Open-pit mining, strip mining, and quarrying are three of the most common surface mining types. Details:
- Open-pit mining: A large, exposed pit is dug to extract minerals or rock. It’s widely used for bulk minerals and aggregates where the ore body is near the surface.
- Strip mining: Overburden soil and rock are removed in long, parallel strips to reach the underlying ore, typical for coal, oil sands, and some minerals near the surface.
- Quarrying: A specific type of open-pit mining focused on extracting building materials such as stone, gravel, and aggregates from near-surface beds.
Notes:
- Other surface mining methods you might encounter include mountaintop removal and dredging, but they are less universally applicable than the three listed above.
- The choice among these methods depends on ore depth, geology, overburden characteristics, and environmental/engineering considerations.
