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open pit
This term describes a specific industrial mining method characterized by the removal of overburden to access minerals near the surface. It is primarily used in technical, geological, and economic contexts to contrast with underground mining, which involves shafts and tunnels.
In professional discourse, the term often appears in discussions regarding environmental impact and land reclamation, as the resulting void is significantly more visible and disruptive to the surface landscape than subterranean operations.
Meanings
A mine in which minerals or ores are extracted from an open excavation rather than from underground tunnels.
The company transitioned to an open pit to increase the efficiency of the copper extraction.