Mining
By: Landon Stillitano & Maddie Rorie
Surface Mining
Surface mining is when the overburden is removed and is then blasted. From the blast, coal and other minerals are extracted.
Effects of Surface Mining
Destroys landscapes, vegetation, and wildlife. The removal of these plants lead to soil erosion.
Strip mining
The process of mining a seam of minerals in a strip.
Open Pit Mining
A method of extracting rocks or minerals from the Earth through a open pit or borrow.
Mountain Top Removal
A from of coal mining that uses explosives to blast overburden off the top of mountains
Subsurface Mining
The extraction of ores and minerals from underground
Effects of Subsurface Mining
Hazardous acid, mine drainage, changes pH levels
Not much effect on surface but hazardous to miners
Slope
A method of accessing valuable geological material.
Shaft
A method of excavating a vertical or near-vertical tunnel from the top down.
Drift
A near-horizontal passage in a mine
Fracking
Fracking is the use of pressurized water and chemicals forced into a hole to release natural gas. Some consequences are that it contaminates ground water, exposure to toxic chemicals, change in the climate, can cause water deficiency and fracking induced earthquakes.