6j. Step Four: Move Overburden and Mine the Coal

The next step is to remove and store the remaining overburden. The company uses the overburdening process to uncover the coal, using large machines called draglines. Draglines move about one-tenth of a mile per hour, so the company uses smaller machines to create a level field.

Once the coal is exposed, bulldozers equipped with ripper shanks fracture coal or the company blasts it. Broken coal is easier to transport than hauling large sheets of material.