What is the difference between mining and quarrying?
Mining and quarries are the leading extractive heavy industries in Australia. Quarrying is defined as any mineral extraction work that is done on the surface of the earth. While, mining typically occurs beneath the earth’s surface and in enclosed spaces. In Australia, quarrying is its own industry — generating more than $160 billion in revenue, and creating thousands of jobs, often in rural and regional areas. The building and construction industry relies on the essential materials extracted from quarries. Extracted materials are used to build Australian roads, towns, and cities. The most common raw materials extracted at a quarry are construction aggregates such as crushed rock, sand or gravel. These abundant, yet essential raw materials, are the foundation of our homes, schools, hospitals, roads and almost all aspects of the built environment that we depend on.