overburden

geology

Also known as: capping

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July 1, 2026

Quick Summary

In geology, overburden refers to the material that lies on top of a deposit of useful geologic materials or bedrock. This material must be removed to access the desired resources, particularly in surface mining operations.12

In the context of surface coal mining, draglines are the primary equipment used for removing overburden. These machines are capable of digging and dispersing large volumes of material, allowing access to the coal seams beneath. The term "overburden" can also be used more generally to describe filling or loading something to excess, such as a backpack with too much gear.234

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coal mining
Contour strip mining
…method consists of removing the overburden above the coal seam and then, starting at the outcrop and proceeding along the hillside, creating a bench around the hill. In the past, the blasted overburden spoil was simply shoved down the hill; currently, soil is either carried down the mountain to fill…
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…method consists of removing the overburden above the coal seam and then, starting at the outcrop and proceeding along the hillside, creating a bench around the hill. In the past, the blasted overburden spoil was simply shoved down the hill; currently, soil is either carried down the mountain to fill…
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metamorphic rock
Reactions in a kaolinite-quartz system
…load on top, known as overburden. At the same time, the temperature will increase because of radioactive heating within the sediment and heat flow from deeper levels within Earth.
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…load on top, known as overburden. At the same time, the temperature will increase because of radioactive heating within the sediment and heat flow from deeper levels within Earth.
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coal mining
Shovels and trucks
Overburden removal is the most important operation in the system. When the haul distances are small (for example, 500 to 1,000 metres) and the overburden material soft, a fleet of scrapers can load, haul, and dump the overburden. Where distances are very small (for example,…
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Overburden removal is the most important operation in the system. When the haul distances are small (for example, 500 to 1,000 metres) and the overburden material soft, a fleet of scrapers can load, haul, and dump the overburden. Where distances are very small (for example,…
Read More