SURFACEMINE Meaning and
Definition
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A surface mine refers to a type of mining operation where minerals and resources are extracted from the Earth's surface, typically through the removal of overlying soil, vegetation, and rocks to access the desired deposits. Also known as an open-pit mine or an open-cast mine, surface mining is the process of excavating and quarrying materials that are close to or within a shallow depth from the surface.
In a surface mine, heavy machinery such as excavators, bulldozers, and trucks are utilized to remove the top layers of the earth and expose the mineral deposits. This type of mining is often employed to extract minerals such as coal, copper, gold, iron, limestone, and other valuable resources found near or on the surface of the Earth. Surface mining is commonly used when the resource is abundant and easily accessible, unlike underground mining which requires extensive excavation and tunneling.
Surface mines can range from small-scale operations to large-scale industrial operations, which may alter the landscape significantly due to the removal of large amounts of soil and rock. The environmental impact of surface mines can be considerable, including habitat destruction, soil erosion, water contamination, and air pollution. However, modern mining practices strive to minimize these negative effects through proper reclamation and environmental management.
Overall, surface mines play a significant role in supplying the world's demand for various minerals and resources, albeit with careful consideration of the ecological and societal impacts associated with such mining activities.
Common Misspellings for SURFACEMINE
- aurfacemine
- zurfacemine
- xurfacemine
- durfacemine
- eurfacemine
- wurfacemine
- syrfacemine
- shrfacemine
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- suefacemine
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- surdacemine
- surcacemine
Etymology of SURFACEMINE
The word "surfacemine" is a compound word consisting of "surface" and "mine". Both of these words have distinct etymologies:
1. Surface: The word "surface" originates from the Old French term "sur" meaning "upon" and the Latin word "facies" meaning "face". The combination of these elements gave rise to the word "surface" which refers to the outermost part or outer layer of something. It first appeared in English around the 17th century.
2. Mine: The word "mine" has a more complex etymology. It comes from the Latin word "mina" or "moneta", which referred to a coin or money. In ancient Roman times, mines were places where valuable minerals, such as gold and silver, were extracted. Over time, the term "mine" evolved to denote any place where excavation or extraction took place, not just for minerals.
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