- published: 26 Oct 2012
- views: 9461
Surface mining (also commonly called strip mining, though this is actually only one possible form of surface mining), is a type of mining in which soil and rock overlying the mineral deposit (the overburden) are removed. It is the opposite of underground mining, in which the overlying rock is left in place, and the mineral removed through shafts or tunnels.
Surface mining began in the mid-sixteenth century and is practiced throughout the world, although the majority of surface mining occurs in North America. It gained popularity throughout the 20th century, and is now the predominant form of mining in coal beds such as those in Appalachia and America's Midwest.
In most forms of surface mining, heavy equipment, such as earthmovers, first remove the overburden. Next, huge machines, such as dragline excavators or Bucket wheel excavators, extract the mineral.
There are five main forms of surface mining, detailed below.
"Strip mining" is the practice of mining a seam of mineral by first removing a long strip of overlying soil and rock (the overburden). It is most commonly used to mine coal. Strip mining is only practical when the ore body to be excavated is relatively near the surface. This type of mining uses some of the largest machines on earth, including bucket-wheel excavators which can move as much as 12,000 cubic meters of earth per hour.
Base Metals - Surface Mining
Staying On Top - Global Surface Mining
Cat Surface Mining Product Demo
Surface Mining Excavators Jump Into Digital Age
AMERICA REVEALED | Where Does Our Coal Come From? | PBS
Surface Mining Simulator: I'm like WTF? and I LIKE SIM GAMES!!!
How is coal mined? - What is Surface Mining and Underground Mining - Video
Surface Mining Animation: Vermeer T1655 Terrain Leveller Strip Mining Bulk Excavation Methodology
Take a Virtual Tour of Black Thunder Coal Mine
Vermeer T1255TL Surface Mining Solid Limestone approx 100 to 130 Mpa
Simulator Madness - Surface Mining Simulator
Open Pit Coal Mine