How does strip mining uncover a coal seam?

Strip mining uncovers a coal seam by removing the soil and rock, known as overburden, that lies above it. The process generally involves clearing vegetation, removing soil, and, if necessary, drilling and blasting the overburden to expose the mineral deposit.1

The specific technique used depends on the terrain and deposit geometry:

• Area mining: Used for near-surface, flat-lying deposits, this method progresses in a series of parallel deep trenches or strips. Large equipment, such as a stripping shovel, is often employed to dig into the overburden and deposit it into adjacent mined-out areas.12
• Contour mining: Practiced in hilly or mountainous terrain, this method follows the outcrop of a coal seam along a hillside, creating a bench.13

Once the overburden is removed, the exposed coal is extracted. Modern operations prioritize reclamation, which involves restoring the land and reestablishing vegetation concurrently with the mining process to mitigate environmental damage.14