In diamond mining, overburden refers to what?

In diamond mining, overburden refers to what?

• A. Ore that has been processed
• B. The ore within the pipe
• C. The sand, gravel, or rock covering the ore
• D. A waste tailing pile

Answer: (C)

Overburden is the material lying on top of the ore deposit that must be removed to access the ore. In diamond mining, diamonds are hosted in rock such as kimberlite, and the layer of sand, gravel, or rock covering that ore is stripped away during mining. This covering is not the ore itself, nor is it the ore that has already been processed or the tailings left after processing. So overburden refers specifically to the surface material above the ore that must be cleared to reach it.

Overburden is the material lying on top of the ore deposit that must be removed to access the ore. In diamond mining, diamonds are hosted in rock such as kimberlite, and the layer of sand, gravel, or rock covering that ore is stripped away during mining. This covering is not the ore itself, nor is it the ore that has already been processed or the tailings left after processing. So overburden refers specifically to the surface material above the ore that must be cleared to reach it.