Author Question: Describe the coal reserves of the United States. What will be an ideal ... (Read 66 times)

washai · **on:** Jul 21, 2018

Describe the coal reserves of the United States.

What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Outline some of the major differences in the ways coal is mined.

What will be an ideal response?

jazzlynnnnn · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 21, 2018

Answer to Question 1

The EIA estimates that there is 486 billion tons of coal in known deposits in the United States. That should be
enough to last hundreds of years at current rates of consumption. The United States has the largest known coal
reserves in the world.

Answer to Question 2

Coal near the surface is mined in what is often referred to as open pit or strip mines. In open pit mining, the
overburden (surface covering of earth) is removed and stored aside; the coal is removed; and the site is restored
using the overburden. Coal in deeper deposits is taken from underground mines. There are three main types of underground mines: shaft mines, slope mines, and drift mines. Shaft mines use vertical tunnels to gain access to
deeper coal deposits. Slope mines use tunnels that slope down more gently from the surface to the coal deposits.
Drift mines involve tunnels cut into the sides of mountains.