subject: The World Of Mining [print this page] Mining has brought to the world raw materials to create some of the most popular products and items used in the world today like jewelry and even building materials. In fact, a great majority of the chemicals and minerals used the in world today come from the world of mining. Metals used in the production of airplanes, cars, buildings and even basic household products are mined and refined as necessary. Some countries export the minerals that they mine as a way of promoting their economy, a good example of these being diamonds.
The history of mining dates back to the olden days especially in Europe. One of the most famous mining zones is the Roman Empire's Rio Tinto which was the place where they mined copper which was used by the elite and the common citizen alike. Rio Tinto is still used as a mining area to present day.
Mining has been used to promote international trade all this time. Many countries do export precious stones and other chemicals to many countries so as to promote development and foreign trade in the involved nations.
The method of mining selected for a particular mineral or chemical depends on the orientation and size of the ore. Other factors considered include the strength of the rock and the surrounding matter. This will greatly help to determine what type of mine and equipment to go for during extraction. Mines can be small and produce less than 100 tonnes of ore or they can be large mines which produce millions of tones of the orebody as well as waste rock and matter.
The first step in mining is finding a way to the minerals and this is basically done through a shaft which may be on top of the opening or through an adit, a word used to refer to an opening created on the side of a mountain or hillside. The shaft is decided upon based on the depth of the minerals, the strength of the surrounding grounds and how big the hole may be. Before actual mining is done, there are usually tests carried out so as to determine the drilling pattern and the worth and orientation of the mineral. The common types of mines are shaft, slope and contour, each chosen based on the ground levels among other factors.
