Most of the candidates answered this question and performed poorly as many of them gave definition of exploration for exploitation. Many of the candidates also mixed up auxiliary operations with main operation in a mine. Mineral exploitation is the work of recovering (obtaining) mineral from the earth in economic quantity and transporting it to the processing facilities/plant for the extraction of the valuable mineral.

The factors which influence the choice of mining method are size of the deposit, geological properties of the surrounding rock, water content of the rock, water content of the deposit, tonnage, grade, production rate, proposed life time of the mine, technological considerations, subsidence concerns, ground control, atmospheric control, environmental consideration and safety consideration.
The auxiliary operations in surface mining are:

• stability of slope
• maintenance of equipment
• reclamation
• construction of haul roads
• maintenance of haul roads
• communication
• power distribution
• drainage of pits
• control of dust
• control of noise
• safety