Question

Answer the following question in one or two paragraphs

What are the two types of mining? Elaborate on the differences between the two.

Answer 1

The two types of mining are:

1. Surface mining — It is the removal of the top layer of soil and rocks, to extract the minerals lying underneath is called surface mining. Surface mining is done to extract minerals that are found close to the surface such as coal and some kinds of sedimentary rocks like limestone and mica.
2. Underground mining — It is the one in which a shaft is dug which is a long, narrow passage, and vertically deep into the ground and then people or heavy machinery is sent down, the tunnels are blasted using dynamite to extract the minerals, eg. gold, silver, etc.
   In surface mining, the top layer of the soil is removed, large pits or holes are dug and the rocks that lie underneath are extracted with the help of heavy machinery. These pits are called open cast mines or quarries. Opencast mining is a common form of coal mining in India.
   In surface mining, trees and other natural vegetation are destroyed. Surface mining is done to extract minerals that are found close to the surface such as coal and some kinds of sedimentary rocks like limestone and mica.
   Underground mining: In underground mining, a shaft, which is a long, narrow passage, is dug vertically deep into the ground. People and machinery are then sent down through this shaft. Sometimes, after descending into the shaft, tunnels are blasted into the earth with the help of dynamite. Then the men and machines move about through these tunnels to take out things such as coal, gold, silver, tin, lead, and copper. Underground mining causes the sinking of the land, underground water pollution, and surface water pollution, among other things.