Topic summary
Ore body
Extracted from the Wikipedia article Mining.
Mine development and life cycle
The process of mining, from the discovery of an ore body through mineral extraction to the final return of the land to its natural state, consists of several distinct steps. The first is the discovery of the ore body, carried out through prospecting or exploration to identify and define its extent, location, and value. This leads to a mathematical resource estimation of the deposit's size and grade.