Mining
In short
The process of extracting valuable minerals, metals, or other geological materials from the Earth's surface or underground.
In plain words
People dig into the ground to find things like gold, coal, or salt. These materials are used to make everything from jewellery to electricity.
A simple example
A company digs a deep hole in a mountain to collect iron ore. This ore is then sent to a factory to be turned into steel.
Why it matters
Most modern technology and infrastructure rely on mined materials. Without mining, we would lack the metals needed for phones, cars, and buildings.
Easy to mix up
Do not confuse mining with quarrying, which focuses on extracting large quantities of building stone like granite or limestone.