The exploitation of a deposit can be done in two distinct ways. There are surface mines and underground mines, the choice of the type of mine depends on various factors such as the depth of the deposit, the footprint, and the costs of extraction.

• The depth of the deposit: If the deposit is closer to the surface of the ground, an open pit mine will be preferred.
• The footprint on the ground (the visible trace left by the mine): The idea is to minimize the environmental impact. For example, if the mine is located in a wildlife reserve, the underground mine will be preferred.
• Mining costs: If the amount of overburden (or topsoil and waste rock) to be removed is too great, it increases costs. We will therefore favor the underground mine.