Mining refers to the science, technique, and business of mineral discovery and exploitation. Strictly, the word connotes underground work directed to severance and treatment of ore or associated rock.
Practically, it includes opencast work, quarrying, alluvial dredging, and combined operations, including surface and underground attack and ore treatment.
-see also:
"Mining" is in the NACE Code "10"
Mining of coal and lignite; extraction of peat
"Mining" is in the ISIC Code "10"
Mining of coal and lignite; extraction of peat