Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, usually from an ore body, lode, vein, seam, reef or placer deposit. These deposits form a mineralized package that is of economic interest to the miner. Ores recovered by mining include metals, coal, oil shale, gemstones, limestone, dimension stone, rock salt, potash, gravel, and clay.
Mining is required to obtain any material that cannot be grown through agricultural processes, or created artificially in a laboratory or factory. Mining in a wider sense comprises extraction of any non-renewable resource such as petroleum, natural gas, or even water.
Modern mining processes involve prospecting for ore bodies, analysis of the profit potential of a proposed mine, extraction of the desired materials, and final reclamation of the land after the mine is closed. Mining operations usually create a negative environmental impact, both during the mining activity and after the mine has closed.
Husbandry of the land through reclamation activities will ensure that the area can be used for productive purposes in the future.
In the United States, the federal government regulates the mining of all federal lands, including geological surveys and other scientific studies for determining prospective mineral deposits.
Most mining today is conducted in huge open-pit mines, which are much more efficient and can process much larger quantities of ore than underground mines of the past. The mining process typically begins with prospecting for ore bodies, analysis of the profit potential of a proposed mine, extraction of the desired materials and finally reclamation of the land after the mine is closed.
The most common types of mining include: surface mining, underground mining, placer mining, and in-situ mining. Surface mining is generally used when a deposit is relatively shallow. This is the least expensive method of mining and results in the most environmental impact. Underground mining is used when the deposit lies deep within the earth. This method can be more expensive and involves a variety of complex mining methods.
Placer mining is a type of mining that uses water to separate valuable minerals from the surrounding soil. This method is used when deposits of minerals are located near the surface of the earth. In-Situ mining is a type of mining that does not involve the removal of ore from the ground. In this method, metals are obtained from the host rock by means of a chemical process.
Mining is a vital part of the global economy and is essential for the production of many commodities, including precious metals, oil, coal, and a wide variety of industrial minerals. Mining companies can be some of the biggest industries in the world and employ millions of people. The industry also generates a large amount of revenue for governments world-wide.