Estimates of coal which can be strip mined should not be interpreted to mean that this coal can only be strip mined. Strip mining began as a process of recovering coal which was located quite near the surface of the earth or at the "outcrop" on a hillside. But now it is common to strip mine coal which is buried beneath 80 to 150 feet or more of rock, quite enough rock to support the roof of an underground mine.

Because of its low sulfur content, Western coal is generally preferred over Eastern coal for environmental reasons. As a result, Western coal is being strip mined at unprecedented rates.

Strip mine

Meaning

Noun

Verb

Synonyms