Coal Mining: Advanced Technologies

Coal is a natural resource that is highly valued for its energy content. The steel and cement industries depend on coal for the extraction of iron from iron ore and for the manufacture of cement. The process of extracting coal from a coal pit is known as coal mining. The technical and economic feasibility of a coal extraction process depend on coal seam continuity, thickness, quality, depth, overburden characteristics, topography, surface drainage patterns, etc. Mining can be done on the surface or deep underground. Strip mining, contour mining and mountaintop removal mining are the three primary types of surface mining. There have been several strides in technological advancements in coal mining in recent times. The use of sophisticated sensing equipment for monitoring air quality, hazardous gas monitoring, gas drainage, improved mining techniques, and the employment of highly skilled task force adept at the use of complex state-of-the-art equipment has made coal mining productive and safe. This book provides comprehensive insights into coal mining. It discusses the fundamentals as well as modern approaches of coal mining. Those in search of information to further their knowledge will be greatly assisted by this book.