Although most people are used to hearing about mining during the Gold Rush, there is still lots of valuable ore to be taken from the ground.  Miners are working hard all around the world.  There are miners working hard all around the world as there are still huge amounts of ore able to be taken from the ground.  Whether you are interested in getting a job in the mining industry or just want to learn more about this natural wonder, it is important to be aware of the two mining methods and what they entail.

Surface mining involves mining in open pits rather than underground in mines.  Surface mining is typically used when people, in particular mining companies, have determined that there is likely to be a lot of valuable materials in a particular area.  They can then blast onto these surface deposits and create pits.   As they break off some rock they can take it and test it to make sure they are digging for a purpose.

Underground mining is what more people are used to seeing and is the method more commonly relied on for large amounts of ore to be produced.  There are different forms of underground mining taken on including block caving.  The problem with block caving is that a large amount of money is required to get started up because huge amounts of ore are usually found and this means expensive machinery and lots of workers are needed.  Mining companies are usually more than happy to pay the substantial cost upfront however, because they know what a huge payoff they are going to get in the end.

With such a huge payoff in the end however most mining companies would dive at the chance to take on some block caving if they find an area that is worth getting into.  Miners are only able to rely on the long hole stopping method if they know that the surrounding rock is strong and stable enough.  Long hole mining is more cost-effective but can only really be used when large blocks of ore can be identified in an area with strong rock.  This can be especially dangerous if there are miners working inside and so miners are sure to test the surrounding rock and ensure its strength before moving forward with this method.

They would then most likely choose to go with the cut and fill mining method.  For this miners create their own platform far into the ground and then as they work their way up and retrieve the ore in slices, they add in backfill.  Ore is taken out in horizontal slices from the bottom up and this process can take some time because every time any ore is removed, the miners must then backfill in order to provide a new platform for the equipment.  Mining is hard work and these are just a few of the most commonly used mining methods.