Mining and Fracking
By Andrew Powlen Chris Mitchell
There are two types of mining, Surface and Subsurface.
Surface Mining
Examples of this are: strip mining, open pit mining, and mountain top removal mining.
Strip mining is when earth, rock, and other materials is dug into or removed to extract minerals, mostly coal.
Open pit mining is when minerals are removed from a open pit or borrow.
Mountain top removal mining is when coal is extracted from a mountain top by removing the land.
Surface mining destroys habitats, erodes soil, pollutes air though dust particles, and pollutes the air through sediments.
Subsurface Mining
Examples of this are: slope, drift, and shaft mining.
Slope mining is where a access shaft that's sloped at a angle leads towards desired material, which is removed from the shaft.
Drift mining is meaning a near-horizontal passageway in a mine, following the bed, or vein ore.
Shaft mining is excavating a vertical or near-vertical tunnel from the top down, where there is initially no access to the bottom.
Subsurface mining releases hazardous acids and gases which put the mine workers in dangerous work conditions.