Prospects of Coal Mining by the Open-Cast Method.

Compared with 1970, strip mining in the USSR increased by 46% in 1977 and amounted to 232. 3 Mt, while the share of strip mining increased by 26% and attained 32. 5%. The annual volume of stripping work amounted to 871. 3 Mm**3. In the eastern regions of the USSR 83. 3% of coal was mined open-cast method. Various projects of development of strip mining in the USSR are mentioned. In particular, some major projects in the Ukraine, the Kuznetsk basin, and other basins in Siberia are outlined.