A large part of the population associates the term "mining" with negative images such as mining towers, massive bucket-wheel excavators, and environmental damage caused by resource extraction. However, mining is more than just the "dark" and "dirty" technology of the 19th century. This title serves both as a foundational textbook on mining and aims to present mining from an unbiased perspective. In addition to basic knowledge of geology and blasting techniques, it describes the exploration of deposits and the extraction of resources using the latest technology. The book also addresses the serious accident on the Deepwater Horizon drilling platform in the Gulf of Mexico.