Mining

Surface Mining

Surface mining is mining on top on the land, not underground. There are three kinds of surface mining: open pit, area strip mining, and contour strip mining. Surface mining is used to mine minerals or rock. Open pit mining is used when the object being mined it closer to the surface. Laws have been made that require open mines to be filled in and returned to how they used to be once it is done being mined. Strip mining is when one strip of land is cleared for mining. The one strip has all of the overburden cleared out and is mined. Once mined it too must be returned to its original state. Contour strip mining is the last kind of mining. This kind of mining fallows the lay of the land. It fallows the hills or other obstacles. All three types of surface mining are important in someway to the industry.

http://library.thinkquest.org/05aug/00461/open.htm http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-strip-mining.htm http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/122975/coal-mining/81660/Contour-strip-mining