Mining is the process of extracting valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth. The four crossword solutions for the term mining are DIGGING (7 letters), DRILLING (8 letters), STRIP (5 letters), and placer (6 letters). DIGGING is the process of excavating the earth with tools such as shovels, picks, and mattocks. DRILLING is the process of creating a hole in the earth using a drill bit. STRIP mining is a type of surface mining that involves removing large amounts of soil and rock to access mineral deposits. Placer mining is a type of mining that involves sifting through sediment to find valuable minerals.