Surface Mining

There are three different types of surface mining. Those include Strip mining, Contour mining, and Mountaintop Removal mining. Strip mining is used when coal is near the surface or when the overburden is unstable. As mining progresses, the overburden is placed in the previous mine cavity. An advantage of strip mining is that it's much cheaper and faster than other surface mining methods. A disadvantage is that it destroys the landscape and environment around it. Contour mining is a type of strip or surface mining that follows the contour of a hill or mountain leaving terraces in the mountain side. An advantage of contour mining is the safety. One disadvantage is soil erosion. Mountaintop Removal mining is when tops of hills are removed to access horizontal coal seams. Following reclamation, the original contour is not restored. This is the most controversial mining method. An advantage of mountaintop removal mining is that the result of the flat land caused by the mining is good for future development. A disadvantage is numerous houses can be damaged due to mining sites being so close.