Final answer:
Block cave mining is suitable for the extraction of large, uniform, and vertically oriented ore bodies and is a method distinct from coal mining practices in Appalachia where mechanized and mountaintop removal mining techniques have significantly changed the industry.
Step-by-step explanation:
Block cave mining is a large-scale underground mining method that is used to extract massive, low-grade ore bodies deep underground. It is considered an efficient and cost-effective method for extracting large volumes of minerals. Specially, block cave mining is suitable for large, uniform ore bodies that are vertical or nearly vertical, often found with commodities like copper or diamond.
Historically, coal mining has been a major industry in regions like West Virginia and eastern Kentucky. However, technological advancements in mining, such as mountaintop removal mining (MTM), have decreased the need for labor while increasing coal production. MTM blows away the tops of mountains to expose coal seams, reducing the requirement for skilled miners and thereby cutting labor costs. This method is favored by coal companies as it is less hazardous to workers but poses significant environmental threats, including the destruction of mountain habitats and the burying of streams and other important habitats with debris.
The coal mining industry has experienced major shifts over the years, affecting employment and societal structures within mining communities. Despite the increase in wages and benefits from massive strikes, safety and health issues such as black lung remain a concern for miners. The transformation from traditional coal mining towards methods like MTM illustrates how extraction industries evolve to balance economic efficiency with environmental and human impacts.