Area mining definition
Area mining means a method of surface coal mining that involves making a series of parallel mining cuts against the highwall created from the initial mining cut. Spoil from each subsequent cut is placed in the preceding cut where coal has been removed and, as a result, area mining forms a series of parallel spoil ridges. Area mining along the contour differs from contour mining in that at least three successive parallel cuts are made from the initial cut.
Area mining means a method of surface coal mining that involves making a series of parallel mining cuts against the highwall created from the initial mining cut. Spoil from each subsequent cut is placed in the preceding cut where coal has been removed and, as a result, area mining forms a