strip mine

plural strip mines · alternative strip-mine · alternative stripmine

1. A mine where the material above the ore is removed (stripped) to expose it for removal and use.

present singular third person strip mines · participle present strip mining · participle past strip mined · past strip mined · alternative strip-mine · alternative stripmine

1. alternativeAlternative spelling of strip-mine.

   Because of its low sulfur content, Western coal is generally preferred over Eastern coal for environmental reasons. As a result, Western coal is being strip mined at unprecedented rates.

   1978, Lorne G. Everett, Groundwater Quality Monitoring of Western Coal Strip Mining: Identification and Priority Ranking of Potential Pollution Sources, Volume 1, Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Environmental Monitoring and Support Laboratory, page 1

   1 more example

   Estimates of coal which can be strip mined should not be interpreted to mean that this coal can only be strip mined. Strip mining began as a process of recovering coal which was located quite near the surface of the earth or at the "outcrop" on a hillside. But now it is common to strip mine coal which is buried beneath 80 to 150 feet or more of rock, quite enough rock to support the roof of an underground mine.

   1971, Richard Cartwright Austin, Peter Borrelli, The Strip Mining of America: An Analysis of Surface Coal Mining and the Environment, Sierra Club, page 18

   Synonyms: opencast mine, open-pit mine