What is surface mining?
Q: What is surface mining?
A: Surface mining is a method of mining that involves the removal of soil and rock overlying the mineral deposit to access the material, such as coal, below it.
Q: What are the three types of surface mining?
A: The three types of surface mining are strip mining, open-pit mining, and mountaintop removal mining.
Q: How does surface mining differ from underground mining?
A: Surface mining removes the overlying rock and soil to access the mineral deposit, while underground mining leaves the overlying rock in place and accesses the mineral through shafts or tunnels.
Q: What heavy equipment is used in surface mining?
A: Heavy equipment, such as earthmovers and excavators, are used in surface mining to remove the overburden and extract the mineral.
Q: When did surface mining gain popularity?
A: Surface mining gained popularity throughout the 20th century and became the primary method of coal mining in regions such as Appalachia and America's Midwest.
Q: What is the purpose of removing the overburden in surface mining?
A: The purpose of removing the overburden in surface mining is to access the mineral deposit below it.
Q: What are some examples of machines used to extract minerals in surface mining?
A: Examples of machines used to extract minerals in surface mining include dragline excavators and Bucket-wheel excavators.
