1. Mining removes rocks and minerals that contain useful metals from the Earth’s crust. Metals-2-1 Image: G. Plumlee, USGS

2. Many mines are large surface excavations. Metals-2-2 Image: Kennecott Utah Copper Co.

3. Some mines are underground. Metals-2-3 Image: US Bureau of Mines

4. Drilling cuts holes in metal-bearing rock where explosives can be placed. Metals-2-1

5. Explosions - or blasts - break metal- bearing rock into blocks and fragments. Metals-2-5 Image: US Bureau of Mines

6. Metal-bearing rock broken by blasting is hauled to a crusher. Metals-2-6 Image: US Bureau of Mines

7. Crushed metal-bearing rock - most pieces smaller than a baseball - is ready for processing that removes metals. Metals-2-7 Image: Kennecott Utah Copper Co.

8. All mines eventually deplete their valuable metal-bearing rock and close. Metals-2-8 Image: Kennecott Utah Copper Co.