How is coal mined?
Mining is the process of removing coal from the ground. There are two types of mining: underground mining and surface mining. When the coal seam is fewer than 125 feet under the surface, it is mined by surface mining. Coal that is deeper than 125 feet is removed from the ground by underground mining.
Surface Mining
Surface mining is used when a coal seam is located close to the surface. Heavy equipment is used to clear the land of trees, shrubs and topsoil.
Holes are drilled into the rock and explosives are placed in these holes. The explosion breaks up the dirt and rock called overburden.
Large earth-moving machines move the overburden to expose the coal seam. When the coal is uncovered, bulldozers and shovels scoop up the coal and load it into large trucks. All of the coal is mined. In 2000, there were six surface mines in Illinois. The surface mines produced 3,800,000 tons of coal and employed 330 miners. After mining the topsoil is replaced for plants and wildlife to grow again.
Mining is the process of removing coal from the ground. There are two types of mining: underground mining and surface mining. When the coal seam is fewer than 125 feet under the surface, it is mined by surface mining. Coal that is deeper than 125 feet is removed from the ground by underground mining.
Surface Mining
Surface mining is used when a coal seam is located close to the surface. Heavy equipment is used to clear the land of trees, shrubs and topsoil.
The truck will take the topsoil to a special place where it will be saved until mining is finished in this area.
Then the topsoil will be replaced so plants can grow again.
Holes are drilled into the rock and explosives are placed in these holes. The explosion breaks up the dirt and rock called overburden.
Safety inspectors carefully monitor the drilling and blasting process.
Large earth-moving machines move the overburden to expose the coal seam. When the coal is uncovered, bulldozers and shovels scoop up the coal and load it into large trucks. All of the coal is mined. In 2000, there were six surface mines in Illinois. The surface mines produced 3,800,000 tons of coal and employed 330 miners. After mining the topsoil is replaced for plants and wildlife to grow again.
When the trucks are loaded, they will haul the coal to the preparation plant.
Land that has been mined can be used in many ways.