A pickaxe is a hand tool used for breaking up hard surfaces, such as soil, rock, or concrete. It typically consists of a long handle made of wood or metal, with a pointed end on one side and a flat blade on the other. The pointed end is used for piercing, while the flat blade is effective for digging and prying. Pickaxes are commonly used in construction, mining, and gardening. They are essential tools for workers in the mining industry, where they help extract valuable minerals from the earth. Additionally, gardeners use pickaxes to break up compacted soil and prepare garden beds.