How much of the world’s annual mineral production comes from surface mining?

It is estimated that more than two-thirds of the world’s annual mineral production is extracted through surface mining.1

This method involves extracting minerals located near the Earth's surface, with the three most common techniques being open-pit mining, strip mining, and quarrying. While surface mining accounts for the majority of global mineral production, the specific choice between surface and underground methods depends on various technological and economic factors, such as the depth of the ore body and the amount of waste material that must be removed.2134