Silica is the most abundant mineral found in the earth's crust. Silica is a chemical compound, generally known as silicon dioxide (SiO₂). Silica is commonly found in the form of quartz in nature. Silicon dioxide is typically procured by mining and refinement of quartz. Silica-based products can be categorized into four major products: precipitated silica, colloidal silica, fumed silica, and silica gel. Each of the silica-based products has its own industrial applications.

Bentonite is a sedimentary deposit; it is volcanic in origin and contains more than 50% montmorillonite. Bentonite is surface mined, dried, crushed, and sent through grinding mills to be sized based on customer requirements. Processed bentonite can also be chemically modified. Bentonite has a unique chemical structure that enables it to act as a sealant, binder, thickener, lubricant and absorption agent. Primarily, there are two types of natural bentonite: calcium and sodium.

In the mining industry, one of the greatest challenges is to understand the exact location of the different minerals. An area of interest is mapped to gain the information. This is done by drilling exploratory holes in the ground in a specific pattern. The sample is collected from each drill hole and is qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed for traces of the desired minerals. A potential site can have large quantity of drill holes due to the large size of mines. Hence, many samples are generated, which are analyzed to determine the quality of the ore and the viability of digging. The outcome of such testing can confirm many investment decisions. As a result, accurate, repeatable, and quick analyses are required.

Mining equipment is used for surface mining to extract various resources, such as metals, coal, and minerals from the earth. Mining equipment includes trucks, dozers, loaders, borers, coal and core drillers, stationary and portable crushers, dryers, feeders, hydraulic pumps, conveyor belts, and compressors. Mining trucks, often referred to as haul trucks, are rigid dump trucks exclusively engineered for use in offroad operations such as mining and heavy-duty construction. The capacity of mining trucks range from 90 to 363 metric tons. Mining trucks with capacities ranging from 308 to 363 metric tons are classified as ultra-class trucks.

In 2015, Asia-Pacific (APAC) accounted for the largest share, 54%, of the global mining chemicals market. It is a key regional market and is projected to grow at the highest CAGR, 9.34%, among the geographic segments. This growth has been attributed to the increasing mining activities in the developing countries of the region and favorable government policies. The rising private and foreign investment

in the region has also been an important driver in the region's market. China, India,and Australia are the key markets in APAC.Many countries are enforcing stringent regulations on the mining chemicals processing industry to minimize the environmental hazards caused by mining activities and to encourage eco-friendly practices. With this in view, the mining chemicals industry has been developing specialized chemicals, such as granular activated carbon, liquid sodium aluminate, sodium hydroxide, ferric chloride, and dewatering polymers, to treat mining water and waste that has been polluted by this waste.Rapid industrialization and urbanization in developing countries is encouraging the demand for metals and minerals heavily. Many new mining fields have been opened in these and other areas to cater to the rising demand.

Sapphire is a versatile material that is used in LEDs and consumer electronics. It is used in a wide range of end markets due to attributes such as durability, light transmission, chemical inertness, thermal insulation, hardness, and resistance to physical damage and chemical erosion.

In plain terms, mining operations pertain to the set of activities that facilitate the exploration, production, and separation of certain desirable metals and minerals from their ores. With all the major day-to-day operations based on the availability of these minerals, the importance of the mining industry increases manifolds. Mining operations are dependent on several factors that pertain to the accurate estimation regarding the positioning and recovery of the reserves. Some of the key factors that help aid the decision relating to the type of the mining operations includes.

In the past century, fossil fuels were the chief source of energy worldwide. Among fossil fuels, crude oil has controlled almost all the aspects of the energy business. Crude oil is defined as a mixture of compounds composed primarily of carbon and hydrogen in varying proportions. It also has inorganic compounds such as nitrogen and sulfur and metals like vanadium and mercury. Crude oil is found in specific rock formations, called reservoirs, in the earth's crust. The depth at which petroleum reservoirs are found can vary from oil seeps that flow up to the surface to almost 15,000-meter underground. To reach these reservoirs of crude oil, the surface needs to be drilled until the pre-defined depth is reached.

Niobium is a refractory metal that is valued for its unique chemical properties, including extraordinary resistance to heat and wear and inertness. It has a high melting point of 4,474.4°F and a boiling point of 8,900.6°F. It is used as an alloying element in steel production in the form of ferroniobium (Fe-Nb). Niobium was first identified in 1801 and initially called columbium as it had been found in the US. After the discovery of tantalum in 1802, it was believed that these two metals were identical. However, Heinrich Rose concluded in 1844 that tantalum and niobium were different metals. He renamed niobium after Niobe, the daughter of Tantalus in Greek mythology. The name reflects the fact that these elements are often found together in nature and have strong geological and chemical similarities.