What is mining history?
Mining history is the study of all aspects of past activity in the extractive industries. It covers a wide range of products – from the precious metals and the non-ferrous metalliferous ores, eg. tin, copper and lead, through to coal, stone and salt. It is not just a study of the history of individual mines or mining companies, although such studies can play an important part in our understanding of the subject. A wider view is required, considering all the influences, national and international, on the extractive industries and making comparisons with other mining fields. For this the mining historian must draw on the skills found in a number of disciplines. Economic history, mining law, political geography all have their part to play along with basic archaeological skills and at least a elementary understanding of the technologies involved in extraction and processing of the product.
