How Is Zeolite Mined?

Zeolites are natural minerals found in the earth that are mined via open pit mining. The pits are dug into what are called "benches," or different tiers, for easier extraction. Waste rock, or "overburden," is removed to allow the miners access to the ore. Once access is gained, the ore is blasted and pulverized or cut into small pieces.

Once the ore is extracted, it goes through different processes depending on the form in which the zeolite needs to be shipped in. In the powder form, zeolite is pulverized into a powder, then sifted through mesh shields to remove erroneous minerals. In small rock form, it is cut and extracted from the ore, then shipped to its destination.

The ore is where the zeolite is found, while the waste rock is what covers the ore. The waste rock is sent to the top of the pit, or quarry, then hauled away for use or disposal depending on the rock in question. Miners who mine for zeolite are responsible for the extraction and processing of the ore at the bottom of the quarry before it is sent to the haulers that remove it from the quarry to be processed and shipped.