Final answer:
both surface mining and strip mining are types of mining, with mountaintop removal being a specific practice of surface mining that significantly affects the environment.
Step-by-step explanation:
Both surface mining and strip mining are examples of types of mining. Surface mining is a broad category that includes strip mining as well as open-pit and mountaintop removal mining.
Mountaintop mining (MTM) is a particular type of surface mining where mountaintops are removed to access coal seams underneath. This mining technique is known for its environmental impact, destroying local habitats and ecosystems. The waste from MTM is often discarded in nearby valleys, which can bury streams and cause extensive damage to watersheds and wildlife habitats. Unlike subsurface mining methods, surface and strip mining practices directly affect the surface of the land and are visible from the surface, hence being grouped into the same category. While less hazardous to the safety of workers compared to underground mining, the environmental toll of these methods can be severe.
For example, mountaintop mining is a form of surface mining where mountaintops are removed to expose coal seams. This practice has detrimental effects on land resources and the environment, as it destroys habitats and buries streams and other important habitat in adjacent valleys with mining waste.