Method of strip mining

A method of strip mining comprising the steps of:

• providing an elongate active mining area in a mining ground, said mining area having a longitudinal axis with leading and following ends located at opposite ends of said longitudinal axis, and a highwall intersecting said ends and spaced apart from said longitudinal axis, said highwall being essentially parallel with said longitudinal axis;
• defining a main bench in said active mining area, said main bench intersecting said mining area ends and said highwall;
• locating an overburden conveyor system on said main bench to be elevated above said main bench, said conveyor system being positioned high enough above said main bench so that machinery on said main bench can pass beneath said conveyor system, said conveyor system being essentially parallel with said mining area longitudinal axis;
• continuously removing overburden from said mining ground adjacent said leading end;
• continuously moving said removed overburden onto said elevated overburden conveyor system;
• continuously moving said removed overburden along said elevated conveyor system toward said following end, said overburden conveyor system being located above said main bench, thereby keeping said removed overburden out of the way of machines located on said main bench;
• elevating that removed overburden in said conveyor system which is located adjacent said active mining area following end from said conveyor;
• moving said overburden off of said elevated conveyor system adjacent said following end, so that said active mining area is continuously moved across the mining ground;
• covering the mining area behind said following end by spilling said removed 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 mining area while said overburden is moving on said conveyor system from adjacent said leading end to adjacent said following end;
• moving said conveyor system along said mining area longitudinal axis;
• said active mining area and said overburden removal conveyor system being moved in the direction of said mining area longitudinal axis across ground between the extents of a lease;
• transporting said removed coal away from said mining area;
• 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.