What type of mining is referred to as strip mining?

Strip mining is a method of surface mining that is primarily used to extract coal and minerals found near the earth's surface. In this technique, large strips of soil and rock are removed to access the underlying deposits. This approach is particularly effective for materials that are deposited in horizontal layers, making it economically advantageous for extracting resources in a cost-effective manner.

The process involves clearing a section of land, removing the overburden (the soil and rock that cover the resource), and then extracting the resource from the exposed layer. After mining, the overburden is often used to refill the mined area, helping to restore the land to its original state to some extent.

This method is contrasted with other mining techniques, such as underground or tunnel mining, where access to resources is achieved by creating tunnels and shafts. Strip mining is also not applicable to underwater mining or operations focused on precious metals specifically, as those methods require different approaches suited to their respective environments and materials.