What are the main types of surface mining?

Surface mining is a method used to extract minerals located near the Earth's surface, accounting for more than two-thirds of the world's annual mineral production. The three most common types of surface mining are:1

• Open-pit mining: This method typically involves creating a large hole or pit in the ground to access mineral deposits. The material is extracted in horizontal layers known as benches, with access provided by a system of ramps.21
• Strip mining: Primarily used for thin, flat deposits like coal, this technique involves removing the soil and rock (overburden) covering a mineral seam. Excavators uncover a long, narrow strip, remove the mineral, and then deposit the waste material into the previously excavated strip.31
• Quarrying: This term is used for the extraction of ornamental stone blocks, which requires specialized production procedures, as well as the recovery of materials like sand, gravel, and crushed stone.1

While these are the primary categories, other surface techniques exist, such as those used for placer mining, which recovers valuable minerals from unconsolidated deposits like stream or beach sands.4