Types of Surface Mines
There are three main types of surface mining: strip mining, open pit mining, and mountain top removal mining.
Strip Mining
Strip mining is most commonly used to mine coal or tar sand. It is a type of surface mining that involves excavating earth, rock, and other material to uncover a mineral reserve. The mineral reserve is extracted after the overlying soil and rock, called overburden, is removed.
Open Pit Mining
Open pit mining is a method of extracting rock or minerals by removing them from the earth through an open pit or borrow pit.
Mountaintop Removal Mining
Mountaintop removal mining is a type of surface mining that involves the mining of a summit or summit ridge of a mountain. Coal seams are extracted from the mountain by removing the overburden above the seams. It is the most common method of coal mining in the Appalachian Mountains.
To learn more about MSHA Part 48 training requirements visit our MSHA Part 48 Subpart B Surface Mining Online Training web page.
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