Open cut mining

An open cut coal mine in Wyoming, USA.
Source: This image is from BLM Wyoming

Open cut mining involves mining coal from or near the surface of the earth.

Huge earth moving machines are used to 'scrape' the coal from an area, which also results in clearing all of the vital topsoil and growing plants from the surface of the open cut mine. As you can imagine, that can be really destructive to plant and animal life around the area!

This type of mine is very common in Australia. In 2004, nearly 80 per cent of Australia’s coal was produced from open cut mines. (Australian Coal Association ).

In the past when no more coal could be found at open cut mines, they were often left as rocky areas where few plants or animals could live.

However, today companies involved in open cut mining are required by Government regulations and their own policies to rehabilitate mine sites after they have finish mining.

This rehabilitation is now generally well planned. Before mining begins, the topsoil is stripped off and stockpiled so that it can be replaced after mining operations are complete. Environmental scientists are employed to plan and supervise the replanting of the mine site; and to ensure that the area returns as closely as possible to its original state.