The origins of mining go back to antiquity. One of the main factors of mining development, determining its level in different historical periods, are mining tools. Neolithic period dates back to the first mining of flint in mines in Europe, sometimes with wooden fastening. Later, in the 7th-6th millennium BC, the systematic mining of copper and tin ore and the extraction of gold and silver began. In Central Europe excavations with traces of mounts, ladders, etc. remained from this period. Gradually the smelting of copper products becomes relatively widespread. For example, ancient tribes which inhabited the territory of modern Armenia smelted 14 types of bronze. Since 5th-4th millennium B.C. groups of professional miners appeared, who passed their experience from generation to generation. The expansion of copper ore mining leads to the improvement of mining technology. So, on the territory of Southern Bulgaria upon termination of works mines were filled up with dead rock. Ancient ways of development of placer deposits (basically gold) did not differ essentially from modern ways of repeated flushing. Long before our era mining existed in China, Japan, countries of American continent.
The main factor in the development of productive forces in ancient society was the mastering of iron production. Ore mining and metal production belonged to the most developed and profitable branches of economy of Greco-Roman civilization. With the development of feudal relations significant shifts took place in mining. In the XI-XIII centuries its wide development in Central Europe begins, there is still a manual drilling of rocks. Important improvements were made in Europe in the 15th-16th centuries. Application of a horse-driven drive and a waterwheel for mine lifting as well as for water drainage equipment made it possible to carry out mining work at depths of up to 150 m. Explosive mining technologies are used. Wet enrichment is introduced, which makes it possible to develop relatively poor ores. In 1512 in Saxony the privilege of wet pounding was granted. At this time the mines begin to have wooden planking to move the mineral carts along the planking. The first mining schools and mining manuals appear (“12 Books on Metals” by H. Agricola, 1556). Steam engines were used in mining earlier than in other branches of industry, initially for pumping water (Englishman T. Newcomen in 1711-1712), then for mine lifting.
With the era of the industrial revolution (late 18th – early 19th century), the transition to the widespread use of machines took place. In 1815 the Englishman G. Davy, an Englishman, invented a safe mine lamp. Drilling techniques are improved, explosives are increasingly used, and rail haulage with horse traction is introduced. In 1930s steel ropes for mine lifting and hauling are introduced.