| strip mine n. An open mine, especially a coal mine, whose seams or outcrops run close to ground level and are exposed by the removal of topsoil and overburden. |
strip mine (str p) An open mine, especially a coal mine, whose seams or outcrops run close to ground level and are exposed by the removal of overlying soil and rock. Strip mining can extract coal covered by as much as 60 m (200 ft) of rock and soil. If the seams roll through hills instead of lying flat, a series of tiers or contours are used to extract the coal or ore. Strip mining has been criticized for being ecologically destructive and for causing pollution of water resources, as the removed soil and rock are often dumped in lower-lying areas. Mining operators are sometimes required to restore soil and vegetation and to clean up the mining site. |
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  strip mine - an open mine (usually for coal) where the seams run close to the surfacemine - excavation in the earth from which ores and minerals are extracted |
| Verb | 1. | strip mine - extract (ore) from a strip-mine mining, excavation - the act of extracting ores or coal etc from the earth mine - get from the earth by excavation; "mine ores and metals" |
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