Comments on: Mountaintop Removal Mining Should Be Abolished

By: MadScientist

MadScientist — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 04:47:40 +0000

@Lyle: Water absorbs pretty much all radio waves over moderately short distances; those remote control toys operate on very long cables. Now the earth typically kills any radio signals even quicker; robotic mining is not so simple. Having said that, robots are used at the coalface and there is ongoing work to develop more mining robots. Some people are claiming that mining can be performed with less shoring up of the shafts – obviously humans cannot legally work in such conditions in many countries so that’s the hype they’re using to sell their robot miner ideas. Moving a mountain is a much quicker and cheaper option though and has been used for as long as I can remember (‘open cut’ mines).

By: Lyle

Lyle — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 03:39:50 +0000

What I don’t understand is why we don’t go for remote mining, the equipment is operated from the surface. If the ROVs on the gulf spill can do it why not in a coal mine where the environment is less hostile. (Of course the money involved is to small to pay for it, lives are cheaper).

By: Mike Haubrich, FCD

Mike Haubrich, FCD — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 23:56:37 +0000

“When I die let my ashes flow down the Green River,
let my soul roll on up to the Rochester Dam.
I’ll be halfway to heaven with Paradise waiting
Just five miles away from wherever I am.”

Things haven’t changed all that much since 1971. Mr. Peabody’s coal train is still haulin’ it away.