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Mining
Mining for coal is something that is widely known, but did you know that diamonds, uranium, copper, and other non-renewable natural resources are also mined? There are two types of mining; surface and subsurface. Questions about the methods and types of mining, what ores are mined, and related questions should be asked in this category.
4,677 Questions
What is the largest diamond production in the world?
The worlds largest diamond mine by surface area is located in Botswana, in Africa: the open cast Orapa diamond mine. Read more about it, in the related links.
The world's largest diamond mine in terms of volume is located in Mirnyj, Eastern Siberia, Russia, and is 525 metres deep and 1,200 metres in diameter, while some say that it is 1,200 metres deep.
What two methods can be used to mine minerals?
Two methods to mine minerals are surface mining, which involves removing rocks and soil to access the mineral deposit on the surface, and underground mining, which involves tunnels and shafts to reach deeper mineral deposits. Each method has its own environmental and safety considerations.
Yes, these are known as underground mines. They involve a complex system of tunnels and shafts to extract desired minerals or ores from beneath the earth's surface. Workers use equipment and tools to navigate through these tunnels to access and extract the valuable resources.
How frightening was it and is it down in a coal mine?
There are two types of coal mines: a slope mine and a vertical shaft mine. There is also surface mining, where rock is blasted and rock and earth are moved aside or trucked away as they expose coal veins.
We'll focus on slope mines and vertical mines.
Slope Mines
A slope mine originally started out (early 1800s) as a hole dug into the hillside, typically where coal was already seen on the surface (example: banks of the Monongahela River). To access those slope mines, men simply crawled into the hole on their bellies or backs, continually digging forward and pulling out earth, stones, and coal. This would be similar to today's gem hunting in the western US mountain areas, where men and women lay on their backs or bellies to dig deeper under the rock face or under a boulder.
Expansion of Slope Mines
Eventually, slope mines were enlarged so a man could walk semi-upright or be seated in a rail car to be taken deeper into the mine.... so the mine's roof was perhaps 4 feet high from the ground. Many West Virginia mines were slope mines originally.
Vertical Mines
Vertical mines means men could access the mine via an elevator system. An elevator car would take a team down and bring the men back up. These deep mines typically need ventilation shafts to bring air in, and for emergency escape IF assisted from the surface. For example, "The Quecreek Mine rescue took place in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, when nine miners were trapped underground for over 77 hours, from July 24 to 28, 2002. All nine miners were rescued." This was accomplished through a newly bored rescue hole, similar to a wide air vent bore hole.
Vertical mines by the late 1800s included a surface tipple and a coal conveyor system from within the mine to the surface, along with an elevator-cage system. Today's coal mines are pretty much the same, except much larger and more mechanized; men either walk in, eventually stooped over, or ride in cars on rails; or use elevator-cages.
HAZARDS OF MINES
- First, the environment inside a mine is typically warm and humid.
- Pockets of methane gas are a constant danger; methane is colorless and can catch fire/explode with a mere spark of one rock hitting another rock; from static electricity; from any source of fire or spark; from malfunction in machinery. Methane explosions and "toxic air" were leading causes of death in the 1800s.
- Flooding is a constant threat from underground water sources AND from a breach through the active mine's wall through to an abandoned but flooded mine.
- There are thousands of old, abandoned underground mines of various sizes and deteriorated conditions that were NEVER marked on any maps! It is therefore easy to be boring in one mine's wall and have a breach into an old mine's chamber.
- Old abandoned mine chambers can be full of methane, or flooded.
- Mines leave pillars of coal as the "studs" to hold up the roof of the mine. When a mine is played out (does not have enough coal to safely mine) or when the mine is deemed unsafe, these pillars can be deliberately blasted as a way to collapse the mine back to the entrance, so no one unauthorized can enter. But, coal pillars can also weaken on their own, causing a catastrophic collapse within the mine.
- In all mines, the "roof" or "ceiling", which can have miles of weight pressing down on it from the surface downward, is at once the most critical mine location, and the most destructive, fragile area. Roof collapse is deadly. A slate fall or coal fall from the roof can injure, crush, bury, or trap miners within the chamber they are in. Roof collapses were a common cause of injury, death, and being trapped in the 1800s.
- Mechanical failures that directly result in injury or death are less common than one might think. In the 1800s, men went into mines with helmets with a candle or lantern attached, and often took a canary--if the bird died, the miners knew to get out because the air was bad. Today, Mine Safety is much more sophisticated.
One of the worst mine disasters happened at the Marianna Mine, Marianna PA in Washington County, PA (SW PA). "At 10:55 a.m. on the morning of Saturday, November 28, 1908, an explosion occurred in the mine which killed 154 men and left only one survivor. Although the mine was quickly refurbished by the Pittsburg Buffalo Company, the colliery's fortunes flagged. By 1914, the mine was sold to the Union Coal and Coke Company and later to Bethlehem Steel which continued to extract coal until 1988, when the main conveyor caught fire. The fire was extinguished, but the mine closed anyway." (Wikipedia) Many of the men could not be reached and are entombed there.
Many coal mines became tombs throughout the 1800s. Many mines had roof/slate falls that killed one or more miners. Many NE US miners came as immigrants to work in the coal mines. In the bituminous mines, especially, there were many debates/fights over miner qualifications (the "practical miner") and the beginning of Mine Safety measures began in the late 1800s. The United Mine Workers UMW union was also started in SW PA in the early 1900s.
TO BE A MINER YOU MUST BE ABLE TO
- Work in confined spaces
- Tolerate claustrophobic conditions of tight space, total darkness if lights go out, and constant danger
- Learn safe mining practices
- Follow safe mining procedures to the letter
- Never let down your guard or become complacent
- Always protect fellow miners
- Appropriately use your mining gear and keep it in working order
- Know First-Aid and emergency medical equipment
- Know and Understand your escape routes
- Follow all directions superiors give
- Tolerate being blackened from coal dust, from head to foot
- Tolerate keeping your hardhat on at all times
- Eat while underground, without worrying about washing up first
- Be willing to learn from oldtimers every day
- Be willing to do long shifts
- Be willing to come back and do your next assigned shift
This is what millions of coal miners have done since the late 1700s. Millions of men did this job to supply coal and coke to steel factories, coal to railroads to power train engines, and to burn for heating homes and businesses. Men (and even women now) take huge risks to continue going underground for this resource.
Poor families also used to send children to coal refuse waste piles of earth that had bits of coal embedded in clay, to chisel coal from the rock/clay to use in families' homes. Poor and homeless often built fires in coal refuse mounds to stay warm in winters. Coal refuse would catch fire also, from internal combustion due to the build-up of heat inside the mound of coal refuse. Many small towns had refuse pits that burned for years. (Burning coal refuse--the unusable coal-- creates red dog, which was used on many rural roads before they made asphalt.)
One town's coal mine caught fire and is still burning under Centralia, PA which started in the 1960s, and eventually forced the US Government to relocate its residents.
Who is anyone who searches for an ore deposit?
A person who searches for an ore deposit is typically a geologist or a mineral exploration specialist. They use methods such as studying rock formations, analyzing geochemical data, and conducting geophysical surveys to locate areas with potential mineral deposits. Once a site is identified, further exploration and testing are done to determine the feasibility of extracting the ore.
Do metals in the earths atmosphere must be mined and separated from their ores?
Metals found in the Earth's crust must typically be mined and extracted from their ores in order to be utilized. Through mining processes, the ores are extracted and then undergo various separation techniques to isolate the desired metal for industrial and commercial applications.
How is land restored after mining is compleated?
Land restoration after mining typically involves reshaping the land, replacing topsoil, planting native vegetation, and monitoring habitat and water quality. It may also include constructing wetlands or ponds to support wildlife. Engaging with local communities and stakeholders throughout the restoration process is key to ensuring the long-term success of the restoration efforts.
How can topsoil be replaced in an area that has been strip mined?
Topsoil can be replaced in strip-mined areas by importing nutrient-rich topsoil from other locations, or by using soil stabilization techniques such as planting cover crops, trees, and grasses to restore soil fertility. It is important to properly grade the land and ensure proper drainage to support plant growth and prevent erosion. In some cases, adding organic matter such as compost or manure can speed up the restoration process.
What are the two parts of lift that go down in a mine called?
The two parts of a lift that go down in a mine are the cage and the counterweight. The cage is the compartment that carries miners and equipment, while the counterweight balances the weight of the cage for efficient operation.
How did placer mining hydraulic mining and hard-rock mining differ?
Placer mining involves extracting minerals like gold from deposits in rivers and streams using pans or sluice boxes. Hydraulic mining uses high-pressure jets of water to dislodge minerals from hillsides, causing significant environmental damage. Hard-rock mining involves extracting minerals from solid rock formations underground using drilling and blasting techniques.
How is land resorted after mining is completed?
Land is often restored after mining by regrading the land to its original contour, backfilling open pits, and replanting native vegetation. Measures are taken to prevent erosion, control sedimentation, and ensure water quality. Reclamation plans are typically developed and implemented in consultation with regulatory agencies to ensure compliance with environmental regulations.
What type of the mineral group is limonite or iron ore?
Limonite belongs to the mineral group known as oxides. It is a type of iron ore that consists mainly of hydrated iron oxide minerals.
What are some surface mining methods?
Some surface mining methods include open-pit mining, strip mining, mountaintop removal mining, and placer mining. These methods involve removing the overlying material to access the desired mineral deposits near the surface. Surface mining is often used for coal, metals, and other minerals that are located close to the Earth's surface.
What category of mining would be used to extract ore close to surface?
Open-pit mining is typically used to extract ore close to the surface. This method involves a large excavation to access the ore deposits, which are found near the surface and easy to reach. It is a cost-effective mining technique for extracting shallow mineral deposits.
What are the two parts lift that go down a mine called?
The two parts of a lift that go down a mine are the "cage" which carries miners and materials, and the "counterweight" which helps balance the weight of the cage.
What are the two parts of lift that go down in the mine called?
The two parts of a lift that go down in a mine are called cages. These cages are used to transport miners and equipment up and down the shaft.
What human activities causes mineral mining?
Human activities such as construction, manufacturing, and technological advancements drive the demand for minerals, leading to increased mining activities. As populations grow and economies develop, the need for minerals for infrastructure, consumer products, and energy production continues to rise, contributing to increased mining operations.
How did hydraulic mining effect the environment?
Hydraulic mining, which involves using high-pressure water to erode sediment, resulted in significant environmental damage. It led to the erosion of hillsides, destruction of habitats, and contamination of waterways with sediment and toxic chemicals like mercury. This practice also caused flooding and siltation downstream, impacting ecosystems and water quality.
What is the effects on the environment of illegal mining?
Illegal mining can have devastating effects on the environment, including deforestation, soil erosion, water pollution, and loss of biodiversity. It can also lead to the contamination of soil and water sources with toxic chemicals such as mercury and cyanide, which can have long-lasting impacts on ecosystems and human health.
What is the process of removing metals etc. from the Earth?
The process of removing metals from the Earth involves mining, which typically starts with exploration to identify mineral deposits. Once a deposit is found, the ore is extracted through mining techniques such as surface mining or underground mining. The extracted ore is then processed to separate and extract the desired metal using methods such as crushing, grinding, and chemical processes.
What are the environmental pros of mining?
Mining can provide raw materials for clean energy technologies like solar panels and wind turbines. Properly managed mining operations can also restore landscapes and habitats, creating opportunities for biodiversity conservation. Additionally, some mining companies invest in sustainable practices to mitigate environmental impacts and promote reclamation of affected areas.
How does mining affect the earth?
Coal mining changes the earth by polluting the air and destroying wild life and land.
What type of mining is potash?
Potash mining is typically done through solution mining or conventional underground mining methods. Solution mining involves injecting heated brine into the ore body, dissolving the potash, and then pumping the resulting brine to the surface for processing. Underground mining involves accessing the potash deposit through shafts or tunnels and extracting the ore for processing.
What kind of mining practices can result in acid mine drainage?
Mining practices such as open-pit mining, mountaintop removal mining, and underground mining can result in acid mine drainage when sulfide-containing minerals are exposed to air and water, leading to the formation of sulfuric acid. When the acidic water flows out of the mine, it can contaminate nearby water sources and harm aquatic life. Mitigation measures such as neutralization and containment are often implemented to prevent acid mine drainage.
