Surface Mining

Strip Mining is used when coal is near the surface or when the overburden is unstable. As the mining progresses the overburden is placed in the previous mine coal. Contour Mining is a type of sttrip or surface mining followa the contour of a hill or mountain leaving terraces in the mountainside. Mountaintop Removel tops of hills are removed to access horizontal coal seams. Overburden is pushed to areas between high elevations. Following reclamation, the original contour is not restored. This is the most controversial mining method.




Shrip Mining
advantages -Filling the adjacent empty pits with the overburden is systemic to the process and therefore insures the genesis of mined-land land reclamation.
disadvantages- Pollution.

Contour Mining
advantages-disadvantages-




Mountaintop Removel
advantages-safer for the miners to surface mine and that using coal is a clean source of energy.
disadvantages-severely detrimental to the environment and the communities that surround the mining sites.


nformation
http://www.eoearth.org/article/Strip_mining
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_the_disadvantages_of_strip_mining
http://iml.jou.ufl.edu/projects/spring07/Bartlett/effects.html



pictures
http://visual.merriam-webster.com/energy/geothermal-fossil-energy/coal-mine/strip-mine.php
http://energyinvestingnews.com/273-north-american-gem-inc-blue-gem-coal-in-kentucky.html
http://www.mountainroadshow.com/gallery/index.html