Mining

[[File:Kawah-Ijen Indonesia Ijen-Sulfur-Miner-01.jpg|thumb|Sulfur miner with sulfur carried from the floor of the [[Ijen]] Volcano (2015)]]

[[File:Kawah-Ijen Indonesia Ijen-Sulfur-Miner-01.jpg|thumb|Sulfur miner with sulfur carried from the floor of the [[Ijen]] Volcano (2015)]]

[[File:Simplified world mining map 1.png|thumb|upright=2.35|Simplified world active mining map]]

[[File:Simplified world mining map 1.png|thumb|upright=2.35|Simplified world active mining map]]

”’Mining”’ is the extraction of valuable [[mineral]]s or other geological materials from the Earth, usually from an [[ore]] body, [[lode]], [[vein (geology)|vein]], [[coal mining|seam]], [[quartz reef mining|reef]], or [[placer deposit]]. These deposits form a mineralized commodity that is of economic interest to the miner.

”’Mining”’ is the [[Extractivism|extraction]] of valuable [[mineral]]s or other geological materials from the Earth, usually from an [[ore]] body, [[lode]], [[vein (geology)|vein]], [[coal mining|seam]], [[quartz reef mining|reef]], or [[placer deposit]]. These deposits form a mineralized commodity that is of economic interest to the miner.

Ores recovered by mining include [[Metal#Extraction|metals]], [[Coal mining|coal]], [[oil shale]], [[gemstone]]s, [[limestone]], [[chalk mining|chalk]], [[dimension stone]], [[Sodium chloride|rock salt]], [[potash]], [[gravel]], and [[clay]]. Mining is required to obtain any material that cannot be grown through agricultural processes, or feasibly created [[Chemical synthesis|artificially]] in a laboratory or factory. Mining in a wider sense includes extraction of any [[non-renewable resource]] such as petroleum, natural gas, or even [[fossil water|water]].

Ores recovered by mining include [[Metal#Extraction|metals]], [[Coal mining|coal]], [[oil shale]], [[gemstone]]s, [[limestone]], [[chalk mining|chalk]], [[dimension stone]], [[Sodium chloride|rock salt]], [[potash]], [[gravel]], and [[clay]]. Mining is required to obtain most materials that cannot be grown through agricultural processes, or feasibly created [[Chemical synthesis|artificially]] in a laboratory or factory. Mining in a wider sense includes extraction of any [[non-renewable resource]] such as petroleum, natural gas, or even [[fossil water|water]]. Modern mining processes involve [[prospecting]] for ore bodies, analysis of the profit potential of a proposed mine, extraction of the desired materials, and final [[mine reclamation|reclamation]] of the land after the mine is closed.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/deremetallica50agri|title=De re metallica|last1=Agricola|first1=Georg|last2=Hoover|first2=Herbert|date=1950|publisher=New York, Dover Publications|others=MBLWHOI Library}}</ref>

Mining operations usually create a negative environmental impact, both during the mining activity and after the mine has closed. Hence, most of the world’s nations have passed regulations to decrease the impact; however, the outsized role of mining in generating business for often rural or remote communities means that governments sometimes fail to fully enforce regulation. [[Mine safety|Work safety]] has long been a concern as well, and modern practices have significantly improved safety in mines. Moreover, unregulated or poorly regulated mining, especially in developing economies, frequently contributes to local human rights violations and [[Conflict resource|resource conflicts]].

Modern mining processes involve [[prospecting]] for ore bodies, analysis of the profit potential of a proposed mine, extraction of the desired materials, and final [[mine reclamation|reclamation]] of the land after the mine is closed.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/deremetallica50agri|title=De re metallica|last1=Agricola|first1=Georg|last2=Hoover|first2=Herbert|date=1950|publisher=New York, Dover Publications|others=MBLWHOI Library}}</ref>

Mining operations usually create a negative environmental impact, both during the mining activity and after the mine has closed. Hence, most of the world’s nations have passed regulations to decrease the impact. [[Mine safety|Work safety]] has long been a concern as well, and modern practices have significantly improved safety in mines.

==History==

==History==

The waste is classified as either sterile or mineralised, with acid generating potential, and the movement and storage of this material form a major part of the mine planning process. When the mineralised package is determined by an economic cut-off, the near-grade mineralised waste is usually dumped separately with view to later treatment should market conditions change and it becomes economically viable. Civil engineering design parameters are used in the design of the waste dumps, and special conditions apply to high-rainfall areas and to seismically active areas. Waste dump designs must meet all regulatory requirements of the country in whose jurisdiction the mine is located. It is also common practice to rehabilitate dumps to an internationally acceptable standard, which in some cases means that higher standards than the local regulatory standard are applied.<ref name=”StewardDams” />

The waste is classified as either sterile or mineralised, with acid generating potential, and the movement and storage of this material form a major part of the mine planning process. When the mineralised package is determined by an economic cut-off, the near-grade mineralised waste is usually dumped separately with view to later treatment should market conditions change and it becomes economically viable. Civil engineering design parameters are used in the design of the waste dumps, and special conditions apply to high-rainfall areas and to seismically active areas. Waste dump designs must meet all regulatory requirements of the country in whose jurisdiction the mine is located. It is also common practice to rehabilitate dumps to an internationally acceptable standard, which in some cases means that higher standards than the local regulatory standard are applied.<ref name=”StewardDams” />

===Renewable energy===

[[File:The Minister of State for Power, Coal, New and Renewable Energy and Mines (Independent Charge), Shri Piyush Goyal launching the energy efficient LED bulb as a part of the Green Technology Innovation, at IIT Madras, Tamil Nadu.jpg|thumb|right|The Minister of State for Power, Coal, New and Renewable Energy and Mines, Shri P. Goyal launching the energy efficient [[LED bulb]] as a part of the Green Technology Innovation, at [[IIT Madras]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]] (2016).]]

Many mining sites are remote and not connected to the grid. Electricity is typically generated with [[diesel generator]]s. Due to high transportation cost and theft during transportation, the cost of generating electricity is normally high. Renewable energy applications are becoming an alternative or amendment. Both [[Solar power|solar]] and [[wind power]] plants can contribute in saving diesel costs at mining sites. Renewable energy applications have been built at mining sites.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.th-energy.net/english/platform-renewable-energy-and-mining/database-solar-wind-power-plants/ | title=Database “Renewable Energy & Mining”: Wind & solar}}</ref>

Cost savings can reach up to 70%.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.mining.com/web/at-mining-sites-renewable-energy-systems-are-up-to-70-percent-less-expensive-than-diesel-power/ | title=At Mining Sites Renewable Energy Systems are up to 70 Percent Less Expensive than Diesel Power| date=2014-10-16}}</ref>

==Industry==

==Industry==