Editing Mining engineering (section)

==History of mining engineering==
From [[prehistoric]] times to the present, [[mining]] has played a significant role in the existence of the human race. Since the beginning of civilization, people have used [[Rock (geology)|stone]] and [[ceramic]]s and, later, [[metal]]s found on or close to the [[Earth|Earth's]] surface. These were used to manufacture early [[tool]]s and [[weapon]]s. For example, high-quality [[flint]] found in northern [[France]] and southern [[England]] were used to set [[fire]] and break rock.<ref>Hartman, Howard L. ''SME Mining Engineering Handbook'', Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration Inc, 1992, p. 3.{{ISBN?}}</ref> Flint mines have been found in [[chalk]] areas where seams of the stone were followed underground by shafts and galleries. The oldest known mine on the archaeological record is the "Lion Cave" in [[Eswatini]]. At this site, which [[radiocarbon dating]] indicates to be about 43,000 years old, [[paleolithic]] humans mined mineral [[hematite]], which contained [[iron]] and was ground to produce the red [[pigment]] [[ochre]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://eswatininaturereserves.com/cultural/malolotja_archaeology.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210627192152/http://eswatininaturereserves.com/cultural/malolotja_archaeology.asp |url-status=usurped |archive-date=June 27, 2021 |title=Archaeology - Malolotja Nature Reserve – Ancient Mining |publisher=Eswatini National Trust Commission – Conserving Eswatini's Natural and Cultural Heritage |work=Culture – Archaeology |date=2020 |access-date=2022-09-17 }}</ref><ref>Peace Parks Foundation, "Major Features: Cultural Importance." Republic of South Africa: Author. Retrieved Aug. 27, 2007, [http://www.peaceparks.org/story.php?mid=168&pid=148].</ref>

The [[Ancient Rome|ancient Romans]] were innovators of mining engineering. They developed large-scale mining methods, such as the use of large volumes of water brought to the minehead by [[Aqueduct (watercourse)|aqueducts]] for [[hydraulic mining]]. The exposed rock was then attacked by [[fire-setting]], where fires were used to heat the rock, which would be quenched with a stream of water. The [[thermal shock]] cracked the rock, enabling it to be removed. In some mines, the Romans utilized water-powered machinery such as [[reverse overshot water-wheel]]s. These were used extensively in the [[copper]] mines at [[Rio Tinto (river)|Rio Tinto]] in Spain, where one sequence comprised 16 such wheels arranged in pairs, lifting water about {{convert|80|ft|m}}.<ref>[http://www.romans-in-britain.org.uk/raw_mining.htm ''The Romans in Britain: mining''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100720073131/http://www.romans-in-britain.org.uk/raw_mining.htm |date=2010-07-20 }}</ref>

[[gun powder|Black powder]] was first used in mining in [[Banská Štiavnica]], [[Kingdom of Hungary]] (present-day [[Slovakia]]) in 1627.<ref>{{Cite journal |doi = 10.1007/s00334-007-0096-8|title = Analysis of the fuel wood used in Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age copper mining sites of the Schwaz and Brixlegg area (Tyrol, Austria)|journal = Vegetation History and Archaeobotany|volume = 17|issue = 2|pages = 211–221|year = 2008|last1 = Heiss|first1 = Andreas G.|last2 = Oeggl|first2 = Klaus| bibcode=2008VegHA..17..211H |citeseerx = 10.1.1.156.1683| s2cid=15636432 }}</ref>  This allowed blasting of rock and earth to loosen and reveal ore veins, which was much faster than fire-setting. The [[Industrial Revolution]] saw further advances in mining technologies, including improved explosives and [[Steam engine|steam-powered]] pumps, lifts, and drills.