What is the difference between strip mining and underground mining?

1 Answer
Oct 10, 2016

Strip mining is done on the surface; underground mining is done below the surface.

Explanation:

In strip mining, the ore is extracted from the surface in layers resulting in a deepening artificial valley. This is done when the ore is relatively near the surface.
In underground mining, mine shafts are bored or dug from the surface to the underground layers where the ore is located, and ore extraction takes place from those layers, and the ore is transported through the tunnels and shafts back to the surface.