Surface Mining

     Surface Mining is mining minerals, gemstones, and rocks that are close to the surface of the land.  There are different ways to do this and the mining company decides which way will cost them less money.  Ways to do surface mining are:

Rocks, minerals, and gemstones that are mined with surface mining:

  Alexandrite Opal
  Aquamarine Platinum
  Asbestos Quartz
  Biotite Ruby
  Calcite Sapphire
  Copper Sulfur
  Diamond Talc
  Emerald Tin
  Garnet Titanium
  Gold Topaz
  Graphite Turquoise
  Gypsum Uraninite
  Lepidolite Zinc
  Nickel