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Mining activities are notorious for altering the landscape, further causing increased visual impact. However, research regarding the perceived intrusion of mining remains mostly qualitative. In this paper, the gaze of fifteen university students was recorded using eye tracking experimentation while observing a set of mining landscape photographs. Pertinent analyses were applied to visualize, quantify and interpret their viewing patterns. First findings show the overwhelming dominance of the quarry area within the photographs, while other factors such as the relative position of the quarry appear to exert a major influence.