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'''Mining''' is the extraction of [[value (economics)|valuable]] [[mineral]]s or other [[geology|geological]] materials from the earth, usually (but not always) from an [[ore]] body, [[vein (geology)|vein]], or (coal) seam. Materials recovered by mining include [[bauxite]], [[coal]], [[copper]], [[gold]], [[silver]], [[diamond]]s, [[iron]], [[precious metal]]s, [[lead]], [[limestone]], [[nickel]], [[phosphate]], [[oil shale]], [[Sodium chloride|rock salt]], [[tin]], [[uranium]], and [[molybdenum]]. Any material that cannot be grown from [[agriculture|agricultural]] processes, or created [[Chemical_synthesis|artificially]] in a [[laboratory]] or [[factory]], is usually mined.  Mining in a wider sense can also include extraction of [[petroleum]], [[natural gas]], and even [[fossil water|water]].