minedout

Minedout is a term used in mining and related fields to describe a mine, ore body, or district in which the economically recoverable minerals have been exhausted or rendered unprofitable to extract. When a deposit is mined out, production typically ceases and the site enters a closure or reclamation phase. The term can refer to the status of a specific mine, a section of a mine, or an entire field, and is often used in mine planning, ore reserve estimation, and regulatory reporting.

In practice, a mine becoming mined out may result from depletion of the ore body, replacement by lower-grade zones, or technical and economic constraints that make continuing operations unviable. Residual ore may remain, but is commonly left as dumps or stockpiles. Reclamation activities often aim to restore land productivity, manage environmental risks such as acid mine drainage, and ensure water quality.

In gaming and simulations, mined out is used to describe areas where resources have been exhausted. Many strategy and sandbox games have regions labeled mined out, requiring players to explore new areas, recycle infrastructure, or focus on other resources. The concept also appears in discussions of sustainable resource management and mining ethics in popular media.

See also: Mine closure, Reclamation and rehabilitation, Resource depletion, Overmining.