Show strip mining of coal Is common in some sections strip mining is a method of coal mining that is employed extensively in some parts of the country it de rives its name from the manner in which the top soil is stripped 0 oi the surface to permit e excavation I 1 pf f coal this method of getting coal out of the ground is used when the coal vein is close to the surface of the earth under such conditions states a writer in the chicago trib une it is more economical than to drive a shaft into the ground and tunnel for coal as is done in most mining operations technological improvements in the equipment used in strip mining have given the industry new life in recent years highly mechanized operations permit the removal of the top soil at relatively small cost after which the coal is excavated and loaded into surface cars or trucks for removal to the washing and preparation plant the principal equipment used is an excavating machine for stripping the soil off the coal and a smaller excavator for loading the coal tive cost of the equipment is relatively high but labor costs are small in proportion the proper equipment it is profitable to go down 50 feet for a layer of coal five feet in depth more top soil may be economically re moved when a richer vein is tapped |