A stope is a large underground room created in underground mining as the ore is extracted. Stoping, the mining method that creates these large rooms is primarily used in non-coal mining (i.e., metal/non-metal mining). The rock and/or ore that is left in place around the stopes form "pillars." The pillars must be strong enough to withstand the drilling, blasting, and removal of ore without caving in; if the pillars are not strong enough,artificial supports can be used.

A room, on the other hand, is a 20-30 foot space used primarily in underground coal mining, which is created by cutting into a coal bed. Rooms being cut into the coal bed leave series of coal pillars to help support the overlying rock, which are usually regularly spaced. This creates a grid-like pattern of rooms and pillars.

The main differences between stopes and rooms are:

Figure: Stopes are typically larger than rooms and are used in non-coal mining (i.e., metal/non-metal mining).