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1 <br />In general mining is done in three steps: <br />1. The removal of topsoil and other soils covering the <br />gravel deposit by earthmoving equipment. Generally, <br />removal of these soils is scheduled to precede gravel <br />removal closely to minimize surface distrubance. <br />Careful planning of this step allows the soil from <br />mined areas to be placed directly in its final location <br />according to the reclamation plan, thereby minimizing <br />handling costs and speeding reclamation activities. <br />2. The excavation and removal of the gravel deposit to <br />the lowest level that can be mined economically. <br />Usually gravel deposits lie in fairly uniform layers <br />interspersed with pockets of clay, silt, and other <br />unuseable materials. The gravel deposit is removed <br />with heavy earthmoving equipment which is selected <br />primarily on the basis of the characteristics of the <br />gravel deposit and the water table elevation. <br />3. The reclamation of disturbed areas to reestablish soil <br />T productivity and make the area available for future <br />land use. In modern operations, the reclamation <br />process is simultaneous with the mining operation; i.e., <br />mined areas are reclaimed as the next area is being <br />prepared for mining. Using the topsoil and other <br />overburden removed before the mining process, the <br />ground surface is shaped into final contours reestab- <br />lishing land forms or creating new land forms for <br />future use. Care is taken to preserve the best <br />growing soils for use in revegetating the reclaimed <br />B-2 <br />