Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the main difference between surface mining and underground mining?
What is the main difference between surface mining and underground mining?
- Surface mining involves extracting minerals through shafts, while underground mining involves removing overburden
- Surface mining uses heavy equipment, while underground mining uses manual labor
- Surface mining is practiced in North America, while underground mining is practiced in Europe
- Overburden is removed in surface mining, while it is left in place in underground mining (correct)
What heavy equipment is commonly used to remove overburden in surface mining?
What heavy equipment is commonly used to remove overburden in surface mining?
- Excavators with buckets
- Manual shovels
- Earthmovers (correct)
- Bulldozers
When did the use of surface mining begin in North America?
When did the use of surface mining begin in North America?
- Mid-16th century (correct)
- Early 19th century
- Late 20th century
- Early 18th century
What are the advantages of surface mining over underground mining?
What are the advantages of surface mining over underground mining?
Which large machines are commonly used to extract minerals in surface mining?
Which large machines are commonly used to extract minerals in surface mining?
What is the main purpose of drilling and blasting in mining and civil engineering?
What is the main purpose of drilling and blasting in mining and civil engineering?
Why are higher velocity explosives used in relatively hard rock?
Why are higher velocity explosives used in relatively hard rock?
What is the main reason for using low velocity explosives in soft rocks?
What is the main reason for using low velocity explosives in soft rocks?
What are the most commonly used explosives in mining today?
What are the most commonly used explosives in mining today?
What technology has reduced the reliance on drilling and blasting in certain excavation projects?
What technology has reduced the reliance on drilling and blasting in certain excavation projects?
What is the primary purpose of drilling and blasting in mining and civil engineering?
What is the primary purpose of drilling and blasting in mining and civil engineering?
Why are higher velocity explosives used for relatively hard rock?
Why are higher velocity explosives used for relatively hard rock?
What are the most commonly used explosives in mining today?
What are the most commonly used explosives in mining today?
Before the advent of tunnel boring machines (TBMs), what was the primary method for excavation?
Before the advent of tunnel boring machines (TBMs), what was the primary method for excavation?
What is the result of rock blasting in mining and civil engineering?
What is the result of rock blasting in mining and civil engineering?
Study Notes
Surface Mining vs Underground Mining
- Surface mining involves extracting minerals from the earth's surface, whereas underground mining involves extracting minerals from beneath the earth's surface.
Surface Mining Equipment
- Heavy equipment commonly used to remove overburden in surface mining includes hydraulic excavators, draglines, and bucket-wheel excavators.
History of Surface Mining
- The use of surface mining began in North America in the mid-16th century.
Advantages of Surface Mining
- Surface mining has several advantages over underground mining, including lower costs, increased safety, and higher productivity.
Surface Mining Machinery
- Large machines commonly used to extract minerals in surface mining include hydraulic excavators, draglines, and bucket-wheel excavators.
Drilling and Blasting
- The primary purpose of drilling and blasting in mining and civil engineering is to break up rock formations to facilitate excavation.
Explosives in Mining
- Higher velocity explosives are used in relatively hard rock to increase the efficiency of blasting.
- Low velocity explosives are used in soft rocks to minimize damage to the surrounding rock.
- The most commonly used explosives in mining today are ammonium nitrate and fuel oil (ANFO) and emulsion explosives.
Alternative Excavation Technologies
- The technology that has reduced the reliance on drilling and blasting in certain excavation projects is tunnel boring machines (TBMs).
Pre-TBM Excavation Methods
- Before the advent of tunnel boring machines (TBMs), the primary method for excavation was drilling and blasting.
Rock Blasting
- The result of rock blasting in mining and civil engineering is the fragmentation of rock into smaller pieces, making it easier to excavate.
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Description
Test your knowledge of surface mining methods with this quiz. Learn about strip mining, open-pit mining, mountaintop removal mining, and more. Explore the differences between surface mining and underground mining, and discover the environmental impact of these mining techniques.
