What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
mined
Example
The company mined for gold in the mountains. [mined: verb]
Example
The miners worked hard to extract the coal from the ground. [mining: gerund or present participle]
quarry
Example
The quarry provided the stone for the new building. [quarry: noun]
Example
The workers quarried the marble for the countertops. [quarrying: gerund or present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Mining is more commonly used than quarrying in everyday language, as it covers a wider range of materials and contexts. Quarrying is more specific and is primarily used in the context of obtaining stone materials for construction.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between mined and quarry?
Both mining and quarrying are technical terms that are typically used in formal or professional contexts, such as in the mining or construction industries.
