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They do not - apart from a few less-developed areas of the world where extracting speleothems for sale to unsuspecting tourists or unscrupulous dealers is seen as commercially acceptable by the locals trying to live in very poor areas. Caves do not contain economic minerals.

In a few areas, such as the Peak District in the English Midlands, and the Mendip Hills (SW England) 18-19C lead-miners broke into caves by chance, and they did search for lead-ore (galena) there but rarely if ever found useful amounts.

They did however sometimes rob caves of their stalactites to sell to wealthy people to decorate their trendy artificial garden grottoes. One of the worst offenders was the poet Alexander Pope, who hired local marksmen to shoot down stalactites in Wookey Hole for his grotto: God knows how many were simply smashed to useless gravel in the process.

Removing natural objects from caves except for genuine scientific research or to save them from destruction by quarrying, is rightly regarded as wanton vandalism; and is highly illegal in many places.

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What do minners find in caves?

Miners can find valuable minerals such as gold, silver, copper, and diamonds in caves. Additionally, caves can contain geological formations like stalactites and stalagmites that are sought after for their beauty and rarity. However, mining in caves can be dangerous and environmentally damaging.


Why are mines in caves?

They are not as a general rule, because caves don't contain economic minerals - apart from their host limestone. In the past, metal-ore mines occasionally broke into natural caves by accident,such as in the Peak District of the English Midlands (18-19C lead mining).


What do they call people who search caves?

People who search caves are commonly referred to as spelunkers or cavers. They are individuals who explore caves for either recreational purposes or scientific research.


What have caves been used for in the past?

Caves have been used in the past as shelters for early humans, sacred spaces for religious ceremonies, storage areas for food and supplies, and as hiding places during times of conflict. Additionally, caves have been utilized for mining resources such as salt, minerals, and gemstones.


Did the stone age people live in caves?

Answerpeople of the stone age mostly lived in caves because they were nomadic people meaning they moved a lot. AnswerClearly some Stone Age people lived in caves, and we can show this by the presence of artifacts in the caves. On the other hand, there are very few caves in much of the world, and nomads tend not to live in caves, but in tents. So we can be pretty sure that some Stone Age people did not live in caves, also. There is a link below to an article on nomads.