The mining industry extracts minerals from the ground for use in various fields. Sub-sectors include construction minerals, metal ores, and industrial minerals. Mining can create conflicts and poor conditions for workers, but also forms a large part of some economies.
The mining industry carries out activities related to the use of minerals, which are chemical solids that are found naturally in land formations. The minerals used in industry are usually mined from the ground. The mining industry extracts a wide variety of minerals that are used for many purposes. Commonly known minerals include jewelry such as diamonds, metals such as gold and silver, and building materials such as plaster, which are frequently used in drywall. While mining is a lucrative industry that produces goods for the economy, its presence in some areas can create or exacerbate money-related conflicts.
Sub-sectors of the mining industry include construction minerals, metal ores, and industrial minerals. Many types of minerals occur in various land formations, so the mining industry in each region and country can vary. The mining industry forms a large part of the economy in places like Colombia and Africa. Colombia is one of the largest sources of coal and emerald gemstones in the world, and also produces a large amount of gold and nickel. Africa is a known source of diamonds and also engages in gold mining operations.
Minerals from the mining industry are used in many fields and applications. The construction industry uses materials derived from minerals such as clay and cement. Other minerals are used in jewellery, vitamins or in the manufacture of other products.
Industrial minerals are often mined for commercial use, including salts used for cooking, minerals used as medicines, or gemstones used for jewelry. Many gemstones used for jewelry can also function as abrasives in industrial products or processes. While not generally thought of in this way, coal is also thought of as an industrial mineral. Coal is an energy source like natural gas or oil, but it is also a solid mineral mined from the earth.
The right minerals can make a lot of money for the company that mines them, but companies that make a large profit on the minerals sometimes just provide poor conditions for the workers and communities near the mines. In extreme cases, poor conditions for workers in mining mines can lead to explosions or collapsed mine shafts that injure or kill workers. Mining can trigger crises in developing countries, where competition for lucrative mineral resources has created militant conflicts that can result in the loss of innocent lives. A well-known example of this is the controversial blood diamond, also known as the conflict diamond, acquired by mining African countries.
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