What is Mining?
:''[[Explosives]] that explode when they are hit are also called mine; Two common types are [[Land mine]]s and [[Naval mine]]s.'' [[File:Wurfschaufellader 01.JPG|thumb|Miner [[machine]] with a mine worker]] '''Mining''' is the process of digging things out of the ground. Any [[material]] that cannot be grown must be mined. Mining things from the ground is called ''extraction''. Mining can include extraction of [[metal]]s and [[mineral]]s, like [[coal]], [[diamond]], [[gold]], [[silver]], [[platinum]], [[copper]], tin and iron. Mining can also include other things like [[oil]] and [[natural gas]]. Some mining is done by scraping away the soil (dirt) from the top of the ground. This is called ''[[surface mining]]''. Some mining is done by going deep underground into a ''mine shaft''. This is called ''underground mining''. Some mining, such as gold mining, is done in other ways. Gold can be mined by searching in the bed of a [[river]] or other stream of [[water]] to remove the flakes of gold. This is called ''panning'' or ''placer mining''. A [[worker]] in a mine is called a miner. Underground mining is a [[wikt:danger|dangerous]] [[job]]. Many mines have [[accident]]s. Hundreds of miners die every year from accidents, mostly in poor countries. Safety rules and special safety [[:wikt:equipment|equipment]] is used to try and protect miners from accidents. Underground [[coal mining]] is especially dangerous because [[coal]] can give off poisonous and explosive gases. Some towns are mining towns. People live there because they can make money as miners or by doing things for miners. When mining stops the town may become a [[ghost town]]. Mining operations often make the environment worse, both during the mining activity and after the mine has closed. Hence, most countries have passed regulations to decrease the effect of mining. Work safety has long been a concern, and has been improved in mines. {{technology-stub}} [[Category:Mining| ]]