Mineral deposits are specific volume concentrations of naturally occurring material where minerals of economic value can be extracted at a profit. A mineral deposit is any natural concentration of material in the Earth’s crust, regardless of whether it is viable.
What Are The Types Of Mining?
We have two types of Mining distinguished by the techniques used throughout the extraction of the ore. These practices are divided into open-pit Mining and underground Mining.
Open-pit Mining: consists of removing ore from deposits on the surface or at low depths (on average less than 100m), and these are explored until the total removal of the ore.
Underground Mining:
It consists of ore extraction in deposits at greater depths (usually greater than 100m). These are explored using more sophisticated equipment such as tractors and specific trucks.
What Are The Processes Used In Mining?
The mining processes are research, exploration, extraction, transport, processing, beneficiation, and commercialization of the ore.
All These Steps Are Phases Of The Mining Process:
Prospecting: refers to the phases of preliminary geological studies and surveys. At this stage, there is practically no impact on the environment. It consists of remote activities (using data from satellite or aerial surveys) or even surface activities, where a geologist or person with adequate technical knowledge walks through the region, evaluating the potential of rocks, soil, and other natural elements to observe the occurrence of concentrations anomalous minerals that have economic value.
Mineral research: refers to the exploration phases (a term commonly used in the mining world to refer to mineral research, it does not involve the extraction of ores), design, and evaluation. It comprises, among others, the following field and laboratory work: detailed geological surveys of the area to be surveyed at a convenient scale (detail); studies of outcrops and their correlations; geophysical and geochemical surveys; openings of excavations that can be visited and carrying out soundings in the mineral body; systematic sampling; physical-chemical analysis of samples and drill cores; and beneficiation test of ores or useful mineral substances, to obtain concentrates according to market specifications or industrial use.
Mining: refers to the phases of project development and extraction. It is the set of coordinated operations that aim at the industrial use of the deposit, from the extraction of useful mineral substances to their improvement.
Mining decommissioning: refers to the deactivation and closure phases of the mine. This ongoing process begins at the feasibility stage and extends throughout a project’s life cycle. Mine Closure and its respective provision are essential planning tools due to their permeability in most processes associated with mining projects (research, implementation, operation, and deactivation). To learn about minerals like Tungsten, visit tungco – tungsten specialist for guide.
