OPEN-PIT MINE ROCK EXCAVATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT Open-pit mining and rock excavation using carbon dioxide gas blasting provide a safer and more controlled way of breaking rocks compared to traditional explosives. This method reduces vibration, noise, and fly-rock hazards, making it effective in sensitive environments. Geologically, such excavation exposes the Earth’s structure and resources, but it also impacts the environment by altering landscapes, groundwater, and ecosystems. Controlled

In this video, we tour the entire gold mining process at Round Mountain Mine, owned and operated by Canadian gold giant Kinross. | Aaron Witt

Gold is now primarily found in very low concentrations. Open pit mines, like the one shown in this video, process tons of rock in order to extract just a few ounces. This process is extremely damaging to the environment. This clip I Segment Produced from History Channel's "How the Earth Was Made" series is being used in the geology curriculum nationwide and abroad. | Mining Geologist