Mining and quarrying contribute significantly to a country’s economic growth and development. These industries have existed for a long time but have evolved to become more effective and productive due to recent technological advancements. They supply raw materials for buildings, provide employment, and generate revenue for governments. Here, we will look at the key benefits of the mining and quarrying sectors. But first, let us understand what these activities involve.
Mining vs. quarrying – The difference
Although used interchangeably, the terms mining and quarrying have a crucial difference. Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or fossils from the depths of the earth, such as coal, gemstones, and limestone. In contrast, quarrying involves extracting materials like stone, gravel, and sand from the surface for construction purposes.
Benefits of mining and quarrying
Both activities have far-reaching benefits, some of which are discussed below:
Access to valuable products
Mining and quarrying generate a variety of economically valuable products. A few examples are stone aggregates for use in construction materials (like gravel), liquid fuels (petroleum and coal), metals (silver and gold), and nonmetallic minerals (limestone and clay).
These mining and quarrying products are critical for economic growth in contemporary society. They are used in various industries, notably construction, manufacturing, gas and oil extraction, recycling, engineering, and transportation. In other words, we would not be able to refuel our cars or erect buildings for schools and offices without mining and quarrying.
Employment generation
The mining and quarrying sectors provide different types of jobs to people worldwide. Examples include miners (who extract minerals from quarries or mines), metallurgists (transform ore into metal alloys), geologists (look into potential mining sites), drillers (drill holes in rocks), surveyors (measure distances underground using sophisticated instruments), engineers (manage projects), and workers (operate machines like excavators or dump trucks to move material from the site).
Individuals with formal education and the required knowledge may land jobs in these industries. A few mining and quarrying job titles are economic geologists, mining electricians, exploration managers, geotechnical engineers, heavy equipment operators, and occupational health safety and environmental officers. Many organizations also invite applications from individuals who can research and improve the efficiency of these activities.
Boost to economy
Mining and quarrying provide a significant boost to the local, national, as well as global economy. At the regional level, these sectors attract new investments, indirectly contribute to tourism, and boost employment in associated industries. The national economy and infrastructure get a boost when there is a sufficient supply of raw materials to build hospitals, roads, highways, bridges, and airports. From a global standpoint, these activities influence the economy of countries that import and export fuel, precious metals, and raw materials.
Tax for the government
Many private companies perform mining and quarrying activities. They hire a workforce, excavate large amounts of valuable minerals and raw materials, and sell them at a profit. However, mining and quarrying industries are not exempted from taxes, duties, and royalties. Depending on how much money they make, these companies must pay a certain amount of tax to the local, state, or federal governments.
Governments are said to earn a large sum from taxes on mining and quarrying. They may use the money received for public safety, education, health schemes, and other valuable purposes that benefit society.
Does mining impact the environment?
While mining and quarrying have many benefits, they can impact the environment. These activities lead to soil erosion, water pollution, and habitat destruction. As a result, it is critical to adopt a sustainable approach to reduce harmful environmental repercussions.
As consumer awareness rises, many firms operating in these sectors are taking steps to avoid unethical mining methods and reduce their impact on the natural ecosystem. They are trying to protect wildlife and prevent groundwater contamination while still meeting operational demands sustainably. Companies are also collaborating with governments, local communities, and other stakeholders and are researching new ways to carry out the job in an environment-friendly manner.
