Two of the biggest issues as far as the mining industry is
concerned are safety and environmental impact. This is why the industry
never stops at coming up with ways to deal with these major concerns. As
a result, there have been dramatic transformations in mining techniques
over the years to ensure not only the safety of miners but also to
mitigate the effects of mining on the community and the environment
where mining activities are done.
There are two mining methods that are utilized in the modern era of mining: open-cut and underground techniques.
Open-Cut
When
minerals or mineral deposits are close to the surface, open-cut mining
(also called 'open pit mining') is employed. This involves blasting and
moving away surface layers of soil and rock so workers can get to the
deposits. Once the layer that covers the deposits is exposed, it is then
drilled and fractured. What follows is, of course, recovering the
target minerals for processing.
Compared to the underground method
discussed below, open-cut mining can be more effective. Generally, the
latter method recovers 90% of mineral deposits. The biggest disadvantage
of this technique, however, is blasting. Aside from the loud noise it
creates, it can also be dangerous both to the workers at the site and to
the residents and animals in the immediate vicinity.