open-pit

American  

[oh-puhn-pit] / ˈoʊ pənˌpɪt /

adjective

Mining.

1. noting or pertaining to a type of surface mining in which massive, usually metallic mineral deposits are removed by cutting benches in the walls of a broad, deep funnel-shaped excavation.

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Etymology

Origin of open-pit

First recorded in 1910–15

Example Sentences

It expects Oyu Tolgoi, established as an open-pit operation in 2011, to become the world’s fourth-largest copper mine by 2030.

From The Wall Street Journal

That is partly because the Youanmi underground gold project is less exposed to rising oil prices than open-pit operations.

From The Wall Street Journal

Rainforest is clear-cut to make way for open-pit mines.

From The Wall Street Journal

It plans to use underground extraction and crushing -- as opposed to an open-pit mine -- and re-inject a large part of the mining residue.

From Barron's

OceanaGold produced 103,500 troy ounces of gold in the third quarter, down from 134,900 a year earlier at 119,500 the prior quarter as open-pit mining at the Haile gold mine in South Carolina focused on waste -tripping activities and the operation relied more on lower grade stockpiles.

From The Wall Street Journal