The Coal Region is a region of Northeastern Pennsylvania . It is known for being home to the largest known deposits of anthracite coal in the world with an estimated reserve of seven billion short tons.
67-601: The region is typically defined as comprising five Pennsylvania counties, Carbon County , Lackawanna County , Luzerne County , Northumberland County , and Schuylkill County . It is home to 910,716 people as of the 2010 census. The Coal Region is bordered by Berks , Lehigh , and Northampton Counties (including the Lehigh Valley ) to its south; Columbia and Dauphin Counties to its west; Wyoming County to its north; and Warren County, New Jersey to its east. By
134-429: A "relatively new semi-surface and semi-underground coal mining method that evolved from auger mining". In highwall mining, the coal seam is penetrated by a continuous miner propelled by a hydraulic pushbeam transfer mechanism (PTM). A typical cycle includes sumping (launch-pushing forward) and shearing (raising and lowering the cutterhead boom to cut the entire height of the coal seam). As the coal recovery cycle continues,
201-433: A controlled water-inflow pump system and/or a gas (inert) venting system. Recovery with tunneling shape of drives used by highwall miners is much better than round augering holes, but the mapping of areas that have been developed by a highwall miner are not mapped as rigorously as deep mined areas. Very little soil is displaced in contrast with mountaintop removal; however, it is comparatively more expensive to own and operate
268-422: A form of coal mining that mines coal seams beneath mountaintops by first removing the mountaintop overlying the coal seam. Explosives are used to break up the overburden (rock layers above the seam), which is then removed. The overburden is then dumped by haul trucks into fills in nearby hollows or valleys. MTR involves the mass restructuring of earth in order to reach coal seams as deep as 400 feet (120 m) below
335-437: A highwall miner. Mapping of the outcrop, as well as core hole data and samples taken during the bench-making process, are taken into account to best project the panels that the highwall miner will cut. Obstacles that could be potentially damaged by subsidence and the natural contour of the highwall mine are taken into account, and a surveyor points the highwall miner in a line (theoretical survey plot-line) mostly perpendicular to
402-497: A large area. As each long strip is excavated, the overburden is placed in the excavation produced by the previous strip. Contour mining involves removing the overburden above the mineral seam near an outcrop in hilly terrain, where the mineral outcrop usually follows the contour of the land. Contour stripping is often followed by auger mining into the hillside, to remove more of the mineral. This method commonly leaves behind terraces in mountainsides. Open-pit mining refers to
469-399: A method of extracting rock or minerals from the earth through their removal from an open pit or borrow . This process is done on the ground surface of the earth It is best suited for accessing mostly vertical deposits of minerals. Although open-pit mining is sometimes mistakenly referred to as "strip mining", the two methods are different (see above). Mountaintop removal mining (MTR) is
536-476: A number of effects on the local environment. The negative effects involve soil, water, air, and noise pollution as well as landscape alteration and various other negatives. However, new technology and proper management can make it easier to properly treat the local water supply and restore the local ecology which helps rebuild the environment. Each type of surface mining has its own environmental impact, as laid out below. Strip mining - Once operations have ended,
603-402: A once operational surface mine requires a large sum of money and extensive environmental remediation . These remediation projects can continue on for years after the mine is closed. In some cases, the mining companies go bankrupt leaving abandoned mines with no funding for remediation. In other cases, mining companies are unwilling to pay for remediation, meaning litigation or regulatory action
670-569: A region of the United States with numerous endemic species . Erosion also increases, which can intensify flooding . In the eastern United States, the Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative works to promote the use of trees in mining reclamation. Dredging is a method for mining below the water table. It is mostly associated with gold mining. Small dredges often use suction to bring
737-508: A region where flat land is rare. They also maintain that the new growth on reclaimed mountaintop mined areas is better able to support populations of game animals. Critics contend that mountaintop removal is a disastrous practice that benefits a small number of corporations at the expense of local communities and the environment . A U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) environmental impact statement finds that streams near valley fills sometimes may contain higher levels of minerals in
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#1732765088555804-1077: Is 6a. Average monthly temperatures at Jake Arner Memorial Airport range from 27.8 °F in January to 72.5 °F in July, while at the Pocono interchange of the Turnpike they range from 22.9 °F in January to 68.3 °F in July. Carbon Transit fixed-route bus service consists of Route 701 ( Coaldale - Palmerton ) and Route 702 ( Nesquehoning -Palmerton), both connecting to the LANta Route 325 bus in Palmerton. Carbon Transit also operates CT Flex service in Jim Thorpe , Penn Forest Township , and Kidder Township . Also, Hazleton Public Transit (HPT) bus route 30 serves northwestern Carbon County via Beaver Meadows and Junedale to Weatherly . Audenried
871-409: Is a broad category of mining in which soil and rock overlying the mineral deposit (the overburden ) are removed, in contrast to underground mining , in which the overlying rock is left in place, and the mineral is removed through shafts or tunnels. In North America, where the majority of surface coal mining occurs, this method began to be used in the mid-16th century and is practiced throughout
938-627: Is a county-run park that offers swimming, camping, hiking and cross country skiing in the winter. There are three Pennsylvania state parks in Carbon County: Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities , boroughs , townships , and, in the case of Bloomsburg , a town . The following boroughs and townships are located in Carbon County: Census-designated places are geographical areas designated by
1005-453: Is a health hazard. Although MTR sites are required to be reclaimed after mining is complete, reclamation has traditionally focused on stabilizing rock and controlling erosion, but not always on reforesting the area. Quick-growing, non-native grasses, planted to quickly provide vegetation on a site, compete with tree seedlings, and trees have difficulty establishing root systems in compacted backfill. Consequently, biodiversity suffers in
1072-458: Is regulated by state and local laws, which may vary widely. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) and many more laws deal with the subject of surface mining. In some cases, even with proper legislation in place for surface mining some negative human health and environmental impacts remain. Surface mining can have
1139-714: Is served by HPT route 20 ( Hazleton - McAdoo / Kelayres ). Fullington Trailways provides intercity service to Carbon County with stops in Lehighton and Jim Thorpe . Martz Trailways has a stop in Kidder Township near the Pocono interchange of Interstate 476 for service between Scranton , Wilkes-Barre , Allentown , Quakertown , and Philadelphia . This is an Amtrak Thruway route, connecting to Amtrak trains at 30th Street Station in Philadelphia. Martz also operates casino bus routes to Atlantic City from
1206-485: Is very sensitive and vulnerable to drastic and harmful changes within their ecosystem. Highwall mining - Has a lower environmental impact than mountaintop removal because of the smaller external surface area present but there are still negative side effects. Air and noise pollution from blasting are common environmental effects along with the large tailing piles, which can leach into waterways and numerous ecosystems. Properly cleaning, restoring, and removing hazards from
1273-480: The American Civil War , due largely to the expansion of the mining and railroad industries. English, Welsh, Irish, and German immigrants formed a large portion of this increase. This immigration wave was followed, in turn, by Polish, Slovak, Ruthenian, Ukrainian, Hungarian, Italian, Russian, Belarusian, Jewish, and Lithuanian immigrants. The influence of these immigrant populations is still strongly felt in
1340-468: The Appalachian coal fields of West Virginia , Kentucky , Virginia , and Tennessee in the United States. The profound changes in topography and disturbance of pre-existing ecosystems have made mountaintop removal highly controversial. Advocates of mountaintop removal point out that once the areas are reclaimed as mandated by law, the technique provides premium flat land suitable for many uses in
1407-752: The Eckley Miners' Village , is a museum and preserved historical town owned and administered by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission , which seeks to restore patch towns to their original state. The Coal Region lies north of the Lehigh Valley and Berks County regions, south of the Endless Mountains , west of the Pocono Mountains , and east of the Susquehanna Valley . The region lies at
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#17327650885551474-589: The Lehigh Canal opposite Lehighton . Carbon County was created on March 13, 1843, from parts of Northampton and Monroe counties and was named for the extensive deposits of anthracite coal in the region, where it was first discovered in 1791. Early attempts were made to exploit the deposits by Lehigh Coal Mine Company (1792), whose expeditions broke trail and pioneered river bank sites using mule powered technology to log, saw, and build arks to carry bags of coal to Philadelphia with only scant success. In
1541-537: The Lehigh Valley . It connected across a barrier ridge whose waters originated in the saddle -pass where Hazleton was built. The trail became the Lehigh and Susquehanna Turnpike in 1804. PA Route 93 follows this route with the exception of where modern road building capabilities allowed improved positioning. This road cut 90–100 miles (140–160 km) off a trip from Philadelphia to the Wyoming Valley and
1608-794: The Schuylkill River , and the Audenried area in the northwest corner that drains into the Susquehanna River via the Catawissa Creek . The Lehigh River cuts a gorge between Jim Thorpe and White Haven , which hosts the Lehigh Gorge State Park . Carbon County has a humid continental climate ( Dfa/Dfb ) and is mostly in hardiness zone 6b except for the NE part of the county and higher NW areas where it
1675-547: The U.S. Census Bureau for the purposes of compiling demographic data. They are not actual jurisdictions under Pennsylvania law. Other unincorporated communities, such as villages, may be listed here as well. The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Carbon County. † county seat 40°55′N 75°42′W / 40.92°N 75.70°W / 40.92; -75.70 Surface mining Surface mining , including strip mining , open-pit mining and mountaintop removal mining ,
1742-593: The tailings are placed back into the hole and covered up to make the site resemble the landscape before the mining operation. This process involves the removal of all ground vegetation in the area, which is a detriment to the environment. Topsoil may be placed over the tailing along with planting trees and other vegetation. Another reclamation method involves filling in the hole with water to create an artificial lake. Large tailing piles left behind may contain heavy metals which can leach out acids such as lead and copper and enter into water systems. Open-pit mining - One of
1809-646: The 18th century, the Susquehannock Native American tribe that had inhabited the region was reduced 90 percent in three years of a plague of diseases and possibly war, opening up the Susquehanna Valley and all of Pennsylvania to European settlers. Settlement in the region predates the American Revolution . Both Delaware and Susquehannock power had been broken by disease and wars between Native American tribes before
1876-467: The 19th century, Carbon County was the location of trials and executions of the Molly Maguires , an Irish secret society that had been accused of terrorizing the region. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 387 square miles (1,000 km ), of which 381 square miles (990 km ) is land and 5.9 square miles (15 km ) (1.5%) is water. Blue Mountain forms
1943-618: The British took over the Dutch and Swedish colonies and settled Pennsylvania. The first discovery of anthracite coal in the region occurred in 1762, and the first mine was established 13 years later, in 1775 near present-day Pittston . In 1791, anthracite was discovered by a hunter atop Pisgah Ridge , and by 1792 the Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company began producing and shipping coal to Philadelphia via present-day Jim Thorpe from
2010-770: The Delaware River and feed New York City via the Delaware and Hudson Canal . Pennsylvania began the Delaware Canal to connect the Lehigh Canal to Philadelphia and environs, while funding to build a canal across the Appalachians' Allegheny Mountains to Pittsburgh . In 1827, LC&N built the nation's second railroad, whose Mauch Chunk Switchback Railway ran from Summit Hill to present-day Jim Thorpe . The region's population grew rapidly following
2077-671: The Southeastern and Southwestern Coal Regions, with the divide between the Little Schuylkill River and easternmost tributary of the Schuylkill River with the additional divide line from the Lehigh River watershed extended through Barnesville the determining basins. Carbon County, Pennsylvania Carbon County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania . As of the 2020 census ,
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2144-715: The Southern Anthracite Field and Summit Hill , built between Schuylkill County and what would become Carbon County . In 1818, customers fed up with the inconsistent mismanagement leased the Lehigh Coal Mining Company and founded the Lehigh Navigation Company. Construction of navigation and locks and dams on the Lehigh River rapids, later known as the Lehigh Canal , was completed in 1820. In 1822,
2211-655: The U.S. labor movement occurred within the coal region, which was the home of the Molly Maguires and the location of the Lattimer Massacre . Tours of underground mines can be taken in Ashland , Scranton , and Lansford , each of which have museums dedicated to the region's historic anthracite mining industry. Patch towns and small villages, often historically founded and owned by mining companies, also still exist. While they are no longer company-owned, most of them still exist as boroughs or townships, and one of them,
2278-428: The age of 18 living with them, 54.80% were married couples living together, 9.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.70% were non-families. 26.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.93. In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.20% under
2345-432: The age of 18, 6.90% from 18 to 24, 28.30% from 25 to 44, 24.20% from 45 to 64, and 18.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 94.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.30 males. Carbon County has long been considered a bellwether county for Pennsylvania statewide elections. In gubernatorial elections, it was perfect from 1952 to 2014. At
2412-696: The coal seam, and today's models are capable of going farther, with the support of gyro navigation and not limited anymore by the amount of cable stored on the machine. The maximum depth would be determined by the stress of further penetration and associated specific-power draw (torsion and tension in screw transporters string), but today's optimized screw-transporters conveying embodiments (called pushbeams) with visual product development and discrete element modeling (DEM) using flow simulation behavior software shows smart-drive extended penetrations are possible, even so under steep inclined angles from horizontal to more than 30 degree downhole. In case of significant steep mining
2479-429: The community was attacked by Native Americans. In the late 1780s, the county's settlement at Lehigh Gap failed, and colonizers did not return for a decade, in the late 1780s. In 1791, a homesteader, Phillip Ginter, hunting on Sharp Mountain along Pisgah Mountain discovered a black tone coal outcropping, and conveyed a chunk of it to Weissport . Lehigh Coal Mine Company (LCMC) operations had managed to open up
2546-466: The county in 2000. George W. Bush defeated Democrat John Kerry 49.99% to 48.81%, or a margin of 296 votes, in 2004. Since then, Carbon County has trended Republican relative to the state as a whole; in the 2008 presidential election , John McCain outperformed in Carbon County by 8.5% relative to the state. In the 2012 presidential election , Mitt Romney outperformed by 12.9% relative to
2613-461: The county was 97.82% White , 0.60% Black or African American , 0.16% Native American , 0.31% Asian , 0.03% Pacific Islander , 0.32% from other races , and 0.76% from two or more races. 1.46% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 29.4% were of German , 10.1% Irish , 9.2% Italian , 7.9% American , 6.6% Slovak , 6.0% Polish and 5.8% Ukrainian ancestry. There were 23,701 households, out of which 28.70% had children under
2680-568: The cutterhead is progressively launched into the coal seam for 19.72 feet (6.01 m). Then, the PTM automatically inserts a 19.72-foot-long (6.01 m) rectangular pushbeam (screw-conveyor segment) into the center section of the machine between the Powerhead and the cutterhead. The pushbeam system can penetrate nearly 1,200 feet (370 m) (proven in 2015 till today) into the coal seam. One patented highwall mining system uses augers enclosed inside
2747-426: The environmental impacts are primarily found underwater. The method of extracting material from the seafloor or any water body leads to the harmful risk of marine life. Overall, the effect are far less compared to the other mining methods. The influx of sediment can bury flora and fauna, change water levels and can alter the oxygen content. Water and noise pollution is a concern that must be monitored because marine life
Coal Region - Misplaced Pages Continue
2814-503: The highwall. parallel lines represent the drive cut into the mountain (up to 1,200 feet (370 m) deep (2015 records), without heading or corrective steering actuation on a navigation azimuth during mining results in missing a portion of the coal seam and is a potential danger of cutting in pillars from previous mined drives due to horizontal drift (roll) of the pushbeam-cuttermodule string. Recently highwall miners have penetrated more than 1,200 feet (370 m) (2015 ongoing records into
2881-462: The loose sediment in a pond of its own making. Highwall mining is another form of mining sometimes conducted to recover additional coal adjacent to a surface-mined area. The method evolved from auger mining but does not meet the definition of surface mining since it does not involve the removal of overburden to expose the coal seam. CERB final report No. 2014-004 "Highwall Mining: Design Methodology, Safety, and Suitability" by Yi Luo characterizes it as
2948-439: The mined material up from the bottom of a water body. Historical large-scale dredging operations often used a floating dredge; a barge-like vessel that scoops material up through a conveyor belt on the bow, filters out the desired component on board, and returns the unwanted material to the water via another conveyor belt on the stern. In gravel-filled river valleys with shallow water tables, a floating dredge can work its way through
3015-436: The mineral. Advantages of surface mining include lower cost and greater safety compared to underground mining. Disadvantages include hazards to human health and the environment. Humans face a variety of health risks caused by mining such as different cardiovascular diseases, food, and water contamination. Habitat destruction , alongside air, noise, and water pollution, are all significant negative environmental impacts caused by
3082-480: The mouth area of the Nesquehoning Creek by 1800. This area became known as Lausanne, or Lausanne Landing, after the inn and tavern built there called Landing Tavern. An Amerindian trail crossed the stream near the confluence with Jean's Run and the camp grounds of their boat builders, climbing northwestwards along a traverse to the next water gap west, eroded into the southern flank of Broad Mountain in
3149-607: The nation's largest city. The county seat is Jim Thorpe , which was founded in 1818 as Mauch Chunk. The Lehigh River , a 109-mile-long (175 km) tributary of the Delaware River , flows through Carbon County. In 1745, the first colonial settlement in Carbon County was established by a Moravian mission in Gnadenhutten, in present-day Lehighton . By 1752, increased hostility between colonialists and Native Americans put Gnadenhutten at risk for attack; in 1755,
3216-449: The new mining method phrase should be "directional mining" (commonly used technologies as valuable synergy directional drilling and directional mining are categorized in "surface to in-seam" (SIS) techniques), dry or wet, dewatering is developed or cutting and dredging through screw transporters are proactive in developing a roadmap of the leading global highwall mining engineering company. Historically, moving materials out of surface mines
3283-497: The northern edge of the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians , and draws its name from the vast deposits of anthracite coal that can be found under several of the valleys in the region. The Wyoming Valley is the most densely populated of these valleys, and contains the cities of Wilkes-Barre , Greater Pittston , and Scranton . Hazleton and Pottsville are two of the larger cities in the southern portion of
3350-648: The northern sections of the Coal Region . In 1827, Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company , based in present-day Jim Thorpe , launched the Mauch Chunk Switchback Railway , the nation's second operating railroad. The Beaver Meadow Railroad and Coal Company , also located in Carbon County, was the first railway to operate steam locomotives as traction engines and prime movers in the United States. The Mauch Chunk Switchback Railway connected mines west of Beaver Meadows and Weatherly to
3417-417: The ore body to be excavated is relatively near the surface and/or is mostly horizontal. This type of mining uses some of the largest machines on earth, including bucket-wheel excavators which can move as much as 12,000 cubic meters (16,000 cu. yd.) of earth per hour. There are two forms of strip mining. The more common method is area stripping , which is used on fairly flat terrain, to extract deposits over
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#17327650885553484-541: The population was 64,749. The county is part of the Northeast Pennsylvania region of the state. The county borders Lehigh and Northampton counties in the state's Lehigh Valley region to its south, Monroe County to its east, Luzerne County to its north, and Schuylkill County to its west. The county is approximately 33 miles (53 km) northwest of Allentown , the state's third-largest city, and 117 miles (188 km) west of New York City ,
3551-407: The presidential level, Carbon County has also been a bellwether for Pennsylvania until recently with only one miss (the 1960 presidential election ) between 1916 presidential election and the 2000 presidential election , and with a margin within 3.5 points of the statewide margin in every election from 1940 to 2000 except 1964 (5.3% more Democratic) and 1976 (6.9% more Democratic). Al Gore carried
3618-534: The pushbeam that prevent the mined coal from being contaminated by rock debris during the conveyance process. Using a video imaging and/or a gamma-ray sensor and/or other geo-radar systems like a coal-rock interface detection sensor (CID), the operator can see ahead projection of the seam-rock interface and guide the continuous miner's progress. Highwall mining can produce thousands of tons of coal in contour-strip operations with narrow benches, previously mined areas, trench mine applications, and steep-dip seams by utilizing
3685-523: The region, with various towns featuring and offering various ethnic characters and cuisine. In 1959, the Knox Mine Disaster served as a death knell for deep mining, leading to its ultimate shutdown in the mid-1960s; almost all current anthracite mining is done via strip mining. Strip mines and fires, most notably in Centralia , remain visible. Several violent incidents in the history of
3752-573: The region. The Lehigh and Schuylkill rivers both originate within the region, while the much larger Susquehanna River skirts the northern edge. Academics have made the distinction between the North Anthracite Coal Field and the South Anthracite Coal Field, the lower region bearing the further classification Anthracite Uplands in physical geology. The Southern Coal Region can be further broken into
3819-403: The side effects of surface mining. There are five main types of surface mining as detailed below. Strip mining is the practice of mining a seam of mineral, by first removing a long strip of overlying soil and rock (the overburden ); this activity is also referred to as overburden removal . It is most commonly used to mine coal and lignite (brown coal) . Strip mining is only practical when
3886-476: The southern boundary of Carbon County. The northeast area of the county is located in the Pocono Mountains and the northwest area includes portions of Broad and Spring mountains . The county is drained by the Lehigh River except for a small area in western Packer Township and the borough of Lansford that are drained by the Still Creek and Panther Creek, respectively, into the Little Schuylkill River and
3953-875: The state. In the 2020 presidential election , Donald Trump won the county overwhelmingly with 65.4% of the vote, the largest presidential victory in the county of any presidential candidate since Lyndon Johnson 's landslide in 1964 presidential election . As of February 7, 2024, there were 43,217 registered voters in the county. There are 21,871 (50.61%) registered Republicans , 14,592 (33.76%) registered Democrats , 4,723 (10.93%) voters registered non-affiliated voters, and 2,031 (4.70%) voters registered to other parties . Chart of Voter Registration School districts include: Carbon Career and Technical Institute, public school located in Jim Thorpe The public and private K-12 schools in Carbon County are served by Carbon-Lehigh Intermediate Unit 21. Mauch Chunk Lake
4020-529: The stop. Jake Arner Memorial Airport in Lehighton provides general aviation. The nearest commercial passenger service is at Lehigh Valley International Airport or Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport . As of the 2000 census, there were 58,802 people, 23,701 households, and 16,424 families residing in the county. The population density was 154 people per square mile (59 people/km ). There were 30,492 housing units at an average density of 80 units per square mile (31/km ). The racial makeup of
4087-859: The surface. Mountaintop removal replaces the original steep landscape with a much flatter topography. Economic development attempts on reclaimed mine sites include prisons such the Big Sandy Federal Penitentiary in Martin County, Kentucky , small-town airports, golf courses such as Twisted Gun in Mingo County, West Virginia and Stonecrest Golf Course in Floyd County, Kentucky , as well as industrial scrubber sludge disposal sites, solid waste landfills, trailer parks, explosive manufacturers, and storage rental lockers. This method has been increasingly used in recent years in
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#17327650885554154-518: The two companies merged as the Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company (LC&N). By 1824, the company was shipping large volumes of coal down the Lehigh and Delaware Canals. Meanwhile, three brothers had similar ideas from near the turn of the century, and about the same time began mining coal in Carbondale , 15 miles (24.1 km) northeast of Scranton, but high enough to run a gravity railroad to
4221-572: The waste rock of which is used to flatten out the surrounding land by infilling rivers and valleys. This is very destructive as it physically permanently alters the landscape and the associated ecosystem. Throughout the Appalachians in states such as Kentucky and Virginia, mountaintop removal is a common mining method where whole forests are cleared and the area becomes vulnerable to possible landslides, with restoration sometimes being too difficult/costly. Dredging - A form of surface mining where
4288-416: The water and decreased aquatic biodiversity . The statement also estimates that 724 miles (1,165 km) of Appalachian streams were buried by valley fills from 1985 to 2001. Blasting at a mountaintop removal mine expels dust and fly-rock into the air, which can then disturb or settle onto private property nearby. This dust may contain sulfur compounds, which some claim corrode structures and tombstones and
4355-404: The world in the mining of many different minerals. In North America, surface mining gained popularity throughout the 20th century, and surface mines now produce most of the coal mined in the United States . In most forms of surface mining, heavy equipment , such as earthmovers, first remove the overburden. Next, large machines, such as dragline excavators or bucket-wheel excavators , extract
4422-405: The world's largest types of mine and the size of these operations leave behind massive landscape scars, destruction to environmental habitats, and substantial clean-up cost. An open-pit mine can yield an enormous quantity of waste rock, sinkholes can form down the road, flooding and similar negative impacts as strip mining. Mountaintop removal mining - Involves the removal of whole mountaintops,
4489-530: Was accomplished through manual labor, horse-drawn vehicles, and/or mining railways. Current practices tend to use haul trucks on haul roads designed into the features of the mine. Federal governments have imposed multiple laws and regulations which mining companies have to strictly follow. In the United States, the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 mandates reclamation of surface coal mines. Reclamation for non-coal mines
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