Drift Mining

• Drift mines are a form of underground mining.  This kind of mining is done when the rock or mineral is on the side of a mountain.  This makes it an easy, cheaper way to mine.

• Whenever possible, the opening to the mine will be dug a little lower than the rock or mineral vein.  This makes it easier to get the materials out because gravity helps move them downhill.  The tunnels that are dug are horizontal [as in the diagram] and are called drifts.

• Drift mining was really dangerous in the early days.  Many tunnels caved in—trapping and killing miners.

• Ore was often mined this way.  Ore is rock with minerals inside of it.  Early miners threw away the silver, copper, and other minerals that they found with the gold that they were looking for.  Miners found it annoying when they had to separate those things from the gold they were looking for.  Later on, these minerals became valuable, too.

Rocks and minerals mined with Drift mining:

• Gold

• Coal

• Quartz

• Zinc