KAWA MULTIMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
Methods of mining
A wide variety of different mining methods are employed, some are more important and complicated than others.
These methods largely depend on the accessibility of the mineral and the mineral bearing rock. In some cases, the mineral is easily accessible and it can be mined by simple hand methods. Under such circumstances individual miners, working either alone or in small groups may carry out mining.
In other cases the mineral deposits are much less accessible, and expensive equipment is needed in order to work on them. Under this circumstances mining is usually in the hands of large companies which have the necessary capital and technical expertise. The three main methods of mining are the following: