Final answer:
The mining method that involves the removal of rock and soil to access mineral deposits is mountaintop mining (MTM), a surface mining practice that is environmentally harmful due to the destruction of habitats and disposal of mining waste in valleys.
Step-by-step explanation:
The mining method that involves the removal of rock and soil to uncover a mineral deposit is known as mountaintop mining (MTM). This type of surface mining is particularly damaging to the environment, as it entails the removal of entire mountaintops to access underlying coal seams, consequentially destroying the natural habitat. Moreover, the debris generated by this process is often disposed of in adjacent valleys, which can bury streams and other critical habitats and disrupt the ecosystem.
Mountaintop mining gained preference among coal companies because it significantly reduces labor costs, as it does not require as many skilled workers, thus diminishing the number of well-paid and unionized laborers needed. This method relies heavily on the use of explosives like dynamite to blow away the mountaintop, referred to as "overburden," to reveal coal or other mineral deposits. Alternatives to MTM include traditional underground mining and other forms of strip mining.