definition
strict definition
mineral mining
A site where solid minerals other than gems are extracted from the earth in raw form for eventual use.
A mineral mine is a place where any kind of natural mineral is extracted from the ground, including salt, iron, copper, gold, etc. It does not include coal mining or any sort of gemstone mining.
The site extracts natural mineral material from the ground. A mineral mine need not produce a pure metal; the recovered material can be an ore from which usable material is obtained later.
Gem mining and coal mining remain outside this particular mineral-mine definition. Refining minerals already extracted elsewhere is also a different operation from mining.
More specific definitions
17 sub-definitions-
bauxite mine
A site where naturally occurring bauxite is extracted from the earth, mainly for aluminum production. -
chromium mine
A mine extracting natural chromium ore deposits, primarily the chromium-bearing mineral chromite. -
coal mine
A site where coal is systematically extracted from the earth through tunnels, open excavation, or blasting. -
copper mine
A mine extracting natural copper ore deposits, commonly containing copper-bearing minerals such as chalcopyrite. -
gold mine
A mine extracting natural gold deposits from the earth, including both open-pit and underground workings. -
iron mine
A mine extracting natural iron-bearing deposits, including ores such as magnetite and hematite. -
lead mine
A mine extracting natural lead-bearing deposits, either alone or together with metals such as zinc and silver. -
manganese mine
A mine extracting natural manganese ore deposits, commonly containing the mineral pyrolusite. -
nickel mine
A mine extracting natural nickel-bearing deposits, including laterite deposits and ores containing pentlandite. -
phosphate mine
A site where naturally occurring phosphate minerals are extracted from the earth. -
platinum mine
A mine extracting natural platinum-bearing deposits, including recovery alongside nickel or copper. -
salt mine
A mine extracting naturally occurring halite, or rock salt, from deposits within the earth. -
silver mine
A mine extracting natural silver-bearing deposits, often together with ores of other metals. -
tin mine
A mine extracting natural tin ore deposits, principally cassiterite, for recovery of tin. -
titanium mine
A mine extracting natural titanium ore deposits, especially minerals such as rutile and ilmenite. -
uranium mine
A mine extracting uranium from natural deposits for subsequent use, commonly as fuel for nuclear power. -
zinc mine
A mine extracting natural zinc ore deposits, commonly containing the mineral sphalerite.
Related definitions
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gem mining
A site where precious or rare stones are extracted from the ground by surface collection, digging, or blasting. -
natural gas extraction
An installation extracting fossil natural gas from underground for heating, fuel, or other uses elsewhere. -
oil extraction
A well, pump, or other installation extracting petroleum from underground or beneath the sea floor. -
quarry
An open mine used for the extraction of construction materials from the earth.