Final answer:
Strip mining is utilized to extract nonrenewable resources located just below the Earth's surface, specifically strip coal mining, which causes significant ecological damage to the landscape.
Step-by-step explanation:
Strip mining is a method used to extract nonrenewable resources that are located just below the surface of the Earth. This technique is commonly used to extract coal, where large layers of earth are removed to expose the coal which is then collected. Strip mining has significant environmental impacts as it destroys existing ecosystems and landscapes. Compared to methods such as mountaintop removal, strip mining is typically less labor-intensive but still disrupts the environment by stripping away the Earth's surface.
On the other hand, when addressing the extraction of gas and oil, particularly through the process of fracking, high-pressure fluids are injected underground to force out the fossil fuels. This method is different from strip mining and is used to access resources that are found deeper underground, which cannot be reached via strip mining.