Open-pit mining: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 19:56, 10 March 2024

Revision as of 22:49, 10 March 2024

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Open-pit mines are used when deposits of commercially useful ore or rocks are found near the surface where the [[overburden]] is relatively thin. In contrast, deeper mineral deposits can be reached using underground mining.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.nap.edu/read/10318/chapter/5|title=Read "Evolutionary and Revolutionary Technologies for Mining" at NAP.edu|year=2002|doi=10.17226/10318|isbn=978-0-309-07340-0}}</ref>

[[File:Kittilä mine.jpg|thumb|Kittilä Gold Mine in [[Kittilä|Kittilä, Finland]] is the largest primary gold producer in Europe.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.avkvalves.eu/en/cases/water-cases/agnico-eagle-finland|title=Supplying more than 100 valves to the largest gold mine in Europe|publisher=AVK International|access-date=11 December 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mining.com/agnico-has-kittila-operating-permit-restored-expects-30000-oz-of-additional-production/|title=Agnico operating permit restored for Kittila mine in Finland|first=Jackson|last=Chen|publisher=Mining.com|date=27 October 2023|access-date=11 December 2023}}</ref>]]

Materials typically extracted from open-pit mines include:

{{div col|small=no}}

*[[Bitumen]]

*[[Clay]]

*[[Coal]]

*[[Copper]]

*[[Coquina]]

*[[Chromite]]

*[[Diamonds]]

*[[Gravel]] and [[Rock (geology)|stone]]

*[[Granite]]

*[[Gritstone]]

*[[Gypsum]]

*[[Limestone]]

*[[Marble]]

*[[Metal]] [[ores]], such as [[copper]], [[iron]], [[gold]], [[silver]] and [[molybdenum]]

*[[Phosphate]]

*[[Uranium]]

{{div col end}}

Open-pit mining is to be considered one of the most dangerous [[industrial sector|sectors in the industrial world]].{{cn|date=March 2024}} It causes significant effects to miners' health, as well as damage to the ecological land and water. Open-pit mining causes changes to vegetation, soil, and bedrock, which ultimately contributes to changes in surface hydrology, groundwater levels, and flow paths.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Chen|first1=Jianping|last2=Li|first2=Ke|last3=Chang|first3=Kuo-Jen|last4=Sofia|first4=Giulia|last5=Tarolli|first5=Paolo|date=2015-10-01|title=Open-pit mining geomorphic feature characterisation|journal=International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation|volume=42|pages=76–86|doi=10.1016/j.jag.2015.05.001|issn=0303-2434}}</ref> Additionally, open-pit produces harmful [[pollutant]]s depending on the type of mineral being mined, and the type of mining process being used.

==Extraction==