box cut

mining

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Last updated

June 22, 2026

Quick Summary

A "box cut" in mining refers to the initial trench or excavation made from the surface to expose a portion of a mineral seam, such as coal. This method is typically used in area strip mining, which is applied in flat terrain.1

The process involves clearing land, removing topsoil, drilling, and blasting the overburden (rock and soil above the mineral seam) to access the deposit. After the mineral is extracted, subsequent parallel cuts are made, with the overburden from new cuts used to fill the voids of previous ones. This continues until further mining becomes uneconomical. An opencut mine is any mine working where excavation is done from the surface.12

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coal mining
Area strip mining
…with a trench or “box cut” made through the overburden to expose a portion of the coal seam. This trench is extended to the limits of the property in the strike direction. After coal removal, a second cut is made parallel to the first one, and the overburden material…
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…with a trench or “box cut” made through the overburden to expose a portion of the coal seam. This trench is extended to the limits of the property in the strike direction. After coal removal, a second cut is made parallel to the first one, and the overburden material…
Read More