Mineral extraction is a process of extracting mineral resources from the earth. While it is a necessary activity, it can have negative impacts on the environment. There are other ways to describe this process that are more specific or concise. For example, miners might speak about "mining" or "mining operations" when discussing the practice of extracting minerals. Other synonyms include "mineral exploitation" or "mining and quarrying," which describe specific methods of mineral extraction. In addition, "extraction" itself can be a catch-all term for any process of removing a substance from the earth, so it is important to be clear about the particular type of extraction being performed.