Many minerals that we know of today are very hard for scientists and miners to get a hold of. Some components of the mineral may already be scarce, and the chemical combinations that naturally happen to create the mineral are consequentially more difficult to come by. There are also dangerous environments where some minerals are found. One loose rock in mining areas could lead to serious injury.

Although abundant, sulfur is mined in a hazardous place in Indonesia. The active Kawah Ijen volcano in East Java has its risks. The paths around the volcano are steep and sulfur gasses that are released are poisonous. A phreatic eruption is when magma heats ground water, in this case sulfuric acid, and extreme temperatures causes the liquid to evaporate rapidly. This ultimately results in an explosion of poisonous steam, sulfuric acid, ash, and rock, putting miners in great danger. Sulfur is also most useful as sulfuric acid, however, as it is used to refine oils, is in fertilizers, and goes into batteries.

Advancements in mining technology have made the job safer. 3D imaging technologies improved the exploration of large mines and the efficiency of studying seismic surveys. Automated drilling enables the operator to continue surface drilling operations from a safer area. There are also other technologies such as micro-electromechanical systems, which can automatically send data from one place to another, that have aided the mining industry.

Georgius Agricola, a mineralogist of the 1500s, also made statements of the importance of keeping miners safe. In his book, De Re Metallica, a translation states, “There are many arts and sciences of which a miner should not be ignorant… there is Medicine, that he may be able to look after his diggers and other workman.” Mining is a dangerous profession where safety must be taken seriously.