Mining

Mining is a process for extracting natural resources from the Earth’s crust.

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What is Mining?

Mining is a process of extracting natural resources from the Earth’s crust. Modern mining consists of utilizing machinery to dig for resources which are identified by geologists and geophysicists. Engineers, contractors, governments, and companies then determine the best strategies for extracting these resources. Mining operations often consist of extraction, storage, and transportation of the raw resources. These resources are then shipped to other industries for processing or use.

There are two principle forms of mining: surface mining and underground mining.

  • Surface mining1– consists of extracting resources which are only a few hundred metres below the surface of the earth. This involves clearing the surface in the region to be developed. Trees, brush, and topsoil must be removed to allow for land development. The layers of earth between valuable production seams, called “overburden”, must then be moved to allow for mining. Following mining, the overburden is replaced and land reclamation is performed.
  • Underground mining2–   involves accessing deposits up to 3 km below the surface. In these operations, a series of tunnels and holes are drilled to access deep reserves.

 

Mining in the Energy Industry

The most common and widespread use of mining in the energy industry is coal mining3, where hard coal and brown coal/lignite is extracted from relatively shallow depths via surface or underground mining.  Surface mining of coal seams is often lucrative, as up to 90% of the coal deposits can be recovered. The two types of underground coal mining are known as “Room and Pillar” mining and “Longwall” mining, which may recover up to 40% and 75% of the coal seams, respectively2.

Additionally, surface mining has a growing role to play in unconventional oil in the form of oil sands. Currently, 895 km2 of bitumen mining takes place in the Athabasca oil sands deposits in Alberta, Canada4. Finally, other minerals such as uranium, cadmium, lithium, and thorium are all recovered via mining operations.

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Context

Mining has a critical role to play in the energy industry. Fossil fuels such as coal and bitumen (oil sands) may be extracted via mining. Additionally, materials such as nickel, copper, and rare earth metals, which are necessary for solar panelsbatteries, and other energy technologies, also rely heavily on mining processes.

Mining is often criticized because of its widespread landscape clearing and other ecological disruptions which must occur to access the resources buried beneath the surface. Solutions such as landscape reclamation are necessary to mitigate environmental effects. Concerns over the industry’s presence in conflict areas are also an issue. Finally, working conditions of miners is a significant issue that is often portrayed in the public media.

 

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External resources

INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

Coal Industry Advisory Board

Society for Mining Metallurgy & Exploration

World Coal Institute

International Council on Mining and Metals

INTERNATIONAL OR PROMINENT INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION

Australian Mines and Metals Association

Australia Association of Mining & Exploration Companies

Australian Coal Association

The Mining Association of Canada

European Association of Mining Industries

Indonesian Coal Mining Association

American Institute of Mining, metallurgial and Petroleum Engineers

National Mining Association

Nevada Mining Association

RESEARCH INSTITUTION

Colorado School of Mines

The University of Queensland

University of Missouri

Istanbul Technical University

University of Arizona

Montana Tech

Central Institute of Mining & Fuel Research

Solution Mining Research Institute

ACADEMIC JOURNAL

International Journal of Mining and Mineral Engineering

Journal of Mining

International Journal of Mining Science and Technology

Journal of Geology and Mining Research

Journal of Mining Science

International Journal of Mining, Reclamation, and Environment

Journal of Mining and Metallurgy

International Journal of Mining Engineering and Mineral Processing

HISTORY

Energi et Ressources naturelles

Mining History Association

Mining Industry Human Resources Council

Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum

Deloitte

EY’s Global Mining & Metals Center

ECONOMICS

National Mining Association

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

World Coal Association

MIT

Greenpeace International

Flaviano Bianchini

BUSINESS ANALYSIS

Themis Palpanas and Jakka Sairamesh

World Economic Forum

National Mining Association

Department of Economics The University of Queensland

MIT

HEALTH IMPACT

WHO

Kentucky Environmental Foundation

The Center for Media and Democracy

HABITAT

SUSTAINABILITY

Australian Government

Miningfact.org

The Mining Association of Canada

World Economic Forum

Australian Government

Blekinge Institute of Technology

OTHER INTERESTING ESSAYS/ARTICLES

The Guardian

Triple Pundit

Brave New Coin

Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum