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Which is a type of mining where mountaintops are blown off and the resource is extracted?

A. subsurface mining
B. mountaintop removal
C. strip mining
D. placer mining

Answer :

The type of mining where mountaintops are blown off and the resource is extracted is called mountaintop removal.

Mountaintop removal is a method of surface mining mostly used to extract coal in the Appalachian Mountains of the United States. The process involves the following steps:

  1. Clearing the Land: The area is cleared of trees and vegetation.

  2. Blasting: Explosives are used to remove several hundred feet of mountaintop, exposing the underlying coal seams.

  3. Resource Extraction: Large machinery, such as draglines, are utilized to remove the exposed coal.

  4. Waste Management: The leftover rock and soil, known as 'overburden', are often pushed into nearby valleys, a practice known as 'valley fills.'

  5. Site Reclamation: Once mining is completed, efforts are made to reshape the land, restore vegetation, and minimize environmental impact.

Mountaintop removal is controversial due to its environmental impacts, including deforestation, loss of biodiversity, and alteration of watersheds and the hydrological balance in the area. Despite the environmental concerns, it is favored for accessing coal resources that are not economically viable through other methods.

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