Mining - GCSE Chemistry Definition

Mining is the process of removing valuable materials like metals, coal, or minerals from the Earth. In GCSE Chemistry, mining often refers to the extraction of metals from ores—rocks that contain enough metal to make extraction worthwhile.

The process involves breaking up the rock and using methods such as heating, electrolysis, or chemical reactions to separate the metal from other materials. Mining provides the raw materials used to make products like cars, phones, and buildings, but it can also cause environmental problems, such as habitat destruction, landscape damage, and pollution.