Final answer:
In mining, a stope is the step-like excavation where ore is moved from the surrounding rock mass.
Step-by-step explanation:
A void where ore is moved from the surrounding rock mass is called a stope. In mining, a stope is a step-like excavation formed by the extraction of ore from around the rock mass. It is typically accessed through a horizontal tunnel called a drift and can extend vertically through multiple levels. Stopes are created by removing ore from the surrounding rock mass using mining techniques such as drilling, blasting, and excavating. Other terms often used in the mining context are drift, which is a horizontal passageway in a mine; a shaft, which is a vertical or inclined passageway used for access to an underground mine; and a raise, which is an excavation made in a mine to connect different levels or to serve as a secondary or tertiary passageway for ventilation or transportation.