The different types of mining equipment are commiserate with the arduous nature of mining activities. Particular types of mining equipment that are used for specific mining projects are also subject to the type of mining under consideration. Mining may occur above or below ground, and it may be for coal, gold, metals or crude oil. Types of mining equipment include drills, blasting tools, excavators and earth movers. Other equipment includes bulldozers and ventilation fans.

Drills are a type of mining equipment that serve an important purpose when the mining operation is focused below ground. This is due to the fact that the drills assist miners in the creation of holes that may descend for many feet below ground, creating crucial openings that will serve as a portal for the miners to enter deep into the ground in order to carry out mining operations. Another type of mining equipment that may be utilized to a similar end is a blasting machine that will be used to move the hard rocks that do not allow the drill to pass through. Once this has been accomplished, the excavator will be used to recover the rocks and other debris that may have been dislodged during the drilling and blasting processes. In this sense, the excavator clears the openings and creates the needed space that the miners can access in order to reach their goals.

Aboveground, the more common type of mining equipment utilized is earth movers, which are used to carry loose earth, soil and other particles from one point to another designated location. Without this particular equipment, the dirt and debris will obstruct the mining process as they pile up from where they may have been dislodged. In this type of situation, bulldozers come in very handy as they can be applied toward moving large amounts of debris or to dig holes in strategic designated areas. Another application of the bulldozer would be to clear areas that may be covered with plants or shrubs by utilizing the bucket-like apertures located in the front of such equipment. For the purposes of underground mining, an important inclusion in the useful equipment would be the ventilation fan, a tool that serves as a source of air in situations where the air may be limited, or to mitigate the effects of the fumes that may be generated by activities like blasting.