open pits
Surface mining sites
Open pits are large excavations in the earth's surface for extracting minerals or ore, created by removing layers of rock and soil rather than tunneling underground.
The method is called open-pit mining: The company operates several open pits in Nevada.
Open pits leave dramatic scars on landscapes—terraced craters that can span miles and reach thousands of feet deep.
- quarryPit for extracting rock
- excavationAct of unearthing
- surface miningTopsoil-removal ore extraction
- miningExtracting earth's resources
- craterImpact or volcanic basin
gaping hole · hole · strip mine · gravel · mineral deposits · ore · earth · rock face · bulldozer · heavy equipment · dump truck · slag · terraced · descent · depth · coal · copper · diamond