Mining is the process of extracting valuable geological materials from the Earth and other astronomical objects. It is required to obtain most materials that cannot be grown through agricultural processes or feasibly created artificially in a laboratory or factory. Ores recovered by mining include metals, coal, oil shale, gemstones, limestone, chalk, dimension stone, rock salt, potash, gravel, and clay. Mining in a wider sense includes extraction of any non-renewable resource such as petroleum, natural gas, or even water.
Modern mining processes involve prospecting for ore bodies, analysis of the profit potential of a proposed mine, extraction of the desired materials, and final reclamation or restoration of the land after the mine is closed. Mining materials are often obtained from ore bodies, lodes, veins, seams, reefs, or placer deposits.
Mining is not without its drawbacks, as it can harm people and the environment. However, it is an essential process for obtaining many of the materials that modern society relies on.
In the context of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, mining refers to the process by which networks of specialized computers generate and release new coins and verify and secure their blockchains. Miners are essentially getting paid for their work as auditors, verifying the legitimacy of transactions and helping to prevent the "double-spending problem".
