Land rehabilitation is important after strip mining, given its direct effect on the soil and vegetation of the environment. Erosion is the most common problem that takes place at surface mines, where thousands of acres of fertile habitats for animals to survive and land to grow plants won’t be restored to their original state. The two primary techniques in strip mining are area mining and contour mining.

Use Recycled Materials

In Oklahoma, a study conducted by Nathan Meleen dealt with a mix of both flat and hilly terrain. The findings were published as a doctoral dissertation in 1977 by Clark University. Area mining, Meleen found, produced far more benign impacts than did xcritical rezension contour stripping.

Basically, when the roof of the mine collapses, it causes the land surface to sink or subside and form a sinkhole. While we’re discussing effects on landscape due to mining operation, it’s imperative to discuss a scenario known as “mine subsidence”. Contour mining necessitates small earth-moving equipment for example bulldozers, backhoes and power shovels — like the equipment in use for usual construction projects. The operator carries on making cuts till the ratio of dirt to coal becomes uneconomic. The procedure then lasts along the contour of the mountain up until the coal resources, or the operator’s resources, are fatigued.

Open-pit mining often (but not always) results in a large hole, or pit, being formed in the process of extracting a mineral. In strip mining a long, narrow strip of mineral is uncovered by a dragline, large shovel, or similar type of excavator. After the mineral has been removed, an adjacent strip is uncovered and its overlying waste material deposited in the excavation of the first strip. Since strip mining is primarily applied to thin, flat deposits of coal, it is not discussed here (see coal mining).

Land Disturbance and Reclamation after Mining

This method is commonly used for mining minerals such as copper, gold, and silver. The mining process involves the removal of the overlying rock and soil layers to access the mineral deposits below. The waste rock and soil are then placed in adjacent areas or backfilled into the pit. Strip mining is a method of mining that involves removing the surface layers of earth to access mineral deposits located close to the surface. This technique is commonly used for extracting coal and other minerals that are found in horizontal seams. By stripping away the overburden, or the layers of soil and rock covering the mineral deposit, miners can efficiently reach and extract the desired materials.

Energy economics

To transport directly up the sides of pit walls, special conveying techniques are under development. As a pit is deepened, more and more waste rock must be stripped away in order to uncover the ore. Eventually there comes a point where the revenue from the exposed ore is less than the costs involved in its recovery. The ratio of the amount of waste rock stripped to ore removed is called the overall stripping ratio. The break-even stripping ratio is a function of ore value and the costs involved.

Mountaintop removal

1. It is safer than underground mining Given that strip mining just covers the surface, workers aren’t exposed to risks like the collapse of a tunnel – a risk that is inherent in underground mining.
2. Highwall mining involves remote deployment of a continuous miner to enter the coal seam at the highwall of the ultimate pit limit and attain additional coal recovery.
3. This focuses the crucial role of topsoil replacement and rapid revegetation as the preeminent needs in reclamation.
4. By integrating modern technology, adhering to environmental regulations, and prioritizing land reclamation, the mining industry can continue to meet global demands while minimizing its ecological footprint.
5. Strip mining, while providing valuable minerals and resources, comes with a host of environmental, social, and economic challenges.

It allows for the extraction of extensive mineral seams with minimal disruption to the surrounding area. Strip mining is particularly effective for extracting coal, phosphate, and other minerals that are found in horizontal seams. It is favored for its ability to recover a high percentage of the mineral deposit with minimal labor costs. Because of their increasing efficiency with larger sizes, the land footprint of a coal power plant can be quite substantial.

The United Mine Workers of America have also voiced dissent on the use of human sewage sludge to reclaim surface mining sites in Appalachia. The group launched their campaign back in 1999 after eight workers took ill after exposure to Class B sludge near their workplace. Strip mining offers several advantages and disadvantages that must be considered when xcritical courses scam evaluating its use. Understanding these pros and cons helps in making informed decisions about mining practices. Further detailed consideration of surface mining disturbance is given by Grim and Hill (1974). Terraced subsidence resulting from the working of seams that show 27–45° dipping and where the land surface slopes.