The minecart or mine cart is a transportation tool for moving ore and materials in the process of mining. Minecarts are seldom used in modern operations. Shaped like large, rectangular buckets, minecarts ride on steel tracks and are pushed or pulled by men, animals, or engines. Minecarts range in size and usage, and are usually made of metal for hauling ore. Throughout the world, there are different titles for such carts. In South Africa, for instance, a minecart is referred to as a "cocopan".[1]
Minecarts were very important in the history of technology because they evolved into railways. See: History of rail transport
Minecarts have been depicted as a type of thrill ride; for instance Indiana Jones used one in an escape scene. Similar minecart escape levels are common in video games, especially the Donkey Kong Country series. A minecart is also featured in Hoodwinked. Minecarts have also been popularized in the computer game Minecraft as a form of fast transportation.