miners

Miners are workers who extract minerals from the earth, including coal, metal ores, precious stones, and industrial minerals. They may work underground in tunnels and shafts or in open-pit or surface mines, as well as in other extraction operations such as placer mining. Tasks include drilling and blasting, excavating and hauling ore, operating and maintaining equipment, and processing materials at or near the mine site. The work is often physically demanding and carried out in hazardous conditions.

Mining has ancient origins and expanded dramatically during the Industrial Revolution. Modern mining uses a range of methods, including underground hard rock mining, open-pit mining, and solution mining. The choice of method depends on ore depth, geology, and environmental considerations.

Mining poses health and safety risks, including structural collapse, gas or dust exposure, flooding, and equipment accidents. Long-term exposure can cause respiratory diseases such as pneumoconiosis. Safety programs emphasize ventilation, rock support, gas detection, training, and the use of protective equipment. Regulatory agencies oversee standards for workplace safety and environmental protection.

Miners contribute to energy supply, metal production, and industrial development, often working in regional mining communities. Labor organizing and strikes have played a significant historical role in improving wages and conditions, with notable mining movements in several countries.

Advances in technology and automation have changed mining workplaces, improving safety and productivity but reducing some types of manual labor. Environmental management, rehabilitation of mined areas, and monitoring of water and air quality are increasingly part of mining operations.