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Exemplary methods, systems and components disclosed herein provide propagation of light signals from an external source to a borehole mining mole which includes an optical/electric transducer configured to provide propulsive power for the borehole mining mole and its associated mineral prospecting t

Exemplary methods, systems and components disclosed herein provide propagation of light signals from an external source to a borehole mining mole which includes an optical/electric transducer configured to provide propulsive power for the borehole mining mole and its associated mineral prospecting tools. Some embodiments include one or more umbilicals connected from a remote source location to an onboard reel incorporated with the borehole mining mole. The umbilicals are spooled outwardly or inwardly from the onboard reel during traverse of the borehole mining mole along a path in an earthen environment.

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1. A method for prospecting in an earthen environment that is underground or at least partially inaccessible, comprising: providing a borehole unit for prospecting activity at a workplace along a directional path in the earthen environment;operably connecting an umbilical to the borehole unit, where

1. A method for prospecting in an earthen environment that is underground or at least partially inaccessible, comprising: providing a borehole unit for prospecting activity at a workplace along a directional path in the earthen environment;operably connecting an umbilical to the borehole unit, wherein the umbilical is adapted to incorporate one or more types of linkage between an external source and the borehole unit;mounting the umbilical on an onboard reel incorporated with the borehole unit; andextending or shortening the umbilical while the borehole unit traverses along the directional path. 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising: supporting and/or enclosing and/or shielding and/or protecting a power supply line and/or other types of linkage incorporated with the umbilical. 3. The method of claim 1 further comprising: supplying propulsive power to a self-propelling drive mechanism via a power supply line included with the umbilical. 4. The method of claim 1 further comprising: supplying power to a self-propelling drive mechanism via a fiber optic transmission cable included with the umbilical. 5. The method of claim 4 further comprising: converting optical power signals received from the fiber optic transmission cable into electrical energy or thermal energy or mechanical energy. 6. The method of claim 1 wherein said operably connecting the umbilical to the borehole unit includes: operably connecting the borehole unit to a linkage channel included with the umbilical, in a manner for transporting waste material from the work place to a designated external location. 7. The method of claim 1 further comprising: transporting a mineral or ore sample to a designated external location via a linkage channel included with the umbilical. 8. The method of claim 1 further comprising: transporting gas or liquid to the borehole unit via a linkage channel included with the umbilical. 9. The method of claim 8 further comprising: transporting one or more of the following types of gas or liquid via the linkage channel: fuel, oxidizer, reactant, lubricant, coolant. 10. The method of claim 1 further comprising: supporting a tensile load with a cable portion or lining portion included with the umbilical. 11. The method of claim 1 further comprising: providing an above-ground reel connected in a manner to spool inwardly or outwardly another umbilical connected to the borehole unit. 12. The method of claim 1 further comprising: spooling inwardly another umbilical connected from the external source to the borehole unit in a manner to retrieve the borehole unit from the directional path in the earthen environment. 13. The method of claim 1 further comprising: connecting an extendible slip tube to the borehole unit in a manner to enable the one or more types of linkage included with the umbilical to be collectively protected or pulled or spooled to maintain appropriate connection of such linkages between the external source and the borehole unit. 14. The method of claim 1 further comprising: respectively spooling inwardly or outwardly multiple umbilicals connected to the onboard reel of the borehole unit. 15. The method of claim 1 further comprising: coordinating a direction or rate or timing or restriction or locking or stress-limit for the umbilical during wind-up retrieval or un-wind release from the onboard reel. 16. The method of claim 1 further comprising: coordinating the umbilical during release from or retrieval onto the onboard reel, without undue longitudinal movement of the umbilical relative to the directional path. 17. The method of claim 1 further comprising: activating a control unit for executing a method for management and control of the borehole unit and/or one or more tools associated with the borehole unit to perform an excavation or sampling or assay or navigation function along the directional path in the earthen environment. 18. The method of claim 17 further comprising: executing the method for management and control of the borehole unit and/or the associated tools pursuant to instructions encoded on computer readable media, which instructions are implemented by the control unit incorporated with the borehole unit. 19. The method of claim 17 further comprising: executing the method for management and control of the borehole unit and/or the associated tools pursuant to instructions encoded on computer readable media, which instructions are implemented by the control unit located at a remote or above-ground location separated from the borehole unit. 20. The method of claim 1 further comprising: propagating light signals to the borehole unit via the umbilical that includes one of more of the following types of fiber optic cable: solid core, single mode, multiple mode, hollow core, multiple core, photonic crystal. 21. The method of claim 1 further comprising: transmitting unidirectional or bidirectional communication signals between the external source and the borehole unit via a fiber optic cable included with the umbilical. 22. The method of claim 1 further comprising: supplying power to a self-propelling drive mechanism via an electrical transmission cable included with the umbilical. 23. The method of claim 22 further comprising: transmitting unidirectional or bidirectional communication signals between the external source and the borehole unit via the electrical transmission cable included with the umbilical. 24. The method of claim 1 further comprising: propagating light signals to the borehole unit via a transmission line included with the umbilical. 25. The method of claim 24 further comprising: converting the propagated light signals to propulsive power for a self-propelling drive mechanism for the borehole unit. 26. The method of claim 24 further comprising: converting the propagated light signals to propulsive power for a ram-type device adapted to excavate a passageway along the directional path. 27. The method of claim 24 further comprising: converting the propagated light signals to propulsive power that includes one or more of the following types of power delivery techniques for excavating a passageway along the directional path: electrical, mechanical, magnetic, pneumatic, hydraulic, thermal, combustion, chemical, sonic. 28. The method of claim 24 further comprising: converting the propagated light signals to propulsive power for a self-propelling drive mechanism that includes one or more of the following type of excavation tools: screw, cutter, splitter, crusher, compactor, chisel, drill, hammer, fluid jet, laser. 29. The method of claim 1 further comprising: supplying power via a power transmission line included with the umbilical, wherein the supplied power drives a self-propelling drive mechanism for obtaining mineral or ore samples along the directional path. 30. The method of claim 1 further comprising: supplying power via a power transmission line included with the umbilical, wherein the supplied power drives a tool configured to assay a mineral or ore sample along the directional path. 31. The method of claim 1 further comprising: supplying power via a power transmission line included with the umbilical, wherein the supplied power drives a sensor tool configured to detect a presence or absence of one or more types of mineral deposit along the directional path. 32. The method of claim 31 further comprising: supplying power via the power transmission line to drive a navigation module configured to determine the directional path based on a detected result of the sensor tool. 33. The method of claim 1 further comprising: supplying power via a power transmission line included with the umbilical, wherein the supplied power drives a sensor tool configured to implement prospecting activity based on one or more of the following techniques: conductivity, magnetic properties, permittivity, x-ray fluorescence, gamma rays, synthetic-apertures radar (SAR) imaging, azimuthal directivity, moisture, chemical analysis. 34. The method of claim 1 further comprising: supplying power via a power transmission line included with the umbilical, wherein the supplied power drives an excavation tool configured to create a passageway in the earthen environment. 35. The method of claim 1 further comprising: supplying power via a power transmission line included with the umbilical, wherein the supplied power drives a self-propelling drive mechanism configured to vary an excavation direction along the passageway in the earthen environment. 36. The method of claim 1 further comprising: supplying power via a power transmission line included with the umbilical, wherein the supplied power drives a tool configured to initiate a passageway along the directional path. 37. The method of claim 1 further comprising: supplying power via a power transmission line included with the umbilical, wherein the supplied power drives a tool configured to enlarge an existing passageway along the directional path. 38. The method of claim 1 further comprising: supplying power via a power transmission line included with the umbilical, wherein the supplied power drives an excavation tool configured to create a small-diameter passageway that is not capable for human traverse. 39. The method of claim 1 further comprising: supplying power via a power transmission line included with the umbilical, wherein the supplied power drives a tool configured to perform a prospecting activity that includes an excavation or sampling or assay function without need of a proximate human operator. 40. The method of claim 1 further comprising: supplying power via a power transmission line included with the umbilical, wherein the supplied power drives a tool configured to perform a prospecting activity that includes an excavation or sampling or assay function pursuant to operational control by a remote above-ground control unit or remote human operator. 41. The method of claim 1 further comprising: operably connecting the umbilical to an auxiliary support component configured for enabling travel by the borehole unit along a substantially straight directional path. 42. The method of claim 1 further comprising: operably connecting the umbilical to an auxiliary support component configured for enabling travel by the borehole unit along a curved directional path. 43. The method of claim 1 further comprising: supplying power via a power transmission line included with the umbilical, wherein the supplied power drives a self-propelling mechanism configured for travel along a horizontal or partially horizontal directional path. 44. The method of claim 1 further comprising: supplying power via a power transmission line included with the umbilical, wherein the supplied power drives a self-propelling mechanism configured for travel along a vertical or partially vertical directional path. 45. The method of claim 1 further comprising: supplying power via a power transmission line included with the umbilical, wherein the supplied power drives a self-propelling mechanism having one or more lateral arm members adapted to engage an upper or lower or side wall of a passageway along the directional path. 46. The method of claim 1 further comprising: supplying power via a power transmission line included with the umbilical, wherein the supplied power drives a navigational or positioning device incorporated with the borehole unit and configured to keep track of the workplace and/or directional path in the earthen environment. 47. The method of claim 1 wherein said method feature providing the borehole unit includes: providing the borehole unit configured for operation in the earthen environment that includes one or more of the following: soil, rock, clay, sand, mineral deposit(s), aggregate, snow, ice formation. 48. The method of claim 1 further comprising: supplying power via a power transmission line included with the umbilical, wherein the supplied power drives a tool configured to implement an excavation or sampling or assay function along the directional path in the earthen environment. 49. The method of claim 1 further comprising: supplying power via a power transmission line included with the umbilical, to an energy storage device configured to deliver power to the self-propelling drive mechanism and/or to one or more other power driven loads. 50. The method of claim 1 further comprising: supplying power via a power transmission line included with the umbilical, to an energy conversion device adapted to convert the supplied power into electrical power. 51. A robotic-type system for mineral prospecting comprising: a control unit adapted for management and/or monitoring of a self-propelled borehole unit that is configured to perform prospecting activity at a workplace along a directional path in an earthen environment;an umbilical operably connected from an external source to the self-propelled borehole unit, wherein the umbilical includes one or more types of functional linkage components coupled with the self-propelled borehole unit; andan onboard reel incorporated with the self-propelled borehole unit and configured to carry the umbilical in a manner to enable extending or shortening the umbilical without causing significant relative movement of the umbilical during travel of the self-propelled borehole unit along the directional path. 52. The system of claim 51, wherein the control unit is adapted to cause the umbilical to be spooled outwardly from the onboard reel during forward progress of the self-propelled borehole unit along the directional path. 53. The system of claim 51, wherein the control unit is adapted to cause the umbilical to be spooled inwardly onto the onboard reel during backward regression of the self-propelled borehole unit along the directional path. 54. The system of claim 51 wherein the umbilical includes: a protective layer for enclosing and/or shielding and/or protecting the functional linkage components during a prospecting activity. 55. The system of claim 51 wherein the umbilical includes: a protective layer for enclosing and/or shielding and/or protecting the functional linkage components during a retrieval of the self-propelled borehole unit from the work place. 56. The system of claim 51 wherein the umbilical includes: a reinforcement layer for supporting and/or providing tensile strength to the umbilical during a prospecting activity. 57. The system of claim 51 wherein the umbilical includes: a reinforcement layer for supporting and/or providing tensile strength to the umbilical during a retrieval of the self-propelled borehole unit from the work place. 58. The system of claim 51 wherein the functional linkage components include: a power supply line adapted to supply propulsive power to the self-propelled borehole unit. 59. The system of claim 58 wherein the power supply line includes a fiber optic transmission cable to supply propulsive power to the self-propelled borehole unit. 60. The system of claim 59 further comprising: a power converter unit to convert optical power signals received from the fiber optic transmission cable into electrical energy or thermal energy or mechanical energy. 61. The system of claim 59 wherein said fiber optic transmission cable includes one of more of the following types of fiber optic cable: solid core, single mode, multiple mode, hollow core, multiple core, photonic crystal. 62. The system of claim 51 wherein said control unit is incorporated with the self-propelled borehole unit. 63. The system of claim 51 wherein said control unit is located remotely from the self-propelled borehole unit. 64. The system of claim 51 wherein the functional linkage components include: fiber optic cable capable of transmitting unidirectional or bidirectional communication signals between the remotely located control unit and the self-propelled borehole unit. 65. The system of claim 51 further comprising: an above-ground reel connected to spool inwardly or outwardly another umbilical connected to the self-propelled borehole unit. 66. The system of claim 51 further comprising: an above-ground reel connected to spool inwardly or outwardly another umbilical connected to the self-propelled borehole unit, in a manner to retrieve the self-propelled borehole unit from the directional path in the earthen environment. 67. The system of claim 51 wherein said umbilical further includes: an extendible slip tube connected to the self-propelled borehole unit and adapted to enable the one or more type of functional linkage components to be protected or collectively pulled to maintain connection of such functional linkages components between the external source and the self-propelled borehole unit. 68. The system of claim 51 further comprising: one or more on-board reels for spooling inwardly or outwardly respective umbilicals connected to the self-propelled borehole unit. 69. The system of claim 51 wherein said control unit includes: an on-board reel controller adapted to coordinate a direction or rate or timing or restriction or locking or stress-limit for the umbilical during wind-up retrieval or un-wind release from the onboard reel. 70. The system of claim 51 further comprising: a reel controller adapted to coordinate the umbilical during release from or retrieval onto the onboard reel, without undue longitudinal movement of the umbilical relative to the directional path. 71. The system of claim 51 wherein said control unit includes: a control module operably coupled to the self-propelled borehole unit and/or to one or more associated tools to enable management and control of an excavation or sampling or assay function, wherein the control unit is located at a remote or above-ground location separated from the self-propelled borehole unit. 72. The system of claim 71 further comprising: a wired or wireless communication channel adapted to enable unidirectional and/or bidirectional data transmission between the separated control unit and the self-propelled borehole unit. 73. The system of claim 51 wherein said control unit includes: a control module that includes computer readable media for executing a method for management and control of the self-propelled borehole unit and/or one or more tools associated with the borehole unit to perform an excavation or sampling or assay or navigation function along the directional path in the earthen environment. 74. The system of claim 51 wherein the functional linkage components include an electrical transmission cable to supply power to the self-propelled borehole unit. 75. The system of claim 51 wherein the electrical transmission cable is configured for transmitting unidirectional or bidirectional communication signals between the external source and the self-propelled borehole unit, in a manner to maintain an updated data table. 76. The system of claim 51 wherein the self-propelled borehole unit includes a ram-type device adapted to excavate a passageway along the directional path. 77. The system of claim 51 wherein the functional linkage components are adapted to provide one or more of the following types of power delivery techniques for excavating a passageway along the directional path: electrical, magnetic, mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, thermal, combustion, chemical, sonic. 78. The system of claim 51 wherein the self-propelled borehole unit includes one or more of the following type of excavation tools: screw, cutter, splitter, crusher, compactor, chisel, drill, hammer, fluid jet, laser. 79. The system of claim 51 wherein the functional linkage components include: a linkage channel adapted for transporting waste material from the work place to a designated external location. 80. The system of claim 51 wherein the functional linkage components include: a linkage channel adapted for transporting a mineral or ore sample to a designated external location. 81. The system of claim 51 wherein the functional linkage components include: fluid conduit configured for transporting gas or liquid to the self-propelled borehole unit. 82. The system of claim 51 wherein the functional linkage components include: a conduit adapted for transporting one or more of the following types of material to the self-propelled borehole unit: fuel, oxidizer, reactant, lubricant, coolant. 83. The system of claim 51 wherein the functional linkage components include: a cable portion or lining portion configured to support a tensile load. 84. The system of claim 51 wherein the functional linkage components include: an optical power signal line operably coupled to a tool configured to obtain mineral or ore samples along the directional path. 85. The system of claim 51 wherein the functional linkage components include: an optical power signal line operably coupled to a tool configured to assay a mineral or ore sample along the directional path. 86. The system of claim 51 wherein the functional linkage components include: an optical power signal line operably coupled to a sensor tool configured to detect a presence or absence of one or more types of mineral deposit along the directional path. 87. The system of claim 86 further comprising: a navigation module configured to determine the directional path based on a detected result of the sensor tool. 88. The system of claim 51 wherein the self-propelled borehole unit includes: a sensor tool configured to implement prospecting activity based on one or more of the following techniques: conductivity, magnetic properties, permittivity, x-ray fluorescence, gamma rays, synthetic-apertures radar (SAR) imaging, aximuthal directivity, moisture, chemical analysis. 89. The system of claim 51 wherein the self-propelled borehole unit includes: a tool configured to perform a prospecting activity that includes an excavation or sampling or assay function without need of a proximate human operator. 90. The system of claim 51 wherein the self-propelled borehole unit includes: a tool configured to perform a prospecting activity that includes an excavation or sampling or assay function pursuant to operational control by the control unit. 91. The system of claim 51 wherein the self-propelled borehole unit includes: an auxiliary support component configured for enabling travel along one or more of the following paths: straight, curved, horizontal, partially horizontal, vertical, partially vertical. 92. The system of claim 51 wherein the self-propelled borehole unit includes: one or more lateral arm members adapted to engage an upper or lower or side wall of a passageway along the directional path. 93. The system of claim 51 further comprising: a navigational or positioning device operably coupled with the self-propelled borehole unit and configured to keep track of the workplace and/or directional path in the earthen environment. 94. The system of claim 51 wherein said self-propelled borehole unit is configured for operation in the earthen environment that includes one or more of the following: soil, rock, clay, sand, mineral deposit(s), aggregate, snow, ice formation. 95. The system of claim 51 wherein said umbilical includes a power supply line; and further comprising an energy storage device configured to receive power from the power supply line and deliver power to the self-propelling borehole unit and/or to one or more other power driven loads. 96. The system of claim 51 wherein said umbilical includes a power supply line; and further comprising a power converter configured to convert power received from the power supply line into electrical power. 97. The system of claim 51 wherein said control unit includes: a control module operably coupled to the borehole unit and/or to one or more associated tools, wherein the control module is incorporated with the self-propelled borehole unit during an excavation or sampling or assay function along the directional path in the earthen environment. 98. The system of claim 97 further comprising: an antenna included on the self-propelled borehole unit to enable the aforesaid data transmission vie the wireless communication channel. 99. The system of claim 98 further comprising: a wireless terminal accessible at the remote location of the control unit to enable the aforesaid data transmission vie the wireless communication channel. 100. The system of claim 98 further comprising: a wireless communication device accessible to a user at the remote location of the control unit to enable unidirectional and/or bidirectional data transmission with the self-propelled borehole unit.