Method of strip mining

Claim 1

A method of strip mining comprising the steps of: defining an elongate active mining area in a mining ground, said active mining area including a longitudinal axis, a leading end at one end of said longitudinal axis, a following end at the other end of said longitudinal axis, and a highwall intersecting said ends; defining a plurality of benches in said active mining area, one of which forms a lowermost bench for supporting earth moving machinery and the other benches being located in said highwall to form a plurality of benches in said highwall above said lowermost bench; positioning earth moving machinery on said lowermost bench; continuously removing overburden from adjacent said leading end; continuously transferring said removed overburden along said longitudinal axis on an overburden removal path which is located in said highwall benches, and which is spaced above said lowermost bench and which is located substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis to a rear location behind said following end, said overburden removal path being spaced apart and above said lowermost bench to be located so that the removed overburden moving in said overburden removal path and equipment used to move that removed overburden in that path does not interfere with the earth moving machinery located on said lowermost bench; elevating that removed overburden which is located in said overburden removal path adjacent said active mining area following end from said overburden removal path in said highwall benches to a position adjacent the top of said highwall; covering the mining area behind said following end by spilling said removed and elevated overburden over the highwall onto said lowermost bench; depositing said spilled overburden into a spoil bank located immediately behind said following end; shaping said spoil bank to match the contour of the mining ground adjacent said active mining area; continuously removing coal from said active mining area while said overburden is being moved from adjacent said leading end to said rear end, said active mining area along with said overburden removal path being continously moved in the direction of said longitudinal axis across a mining ground by said continous overburden removing and transferring steps; and continuously shaping said spoil bank whereby the contour of the land is continuously restored behind the moving active mining area as the active mining area moves across the mining ground.

Claim 2

A method of strip mining comprising the steps of: defining an elongate active mining area in a mining ground, said active mining area including a longitudinal axis, a leading end at one end of said longitudinal axis, a following end at the other end of said longitudinal axis, and a highwall intersecting said ends; defining a plurality of benches in said active mining area, one of which forms a lowermost bench for supporting earth moving machinery and the other benches being located in said highwall to form a plurality of benches in said highwall above said lowermost bench; positioning earth moving machinery on said lowermost bench; continuously removing overburden from adjacent said leading end; continuously transferring said removed overburden along said longitudinal axis on an overburden removal path which is located in said highwall benches, and which is spaced above said lowermost bench and which is located substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis to a rear location behind said following end, said overburden removal path being spaced apart and above said lowermost bench to be located so that the removed overburden moving in said overburden removal path and equipment used to move that removed overburden in that path does not interfere with the earth moving machinery located on said lowermost bench; elevating that removed overburden which is located in said overburden removal path adjacent said active mining area following end from said overburden removal path in said highwall benches to a position adjacent the top of said highwall; covering the mining area behind said following end by spilling said removed and elevated overburden over the highwall onto said lowermost bench; depositing said spilled overburden into a spoil bank located immediately behind said following end; shaping said spoil bank to match the contour of the mining ground adjacent said active mining area; continuously removing coal from said active mining area while said overburden is being moved from adjacent said leading end to said rear end, said active mining area along with said overburden removal path being continously moved in the direction of said longitudinal axis across a mining ground by said continous overburden removing and transferring steps; and continuously shaping said spoil bank whereby the contour of the land is continuously restored behind the moving active mining area as the active mining area moves across the mining ground.