Strip mining of stratiform deposits with thick overburden: environmental challenges and constraints to sustainable extraction

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Laboratory of Applied Geophysics, Geotechnics, Engineering Geology and the Environment, ‎Mohammadia School of Engineers, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Morocco‎.

10.22059/ijmge.2026.404895.595329

Abstract

The resource extraction industry relies heavily on strip mining to produce various minerals. Its popularity arises from its cost-effectiveness, making it a key surface mining method for meeting the growing global demand for raw materials. The depletion of shallow ore deposits has led to an increased reliance on strip mining under extremely thick overburden layers, intensifying the environmental impact of mining operations. The first aim of this study is to evaluate the environmental effects of mining operations under these complex conditions, with a particular focus on their impact on land use, energy consumption, and climate change. Drawing upon multiple case studies, the research quantitatively explores how increasing overburden thickness affects the technical feasibility, energy demand, and footprint of mining activities. This analysis highlights the delicate balance between geological conditions and mining strategy, which offers new insights into optimizing extraction efficiency while minimizing ecological disturbance. The feasibility of the utilization of an artificial neural network (ANN) based conceptual model is then explored to outline a predictive framework for environmental impacts under these conditions, intended to support future practical applications by combining the important operational factors studied with site-specific characteristics. The conception of the ANN model is structured with one hidden layer that is meant to capture complex connections between key mining factors and each one of the expected outcomes.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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International Journal of Mining and Geo-Engineering

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Available Online from 10 May 2026

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