Mining is a subpart of the Class 12 Geography Chapter 4 which is entitled as the Primary Activities. Mining is a process of extracting valuable materials from the Earth’s surface to use them for different social uses. There are so many materials that can be extracted from the earth’s surface including coal, gold, iron, diamond, sand, gravel, natural gas, oil, etc. 

In this article, we are going to discuss the Class 12 Geography Notes Chapter 4 subpart i.e. Mining in detail. 

What Is Mining?

Mining is a process of extracting materials or resources from the earth’s surface. In the time of the industrial revolution, the process of mining increased and experienced exceptional growth. Some factors influenced the mining activity. Majorly two different factors influenced the process of mining including the physical characteristics of the deposits and other side the economic factors. In the modern context, mining is a major factor that influences industrial growth as well.

Factors That Effects The Mining

Two major factors affect the process of mining as mentioned below. 

• Some physical factors create the facts for the deposits like the element size, grade, and mode of occurrence. 
• There are so many economic factors like the demand for a particular material, available technology for extraction, and total capital that has to develop the whole infrastructure with the labor and transport costs that may effect the mining.

Different Methods Of Mining

Based on the occurrence mode and the type of the specific ore, the mining can be divided into two types including surface mining and underground mining. Surface mining is a process where the extraction method takes place just below the surface of the earth. Surface mining is also known as the open crust mining process which is the earliest and the cheapest way to perform the mining process. Overall cost and safety precautions are relatively low for this method. In this process, the requirement of the equipment is also low and output is large and rapid. 

On the other side, the underground mining method is also called the shaft method. It is a vertical process of mining where the mining process takes place under the earth’s surface. The vertical shafts need to be created to transport the ore to the earth’s surface. The process requires so many designed lifts, drills, and huge vehicles for the movement of materials and people. It is a risky method and can lead to fatal accidents as well.  

Conclusion

There are so many developed economies those are retreating from the process of mining, processing and refining stages of production.They are retreating because of high labour costs. On the other side, the developing countries who have large labour force and wants a higher standard of living are becoming the giant of mining processes. There are so many countries in Africa and few in south America and Asia, earns more than fifty per cent of their yearly earnings from the mining works.

Read More:

• Chapter 4 Primary Activities
• Types of Mineral Resources| Class 12 Geography Notes
• Raw Materials : Meaning, Sources, Types & Examples
• Mining Sector In India And Its Challenges
• Different Methods of Study of Minerals
• Conservation of Mineral Resources
• Minerals and Energy Resources
• Classification of Minerals

Mining- FAQs

What is mining metal?

Metal ore mining or extraction of metal ores, primarily gold, silver, iron, copper, lead, and zinc used to produce jewelry, electronics, and steel. Nonmetallic mineral mining: covers a wide range of mineral extraction and produces crushed stone, sand, and gravel for construction of roads and buildings.

What is the study of mining?

Mining in the engineering discipline is the extraction of minerals from the ground. Mining engineering is associated with many other disciplines, such as mineral processing, exploration, excavation, geology, metallurgy, geotechnical engineering and surveying.

What is called mining?

Mining is the process of digging things out of the ground. Any material that cannot be grown must be mined. Mining things from the ground is called extraction. Mining can include extraction of metals and minerals, like coal, diamond, gold, silver, platinum, copper, tin and iron.

How is mining done?

Mining projects generally involves extracting minerals from the ground and separating different minerals from each other. Extraction is typically carried out in an open pit or an underground mine while separating minerals takes place in a processing plant.

Is mining good or bad?

Mining can cause erosion, sinkholes, loss of biodiversity, or the contamination of soil, groundwater, and surface water by chemicals emitted from mining processes. These processes also affect the atmosphere through carbon emissions which contributes to climate change.

Why is mining important?

Mined materials are needed to construct roads and hospitals, to build automobiles and houses, to make computers and satellites, to generate electricity, and to provide the many other goods and services that consumers enjoy. In addition, mining is economically important to producing regions and countries.

How harmful is mining?

Mining is an inherently invasive process that can cause damage to a landscape in an area much larger than the mining site itself. The effects of this damage can continue years after a mine has shut down, including the addition to greenhouse gasses, death of flora and fauna, and erosion of land and habitat.