What are the advantages and disadvantages of underground mining?

Open-pit and strip mines can be economically used to mine shallow mineral or coal deposits, but when it comes to deeper deposits, it becomes very expensive to remove a significant amount of overburden in these types of settings. For these reasons, underground mining is more cost-effective. The drawback of underground mining is the increased risk to human health and safety from cave-ins, flooding from seawater or groundwater, methane explosions in coal mines, and malfunctions in air ventilation equipment.

Advantages:

1. Access to valuable minerals.
2. Reduced environmental surface disturbance.
3. Lower risk of accidents compared to open-pit mining.

Disadvantages:

1. Safety hazards due to confined spaces.
2. Ground subsidence risks.
3. High initial development costs.
4. Limited visibility and accessibility for monitoring.

Note: Environmental impact and safety concerns vary depending on specific mining practices and regulations.