Coal Mining and Processing Methods The National Academies Press
The elements of a surface mining operation are (1) topsoil removal and storage for later use, (2) drilling and blasting the strata overlying the coal seam, (3) loading and transporting this fragmented overburden material (called spoil), (4) drilling and blasting the coal seam, (5) loading and transporting the coal, (6) backfilling with spoil and...