Additional costs such as safety precautions and requirement of equipment are relatively low in which type of mining ?

Both of the above

The correct answer is option 3: Both of the above

• Open-cast mining and surface mining are essentially similar methods where minerals are extracted from the earth’s surface, not from underground.

• Since these methods do not involve deep shafts or tunnels, they:

  • Require less complex safety precautions

  • Need fewer specialized equipment

  • Are less risky compared to underground mining

So, additional costs related to safety and equipment are relatively low in both open-cast and surface mining.

NCERT Text: "Methods of Mining: Depending on the mode of occurrence and the nature of the ore, mining is of two types: surface and underground mining. The surface mining also known as open-cast mining is the easiest and the cheapest way of mining minerals that occur close to the surface. Overhead costs such as safety precautions and equipment is relatively low in surface mining. The output is both large and rapid.

When the ore lies deep below the surface, underground mining method (shaft method) has to be used. In this method, vertical shafts have to be sunk, from where underground galleries radiate to reach the minerals. Minerals are extracted and transported to the surface through these passages. It requires specially designed lifts, drills, haulage vehicles, ventilation system for safety and efficient movement of people and material. This method is risky. Poisonous gases, fires, floods and caving in lead to fatal accidents."