strip mine
Open-pit extraction
A strip mine is a surface mining operation where overlying rock and soil are removed in long strips to expose ore or coal deposits beneath.
The technique devastates landscapes, leaving terraced scars across hillsides: The strip mine turned the mountain into a moonscape.
As a verb, to strip-mine is to extract resources this way, or figuratively to exploit something thoroughly: They strip-mined the company for assets.
Combustible sedimentary rock
- oreMetal-bearing rock
- overburdenLoad beyond capacity
- draglineHeavy digging machine
- highwallVertical excavation face
pit · seam · deposit · removal · excavation · bench · cut · haul
Bladed vehicle pushing earth
- excavatorMachine that digs earth
- draglineHeavy digging machine
- dump truckHinged-bed hauling vehicle
- conveyorMechanism that transports items
loader · shovel · earthmover · crusher · drill · backhoe · dredge · grader
Recovery of something lost
- erosionGradual wearing away
- habitat lossElimination of living spaces
- pollutionEnvironmental harm from waste
- tailingsPost-extraction mineral waste
sedimentation · contamination · runoff · deforestation · groundwater · ecosystem damage · revegetation · remediation
Permanent mark formation
- devastationSevere widespread destruction
- wastelandUninhabitable barren region
- pitFruit's hard seed
- desolationState of complete emptiness
barren · crater · highwall · bench · terrace · spoil heap · void · gash
coal
Combustible sedimentary rock
- oreMetal-bearing rock
- overburdenLoad beyond capacity
- draglineHeavy digging machine
highwall · pit · seam · deposit · removal · excavation · bench · cut · haul · recovery
bulldozer
Bladed vehicle pushing earth
- excavatorMachine that digs earth
- draglineHeavy digging machine
- dump truckHinged-bed hauling vehicle
conveyor · loader · shovel · earthmover · crusher · drill · backhoe · dredge · grader · scraper
reclamation
Recovery of something lost
- erosionGradual wearing away
- habitat lossElimination of living spaces
- pollutionEnvironmental harm from waste
tailings · sedimentation · contamination · runoff · deforestation · groundwater · ecosystem damage · revegetation · remediation · watershed
scarring
Permanent mark formation
- devastationSevere widespread destruction
- wastelandUninhabitable barren region
- pitFruit's hard seed
desolation · barren · crater · highwall · bench · terrace · spoil heap · void · gash · blighted
coal
Combustible sedimentary rock
- copperReddish-brown metallic element
- iron oreExtractable metallic mineral deposit
- bauxiteAluminum hydroxide ore
phosphate · lignite · uranium · nickel · oil sands · tar sands · rare earths · lithium · sulfur · gypsum
- mininggold, coal, oil, shafts, silver
- resource sitesquarry, oil well, oil field, gas field, oil rig
- coal powercoal dust, coal seam, coal yard, coal bunker, anthracite
- man-made terraincanal, dike, levee, embankment, landfill
- Mining Heritagecolliery, coal town, coal dust, pithead, minecart
- overexploitationoverfishing, overfish, overhunting, overharvest, overgrazing
strip minenature preserve
Protected natural habitat area
wildlife sanctuary · protected wilderness · conservation area · national park · nature reserve
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