surface mine
Exposed ore extraction
A surface mine is an excavation that extracts minerals or other materials from near the earth's surface rather than through underground tunnels.
Strip mines, open-pit mines, and quarries are all surface mines.
The method is typically cheaper than underground mining but causes more visible environmental disruption: The surface mine left a massive scar across the hillside.
- open pitSurface-level excavation site
- quarryPit for extracting rock
- excavationAct of unearthing
- oreMetal-bearing rock
- coalCombustible sedimentary rock
dragline · overburden · dump truck · blast · copper · gravel · pit · earthmoving · bulldozer · heavy machinery · terraced · crater · extraction · mineral · raw materials · shovel · dust · dirt road