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. Miners have used this type of mining since ancient times to extract various types of minerals, making it one of the many forms of surface mining. It involves large amounts of rock and is therefore expensive to produce.
Types of Surface Mining
Surface mining consists of five main types, each varying according to the minerals being extracted. These include strip mining, open pit mining, high wall mining, dredging, and other forms of surface mining. Each method serves a specific purpose, but all can significantly harm the environment.
Process and Environmental Impact of Open Pit Mining
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.
Mining Methods: Horizontal and Vertical Open Pits
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. Workers then block off the lower shaft and carry out the final stage of extraction. In vertical mines, miners dig the shaft at an angle and construct walls around it to prevent access by people and animals.
Open pit mines contain several types of materials, with lead being the most common. They also yield other precious metals such as gold, silver, and platinum. Estimates show that these mines produce more than ten million tons of precious metals each year.
Equipment, Costs, and Operational Considerations
Some other factors considered when determining the cost of mining this mineral is equipment and machinery used for mining. These factors include the amount of rock and the size of the holes that miners excavate. Specialized equipment and machinery drive this process, and companies must purchase them from reputable suppliers. However, this method carries a key disadvantage, as accidental spills can contaminate the surrounding environment. In some cases, contaminated water containing traces of lead has caused poisoning in children. 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 volume of ore extracted and the complexity of the operation greatly determine the cost of this process. The capital investment needed for the complete operation of an open pit mining operation varies according to the mine and type of mineral involved.
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