Types of mining
by Jordan Qian, William Rhodes
Surface Mining
Examples are open pits, surface coal mines, quarries.
Strip Mining
Facts-The most common association of strip mining is with coal.
Strip Mining is used for near-surface, relatively flat sedimentary mineral deposits.
The common strip-mining techniques are classified as area mining or contour mining based on the mineral type.
Effects
Wild life damage: Strip mining exposes heavy metal and chemical compound into the environment, which destroys the animal habitat.
Damage to land resources: Strip mining destroys the soil layers and eliminate the vegetation and beneficial micro-organisms.
Open pit
Effects: Open pit mining disturb is flow of surface and ground water.
Mountain top removal
Effects: Mountaintop removal dumps its waste from the explosion into the nearby head waters, which cause ecological damage.
Subsurface mining
Examples are subsurface coal mines, ore mines.
Slope mining
Effects: Slope mining disturbs ground water flow.
Drift mining
Shaft mining
Fracking
What is it&How is it Done?
Effects
Fact: Methane concentration are 17x higher than that of water in drinking wells near fracturing sites.