Hydraulic mining uses high-pressure water jets to break up soft rock and minerals and transport them away as slurries. It is particularly useful for extracting precious stones where explosives could damage them. The cutting rate depends on water pressure, flow rate, and nozzle design. After breaking the rock, the slurry is piped long distances in some cases. Hydraulic mining is productive, economical, and safer than conventional mining methods. It has potential applications for extracting many types of soft rocks and minerals.