Open Pit Mining also called open-cut or open-cast mining, is surface mining technique of extracting minerals or rock from beneath the earth, often dug in an open area. This type of mining is one of the numerous varieties of surface mining that has been used since ancient times for different types of minerals. It involves large amounts of rock and is therefore expensive to produce.
There are mainly five major types of surface mining, each having certain variations according to the minerals being mined. These are strip mining; open Pit Mine, high wall mining, dredging and surface mining. Each type of mine is used for a specific purpose, but all have the potential to harm the environment in a big way.
Open Pit Mining involves extracting minerals from beneath the surface using hydraulic machines or trucks. There is a lot of waste created during this procedure, which leads to the adverse effects on the environment. The most common metals extracted during this procedure are copper, gold, lead, silver, zinc and tin. The waste produced during the process of open-cast mining contains harmful chemicals, such as cyanide, mercury and lead that pollute the soil and the water table.
The long-term effects of such mine wastes on the environment are yet to be assessed. There are two types of open pit mining; one is horizontal and the other vertical. In horizontal type, miners dig a shaft several meters underground to reach the upper area of the mine. The lower shaft is then blocked off and workers make the final stage of extraction. In vertical kind of mines, the shaft is dug at an angle and walls are erected around the shaft to prevent access by men and animals.
There are several types of material usually found in open pit mines. Most common one is Lead. Other precious metals, such as gold, silver and platinum, can be found in these mines as well. It is estimated that these mines contribute more than ten million tons of this precious metal every year.
Some other factors considered when determining the cost of mining this mineral is equipment and machinery used for mining. These include the amount of rock and the size of the holes to be excavated. The equipment and machinery used in this process are specialized and need to be purchased from reputable companies. One disadvantage of using this method is the risk of accidental spills that may contaminate the surrounding environment. It has been seen that there have been cases of children getting lead poisoning after drinking water containing traces of this metallic chemical. Another risk is when workers get sick because of the toxic gases created during the mining process.
The process of extracting gold or any other mineral out of the ground involves several factors. This includes the physical extraction of the mineral, which involves manual labor, drilling, lifting and scooping the rock, and other equipment used for the process. The cost of this process greatly depends on the volume of ore to be extracted, and the complexity of the operation. The capital investment needed for the complete operation of an open pit mining operation varies according to the mine and type of mineral involved.
