Lesson 3: Surface Mining Flashcards
What is the process of extracting coal from the ground called?
a) Oil extraction
b) Coal mining
c) Gold mining
d) Tunnel mining
b) Coal mining
Which equipment is commonly used to remove overburden in surface mining?
a) Power shovels
b) Conveyor belts
c) Draglines
d) All of the above
d) All of the above
What is the primary factor in deciding whether to use surface or underground mining?
a) Ore density
b) Depth of the deposit
c) Cost of equipment
d) Surface terrain
b) Depth of the deposit
In which type of strip mining are terraced strips created on a hill?
a) Area strip mining
b) Contour strip mining
c) Auger mining
d) Mountain-top removal
b) Contour strip mining
Which country produces 92% of its coal through Semirara Mining Corporation?
a) United States
b) Australia
c) Philippines
d) China
c) Philippines
What term is used to describe the material that must be removed to access a coal seam?
a) Seam cover
b) Ore cap
c) Overburden
d) Bedrock
c) Overburden
What percentage of coal in Australia is extracted using surface mining?
a) 40%
b) 80%
c) 67%
d) 92%
b) 80%
What is the final destination of coal after being mined?
a) The power plant
b) Coal preparation plant
c) Direct transport to factories
d) All of the above
d) All of the above
Which surface mining method involves benches dug in a circular fashion?
a) Strip mining
b) Open-pit mining
c) Auger mining
d) Mountain-top removal
b) Open-pit mining
Which type of mining uses a cutting head to remove material from thin seams?
a) Contour strip mining
b) Open-pit mining
c) Auger mining
d) Mountain-top removal
c) Auger mining
What kind of mining uses massive machines to remove mountaintops for resource extraction?
a) Auger mining
b) Mountain-top removal
c) Open-pit mining
d) Area strip mining
b) Mountain-top removal
Where is mountain-top removal mining widely used in the United States?
a) California
b) Texas
c) Appalachian coal fields
d) Nevada
c) Appalachian coal fields
What piece of equipment is commonly used for drilling in surface mining?
a) Conveyor belts
b) Hydraulic jack
c) Bucket-wheel excavator
d) Shovel
c) Bucket-wheel excavator
Which of the following is NOT a step in the surface mining process?
a) Removal of overburden
b) Fracturing of coal seam
c) Extraction of ore
d) Boring tunnels
d) Boring tunnels
In which country is surface mining referred to as “colliery”?
a) South Africa
b) United States
c) Australia
d) United Kingdom
d) United Kingdom
True/False. Surface mining is only used when deposits are deep underground.
False. Why it’s false: Surface mining is used when deposits are near the surface. When deposits are deep underground, other methods like underground mining are used instead.
True/False. Auger mining is used to mine thin seams in deep trenches or high-walls.
True
True/False. Overburden must be blasted before being removed in surface mining.
True
True/False. The Philippines’ largest coal producer is Semirara Mining Corporation.
True
True/False. Surface mining is not commonly used in flat terrain.
False. Why it’s false: Surface mining, particularly area strip mining, is commonly used in flat terrain where large, spread-out coal deposits are found.
True/False. Draglines are used to remove coal directly from seams.
False. Why it’s false: Draglines are used to remove overburden (the rock and soil covering the coal seam), not to remove the coal itself. Once the overburden is removed, other equipment is used to extract the coal.
True/False. Open-pit mining is often used when the rock above the ore is weak.
True. Why it’s false: Draglines are used to remove overburden (the rock and soil covering the coal seam), not to remove the coal itself. Once the overburden is removed, other equipment is used to extract the coal.
True/False. Mountaintop removal is common in flat terrain.
False. Why it’s false: Mountaintop removal is used in mountainous terrains where coal deposits are found near the peaks. It’s not used in flat terrain, where other methods like area strip mining would be more appropriate.
True/False. Conveyor belts are used to transport coal after extraction.
True
True/False. Contour strip mining is mostly done in hilly areas.
True
________ is the process of exposing coal seams by removing the overburden above them.
Strip mining
In ________, circular benches are dug around a pit to extract ore.
Open-pit mining
________ mining involves using a cutting head to mine thin seams of coal from high walls.
Auger
The removal of the mountaintop to access coal deposits is called ________.
Mountain-top removal
Heavy equipment like draglines and power shovels are used to remove ________ in surface mining.
Overburden
In contour strip mining, ground material is removed in ________.
Terraces
Coal mined through surface mining methods is usually loaded onto ________ for transport.
Trucks
The prime mover in auger mining provides mounting for the ________ and drive head.
Engine
________ mining accounts for 67% of coal production in the United States.
Surface
The ________ method of mining is used when coal seams are located near the peaks of mountains.
Mountain-top removal
The layer of soil and rock removed to access coal seams.
Overburden
A coal seam exposed by removing the surface in long strips.
Strip mining
A method involving circular benches to extract ore.
Open-pit mining
A process used to remove coal from thin seams using a rotating cutting head.
Auger mining
A surface mining method used in hilly terrains, creating terraces.
Contour strip mining
This mining method removes the top of mountains to extract resources underneath.
Mountain-top removal
A country where 80% of coal production is from surface mining.
Australia
The mining process where coal is transported on conveyor belts after extraction.
Hauling
The equipment used to blast and remove overburden in surface mining.
Dragline
A mining technique often used in flat terrain, involving long strips.
Area strip mining
The prime mover component in auger mining is typically mounted on a ________.
Skid carriage
The term used for a coal mine operation in the United Kingdom.
Colliery
The largest coal-producing company in the Philippines.
Semirara Mining Corporation
The region in the U.S. where mountaintop removal is common.
Appalachian coal fields
The primary reason for using surface mining methods.
Depth of deposit
