Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question asks for the specific name of a pillar that is left between the top of a stope and the mining level above it.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
In underground metal mining, different types of pillars are left for support:
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Crown Pillar: This is the pillar of rock or ore left above a stope to provide support to the floor of the level immediately above it.
It forms the "crown" of the stope.
This directly matches the description in the question.
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Sill Pillar: This is the pillar of rock or ore left at the bottom of a stope, forming its floor or "sill" above the level below.
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Rib Pillar: These are pillars left between adjacent stopes to support the side walls.
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Barrier Pillar: These are very large pillars left to separate major mining panels or to protect main roadways and shafts from the stresses of extraction areas.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The pillar left to protect the upper level is known as a crown pillar.
This corresponds to option (A).