In addition, recent technological developments may soon make economically feasible the mining of metallic ores from the seafloor.
Mining normally means an operation that involves the physical removal of rock and earth.
Gold, diamonds, tin, and platinum are often found in placers, or deposits of sand and gravel containing particles of the mineral. In the past, ore bodies were discovered by mining prospectors in areas where veins were exposed on the surface, or by accident, as when gold was discovered in California in 1848. Today, however, mine prospecting and exploration are skilled occupations involving expert scientific personnel. Teams of geologists, mining engineers, geophysicists,and geochemists work together to discover new deposits. The subsequent mine exploration work includes digging pits, sinking exploration shafts, and core-drilling operations, all of which tend to define the physical limits of the ore body and permit a more reliable estimate of the mine's economic value.