following is a primary hazard if mine maps are
inaccurate?
a) Equipment breakdown
b) Delays in payroll
c) Increased risk of accidents and getting lost underground
d) Miscommunication with surface management
Rationale: Inaccurate maps can lead miners into unsafe areas,
causing potential injuries or fatalities. Operational and
administrative delays are secondary concerns.
5. How often should mine maps be updated?
a) Every 10 years
b) Whenever changes occur in underground workings
c) Only before inspections
d) Monthly, regardless of changes
, Rationale: Maps must reflect current conditions to ensure safety.
Updates are necessary whenever new development occurs or old
sections are modified.
6. What does a “benchmark” represent in surveying?
a) A local weather station
b) A fixed reference point with a known elevation used in
surveying
c) A type of compass
d) A piece of mining equipment
Rationale: Benchmarks provide a reference for measuring
elevations, ensuring that survey measurements are accurate and
consistent.
7. Which type of mine map symbol typically represents a shaft?
a) Dashed line
b) Triangle
c) Circle or vertical rectangle depending on the convention
d) Wavy line
Rationale: Symbols are standardized in mine mapping to denote
features like shafts, stopes, and tunnels, allowing clear
communication of the mine layout.
8. Which surveying instrument is most commonly used for
measuring distances underground?
a) GPS receiver
b) Altimeter
c) Tape measure or electronic distance meter (EDM)
d) Barometer
Rationale: GPS signals do not penetrate underground, so tape
, measures and EDMs are relied upon for accurate distance
measurements in mine tunnels.
9. What is the purpose of cross-section drawings in mine maps?
a) To track employee work hours
b) To show the surface landmarks
c) To illustrate the vertical profile of tunnels, ore bodies, or shafts
d) To measure air quality
Rationale: Cross-sections give a vertical representation of
underground workings, showing elevations and relationships
between different levels.
10. Which of the following best defines “mine surveying”?
a) Tracking production quotas
b) Supervising miners
c) The measurement and mapping of underground and surface
features for planning and safety
d) Maintaining equipment
Rationale: Mine surveying is a technical activity that ensures
mines are accurately mapped, safe to navigate, and efficiently
designed.
11. What type of line on a mine map indicates a tunnel or drift?
a) Thick solid line
b) Wavy line
c) Thin solid or dashed line depending on the map convention
d) Zigzag line
Rationale: Tunnels are often represented by solid or dashed lines,
standardized for clarity. The exact style may depend on the
mapping convention.
Training Certification Questions And Correct
Answers (Verified Answers) Plus Rationales
2026 Q&A | Instant Download Pdf
1. What is the primary purpose of a mine map?
a) To display local landmarks
b) To track employee attendance
c) To show the layout of underground workings for safety and
operational planning
d) To record weather patterns
Rationale: Mine maps are essential for understanding the layout
of the mine, locating hazards, and planning safe travel routes.
They are not intended for tracking personnel or external
environmental data.
2. Which of the following best describes the difference between
surface maps and underground maps?
a) Surface maps are more detailed than underground maps
b) Underground maps are drawn to a smaller scale than surface
maps
c) Surface maps depict the terrain above ground, while
underground maps depict tunnels, shafts, and other subsurface
features
d) There is no difference; both show the same features
Rationale: Surface maps show the geography above ground, while
, underground maps focus on tunnels, stopes, shafts, and other
mine structures. Accurate mapping is crucial for navigation and
safety.
3. What is the standard method for determining compass direction
in a mine survey?
a) Using a stopwatch
b) Using a sextant
c) Using a magnetic compass corrected for local magnetic
declination
d) Using GPS only
Rationale: Mine surveys rely on magnetic compasses for
determining direction, with adjustments for local magnetic
declination. GPS is often unreliable underground.
4. Which of the following is a primary hazard if mine maps are
inaccurate?
a) Equipment breakdown
b) Delays in payroll
c) Increased risk of accidents and getting lost underground
d) Miscommunication with surface management
Rationale: Inaccurate maps can lead miners into unsafe areas,
causing potential injuries or fatalities. Operational and
administrative delays are secondary concerns.
5. How often should mine maps be updated?
a) Every 10 years
b) Whenever changes occur in underground workings
c) Only before inspections
d) Monthly, regardless of changes
, Rationale: Maps must reflect current conditions to ensure safety.
Updates are necessary whenever new development occurs or old
sections are modified.
6. What does a “benchmark” represent in surveying?
a) A local weather station
b) A fixed reference point with a known elevation used in
surveying
c) A type of compass
d) A piece of mining equipment
Rationale: Benchmarks provide a reference for measuring
elevations, ensuring that survey measurements are accurate and
consistent.
7. Which type of mine map symbol typically represents a shaft?
a) Dashed line
b) Triangle
c) Circle or vertical rectangle depending on the convention
d) Wavy line
Rationale: Symbols are standardized in mine mapping to denote
features like shafts, stopes, and tunnels, allowing clear
communication of the mine layout.
8. Which surveying instrument is most commonly used for
measuring distances underground?
a) GPS receiver
b) Altimeter
c) Tape measure or electronic distance meter (EDM)
d) Barometer
Rationale: GPS signals do not penetrate underground, so tape
, measures and EDMs are relied upon for accurate distance
measurements in mine tunnels.
9. What is the purpose of cross-section drawings in mine maps?
a) To track employee work hours
b) To show the surface landmarks
c) To illustrate the vertical profile of tunnels, ore bodies, or shafts
d) To measure air quality
Rationale: Cross-sections give a vertical representation of
underground workings, showing elevations and relationships
between different levels.
10. Which of the following best defines “mine surveying”?
a) Tracking production quotas
b) Supervising miners
c) The measurement and mapping of underground and surface
features for planning and safety
d) Maintaining equipment
Rationale: Mine surveying is a technical activity that ensures
mines are accurately mapped, safe to navigate, and efficiently
designed.
11. What type of line on a mine map indicates a tunnel or drift?
a) Thick solid line
b) Wavy line
c) Thin solid or dashed line depending on the map convention
d) Zigzag line
Rationale: Tunnels are often represented by solid or dashed lines,
standardized for clarity. The exact style may depend on the
mapping convention.
