Coal Mining

Mining is the process of digging under the ground to extract a resource. There are two main types of coal mining: underground and surface mining. Usually, the depth of the coal deposit will determine what type of mining is done on the site.

Surface Mining

Coal that is close to the surface is typically mined using surface mining techniques. In this type of mining, heavy equipment is used to remove layers of earth until the coal seam is revealed. Sometimes the entire top of a mountain is removed to make it easier to get to the coal. This is often easier and less expensive than underground mining but can have harmful impacts on the land where the coal is mined. Coal companies are responsible for stabilizing and putting the land back to a suitable condition after surface mining. This process is called reclamation.

Underground Mining

When the coal is located deeper underground, mining companies must use underground mining techniques. Miners will often need to take an elevator or ride on a small train to get to where the coal is being mined. Some coal mines may be very deep. One of the deepest coal mines in the US is around 6,200 feet deep!

Container Coal Mining Activity

Today, you are going to be miners! Coal is a valuable natural resource. This activity will help you discover some very important things about what we call renewable and nonrenewable resources. You will learn more about those words later. Let's get started!

Materials Needed:

  • long, flat plastic bin

  • one bag of kinetic sand

  • 1/2 cup of assorted beads

  • 2 paper towels

  • stopwatch, timer or clock with a secondhand

  • paper to take notes and record data

Procedure:

  1. Add the sand and beads to the container

  2. Push some of the beads deep into the sand and let some of them be close to the surface.

  3. Put paper towel around the container, as this can get messy.

  4. Set a timer for 3 minutes.

  5. Once the timer starts, begin to mine with your fingers or tweezers, setting the beads on one of the paper towels.

  6. When three minutes is up, count how many beads were recovered. This represents how much coal was mined in one day.

  7. Record your data for each day of mining, (ever 3 minutes).

  8. Continue these steps until all the beads are recovered. This can be done in one day or over several days. Just put the lid back on the container when you are ready to stop and set it aside until mining can resume.

  9. Discuss the the results.

  10. Why did you run out of beads?

  11. Discuss the terms renewable and nonrenewable. Is coal a renewable or nonrenewable resource? What does that mean about its long term use for electricity?

Add kinetic sand to the plastic tub.

Add the beads to the sand.

Press the beads into the sand. Leave some near the top and press some deep into the sand.

Make sure to set paper towel out. Mining can be messy!

Set a timer for 3 minutes and begin to mine. Don't forget to record the data after each round.

Set aside beads each round so that only one day is recorded each round. Repeat until you've mined all the beads.

Vocabulary:

Natural Resource: a natural occurring substance or material such as coal, trees, or water that can be used to benefit people or for monetary gain.

Renewable Resource: a natural resource that will not be depleted when used.

Nonrenewable Resource: a natural resource that is depleted over time when used.