What does strip mining involve?

Strip mining involves removing layers of soil and rock to expose and extract minerals that are located close to the surface. This method is particularly effective for minerals that are positioned in horizontal beds, such as coal, lignite, and certain metals. By stripping away the overburden, which is the layer of soil and rock covering the mineral deposit, miners can access the resource directly, making the extraction process more efficient and less costly than other methods.

This technique typically involves heavy machinery such as draglines, power shovels, and trucks to facilitate the movement of large volumes of material quickly. The process is designed to be less disruptive to the overall landscape compared to underground mining, but it does have significant environmental implications that often require careful management and rehabilitation programs after mining operations are completed.

In contrast, the other options listed relate to different mining practices or aspects that do not define strip mining. For instance, while rehabilitation is important in mining overall, it is not specifically inherent to the definition of strip mining. Deep mining operations refer to different techniques that dig shafts underground to extract resources located much deeper beneath the surface, which is completely different from the surface-level operations of strip mining. Furthermore, using explosives is a technique often associated with underground mining or certain surface mining practices