Abstract: Ore may be mined from an irregular ore body using a mining structure which conforms to the shape of the ore body, and which relieves stress that might otherwise hinder caving through bridging and compacting. The conic mass caving structure comprises a series of ore passes, extending from an upper position to a lower position in a tapered fashion. The ore passes intersect each of a series of hyperbolic drifts, which are shaped to surround the portion of the ore body to be mined. The hyperbolic drifts are parallel, and each hyperbolic drift surrounds a smaller area then the hyperbolic drift directly above it, to form an essentially conic shape. Secondary drawpoints are located at the intersection of each ore pass and each hyperbolic drift, while the primary drawpoints are located in a apex surrounded by the lowermost hyperbolic drift.