How do miners break up hard rock?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. How do miners break up hard rock?

The Big Idea

Some rock is so hard that shovels cannot touch it. So how do miners break it up? Very carefully, with a plan!

Drill Holes

Step one: Drill Holes. Miners drill rows of holes into the rock face. The pattern is carefully planned.

Blasting

Step two: Blasting. Trained blasting crews load the holes with carefully measured charges. They clear everyone to a safe distance, then set them off, and the rock splits along cracks.

Cutting Drums

Step three: Cutting Drums. In softer rock, giant machines with spinning cutting drums scrape off layers. Everything is planned to keep people safe.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! Holes are drilled. A trained crew prepares. Everyone moves far away. Loaders pick up the pieces.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! Blast sites are checked many times before and after. Warning sirens sound before a blast. Rock splits along weak lines, like a chocolate bar. Blasting is only for trained experts, never for kids.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Take a chocolate bar with grooves. Snap it along the grooves. See how it splits along the weak lines. Rocks also split along cracks. Then enjoy a piece, if a grown-up says yes.

Outro

Miners break hard rock by drilling rows of holes that trained crews blast from a safe distance, splitting rock along cracks. In softer rock, machines with spinning drums scrape it away. Science is amazing! The world under your feet is full of surprises. Keep digging into big questions, and keep exploring with me! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!