As we go about our day-to-day lives, we’re regularly exposed to the benefits of mining. Precious metals and resources are used in everything from our homes to our cars, our neighborhoods, and our computers–almost every product we use has elements taken from below the surface of the earth.

Fluctuating commodity prices, geopolitical factors, and finding minerals make mining a risky venture, but as all investors know, high risks come with high rewards. The mining industry is fraught with big return success stories and the line between failure or returns often comes down to understanding the industry.