mining
n. uncountablen. the process of digging deep into the earth to find valuable things like coal, gold, or diamonds. It can also mean using computers to create digital money like Bitcoin.
n. the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, usually from an ore body, lode, vein, seam, or reef. In modern contexts, it also refers to the process of using hardware to perform complex calculations to verify transactions on a blockchain.
Mining for gold is a very difficult and dangerous job.
The local economy relies heavily on coal mining, which provides jobs for thousands of workers in the valley.
Environmental regulations have become increasingly stringent, forcing the mining industry to adopt more sustainable practices to mitigate the long-term impact on local ecosystems and water tables.
Uncountable when referring to the industry or process; can be used as a modifier before other nouns like 'engineer' or 'town'.