Which mining method removes surface overburden to expose ore near the surface?

• A. Drift
• B. Shaft
• C. Open pit
• D. Geochemical testing

Answer: (C)

Open pit mining involves removing surface overburden (the soil and rock covering the ore) to expose ore that lies near the surface. As mining proceeds, the material above the ore is stripped away in a stepped, bench-like configuration, creating a large pit. This method is economical for large, shallow deposits because it allows access to the ore without tunneling, using heavy equipment and trucks to move material.

Drift and shaft are underground access methods: a drift is a horizontal passage drilled into the rock to reach ore, and a shaft is a vertical tunnel to access deeper ore. Geochemical testing is an exploration technique to detect mineralization rather than a way to mine. Because the question describes removing surface material to reach near-surface ore, the open-pit approach is the fitting choice.