Mine

Mine is a term with several related meanings. In geology and industry, a mine is an excavation in the earth from which ore, coal, gemstones, salt, or other minerals are extracted. Mines can be opened on the surface, known as open-pit or quarry operations, or mined underground in tunnels and shafts.

Mining methods vary by material and deposit. Surface mining includes open-pit, strip, and quarrying; underground mining uses shafts and tunnels to reach deeper seams. Placer mining uses running water to separate minerals from sediments. Ore is typically processed after extraction to concentrate useful materials.

Mines have been central to economic development, supplying metals and fuels that power industry and infrastructure. The location and scale of mining shape regional economies and communities, but mining also raises environmental concerns, including habitat disruption, water use, waste rock, and air and water pollution.

Safety and risk are critical in mining. Potential hazards include structural collapse, gas or dust explosions, flooding, and equipment accidents. Regulations, training, and engineering controls aim to reduce these risks, and decommissioning and land reclamation follow mine closure.

The word mine also refers to explosive devices used in warfare, known as land mines and naval mines. Such weapons are designed to detonate on contact, proximity, or vibration. They pose humanitarian challenges and are subject to international law and demining efforts, though not all states prohibit them.

Finally, mine is the possessive pronoun in English, used to indicate owned items (for example, "That book is mine").