THE FOUR MAIN MINING METHODS : SCIENCE AND EDUCATION

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There are four main mining methods in a mine operation. The method used will depend on the type of mineral resource that will be mined. Considering its location is it beneath the surface or above the surface, and whether the resource is worth enough money to extract at a profit. Each of the mining methods also has varying magnitude of impact on the surrounding landscape and its environment.

1. UNDERGROUND MINING METHOD
   
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It is the mineral exploitation in which all the extraction is carried out beneath the surface of the earth. Choice of an underground mining method is closely related to Geology of the deposit and the degree of ground support is necessary to make it productive and safe in all cost.

1. OPEN PIT MINING METHOD
   
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Open pit mining is a process of digging out rocks or minerals from the earth surface by their elimination from an open pit or borrow. Open-pit mines are characteristically filled until either the mineral resource is all exhausted, or a big ratio of overburden to ore makes more mining non-profitable. When this situation occurs, the exhausted mine operations are at times converted to landfills for disposal of solid wastes. However, some form of controlling water is normally required to keep the mine pit or mine cast from becoming a lake.

1. PLACER MINING
   
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Placers are unconsolidated deposits with detrital material containing valuable minerals. The natural processes of it placer is by which they form range from chemical weathering to stream, water, and wind action. Some of the minerals that are typically recovered by placer mining are gold, tin, platinum, gemstones and diamonds.

1. IN-SITU MINING
   
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This mining method is also known as solution mining method. This involves leaving the ore where it is in beneath the earth's surface, and the recovering of minerals is by dissolving them and pumping the pregnant solution to the surface where the minerals can be recovered. Therefore, there will be a little surface disturbance and no waste rock will be generated. However, the it need that the ore body is permeable to the liquids used, and the ore must be located so that they do not contaminate groundwater that is near the ore body.

SOURCES:

http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/nuclear-fuel-cycle/mining-of-uranium/in-situ-leach-mining-of-uranium.aspx

https://www.britannica.com/technology/mining/Placer-mining

http://www.greatmining.com/open-pit-mining.html

https://www.slideshare.net/tayyabanwar180/underground-mining-methods

If you want to know more check out my other posts all about the mining industry:

THE THREE COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT MINING INDUSTRY : SCIENCE

THE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF IRRESPONSIBLE MINING INDUSTRY : SCIENCE

A QUICK INFORMATION ABOUT THE 5 STAGES OF MINING : SCIENCE AND EDUCATION

That is all about the four main mining methods. Soon I will discuss each processes and how they are being used.
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