Open-pit mining is defined as what?

Open-pit mining is defined as what?

• A. The extraction of ore from underground tunnels
• B. Open-cast extraction along riverbanks
• C. Mining with heavy water flotation
• D. The removal of diamond-bearing ore from a large opening at the surface

Answer: (D)

Open-pit mining means removing diamond-bearing ore from a large opening at the surface. It’s a form of surface mining used when the ore body is close to or at the surface and spread over a wide area, so mining can access it with earthmoving equipment rather than tunneling underground. The pit is excavated in benches, overburden is removed, and ore is hauled to processing facilities. This contrasts with underground mining, and it’s not about mining along riverbanks or using flotation as the mining method.

Open-pit mining means removing diamond-bearing ore from a large opening at the surface. It’s a form of surface mining used when the ore body is close to or at the surface and spread over a wide area, so mining can access it with earthmoving equipment rather than tunneling underground. The pit is excavated in benches, overburden is removed, and ore is hauled to processing facilities. This contrasts with underground mining, and it’s not about mining along riverbanks or using flotation as the mining method.