Mining is the whole set of activities involved in exploring for, extracting, processing and preparing for use minerals, rocks, coal and other natural resources of economic value found in the Earth’s crust. Almost every material of modern life, from the chippings and sand used to build homes and roads, to the copper in electric cables, glass and ceramic raw materials and the coal used in power generation, starts with a mining activity.
In this guide we give an overview of what mining is, types of mines, open-pit and underground mining, quarries, the stages of a mining project, mineral processing and the role of crushing and screening plants in mining. You can find all our technical guides on our Mining Guide page.
Types of Mines
| Group | Examples | Main Uses |
|---|---|---|
| Metallic minerals | Copper, iron, chrome, gold, zinc, lead, nickel | Industry, electrics, infrastructure, jewellery |
| Industrial minerals | Feldspar, quartz, calcite, boron, barite, kaolin | Glass, ceramics, chemicals, fillers |
| Construction raw materials | Limestone, basalt, granite, sand and gravel, marble | Aggregate, concrete, roads, natural stone |
| Energy raw materials | Coal (lignite, hard coal) | Power generation, industry |
| Critical minerals | Lithium, rare earth elements, cobalt, graphite | Batteries, electronics, energy transition (critical minerals) |
In Turkey, mines and quarries are also divided into groups in the legislation; this classification determines licensing procedures (quarry licensing guide).
Mining Methods
Open-Pit Mining
If the deposit is near the surface, the overburden is removed (stripping) and ore or rock is extracted in benches. Quarries, large copper and iron mines and many coal fields are worked by open-pit methods. The production chain usually consists of drilling and blasting, loading and haulage, followed by crushing and screening.
Underground Mining
If the deposit is deep or surface extraction is not economical, production takes place underground through shafts, drifts and tunnels. Different methods such as room-and-pillar, caving and cut-and-fill are chosen according to the shape of the deposit and rock strength.
Other Methods
- Sand and gravel and alluvial mining: Excavating loose deposits and processing them by screening and washing (sand and gravel guide).
- Solution mining: In-situ dissolution and pumping for some salts and minerals.
- Dimension stone (marble) quarrying: Extracting rock by cutting it into blocks.
What Are a Mine and a Quarry?
A mine is a production site where ore or minerals are extracted. A quarry is a site where rocks such as limestone, basalt, andesite and granite are extracted for use as aggregate, chippings, road material or industrial raw material. Rock produced in quarries is usually processed in a crushing and screening plant on the same site. For quarry planning see our quarry planning guide.
Stages of a Mining Project
| Stage | Main Activities |
|---|---|
| 1. Exploration | Geological survey, geophysics, drilling, sampling and analysis |
| 2. Evaluation and feasibility | Reserve estimation, grade and quality model, technical and economic assessment |
| 3. Permits and licences | Mining licence, environmental impact assessment, other public permits |
| 4. Development and investment | Roads, power, water, plant construction, stripping |
| 5. Production | Drilling and blasting, loading, haulage, crushing, screening, concentration |
| 6. Closure and restoration | Making the site safe and returning it to use |
Restoration and environmental management should be planned from the start of production (sustainability in mining).
Mineral Processing and Concentration
Run-of-mine ore often cannot be used directly. Mineral processing includes size reduction (crushing and grinding), classification (screening and hydrocyclones) and concentration (gravity, magnetic separation, flotation, etc.). For details see our mineral processing guide, and for grinding our ball mill and SAG mill guides.
The Role of Crushing and Screening Plants in Mining
In both quarries and metal mines, the crushing and screening plant is at the centre of the production chain:
- In quarries it produces the final product (chippings, sand, sub-base) (crushed stone chippings, what is aggregate).
- In metal mines it prepares ore for grinding; because energy spent in crushing is used much more efficiently than in grinding, a good crushing circuit lowers total cost.
- In industrial minerals precise crushing and screening are needed for product size and purity.
For an introduction to crusher types see our what is a crusher guide, and for plant set-up our crushing and screening plant set-up guide.
Safety and Environment in Mining
Mining is a high-risk sector because of heavy mobile plant, explosives, moving equipment, dust and noise. Risk assessment, training, lockout–tagout, machine guards and regular inspection are the basic measures (occupational safety guide). Environmentally, water management, dust and noise control, waste management and restoration are the priorities (dust and noise control).
Main Equipment Used in Mining
| Stage | Equipment |
|---|---|
| Drilling and blasting | Drill rigs, explosives and initiation systems |
| Loading and haulage | Excavators, loaders, trucks, conveyors |
| Crushing | Jaw, cone, impact, VSI and gyratory crushers |
| Screening and classification | Vibrating screens, hydrocyclones |
| Grinding and concentration | Mills, flotation, magnetic separators |
| Dewatering | Thickeners, filter presses, dewatering screens |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does mining mean?
The exploration, extraction and processing of natural resources of economic value found underground and at the surface.
Does quarrying count as mining?
Yes. Quarrying is a mining activity that produces construction raw materials and, in Turkey, falls under mining licences in the legislation.
What is the difference between open-pit and underground mining?
In open-pit mining, production takes place from the surface in benches; in underground mining, the deep deposit is reached through shafts and drifts.
What are the types of mining?
Metal mining, industrial mineral mining, coal mining and construction raw material mining (quarries, sand and gravel) are the main types.
The Place of Mining in the Economy
Mining is a basic sector supplying raw materials to many industries. Construction needs aggregate, cement and lime raw materials; the energy sector needs coal and, increasingly, metals and critical minerals for batteries and grids; glass, ceramics, chemicals and agriculture need industrial minerals. Mining investments are therefore important for industry, employment and regional development. For investments to be long-lasting and sustainable, technical planning, environmental management and good community relations must be handled together.
Open-Pit and Underground Mining Compared
| Criterion | Open Pit | Underground |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit depth | Near the surface | Deep |
| Production capacity | Generally high | Varies with method |
| Unit cost | Generally lower | Generally higher |
| Stripping | Overburden removal required | Limited |
| Land impact | Large area | More limited surface impact |
| Typical example | Quarries, large copper and iron mines | Deep coal and metal mines |
Careers and Professions in Mining
- Mining engineer: Pit planning, production, technical supervision, safety.
- Geological engineer: Exploration, reserve and quality model.
- Mineral processing engineer: Crushing, grinding, concentration.
- Mechanical and electrical engineers: Equipment, maintenance and energy.
- Operators and technicians: Mobile plant, crushing plants (crusher operator), maintenance.
Glossary
- Ore: Rock containing economically workable minerals.
- Grade: The proportion of valuable metal or mineral in the ore.
- Reserve: The technically and economically workable quantity of a mineral.
- Stripping: Removing the overburden above the deposit.
- Run-of-mine: Unprocessed material extracted from the mine.
- Concentration: Separating the valuable mineral from waste to produce a concentrate.
More Questions
Which minerals are mined in Turkey?
Boron, marble and natural stone, chrome, copper, coal, feldspar, calcite and aggregate raw materials are among the leading products.
Does mining harm the environment?
If not managed properly it can affect land, water, dust and noise; modern mining aims to reduce these effects through water recovery, dust control and restoration.
How is a quarry opened?
Through site survey, licensing, EIA and other permits, a mining plan and plant set-up (quarry licensing guide).
CSP Mühendislik Support
CSP Mühendislik designs, fabricates and commissions the crushing, screening, feeding and material handling stages of mining and quarry projects, and provides spare parts and service, maintenance and repair support during operation. See our products page for our equipment.
