Question

The equipment used for both drop cut and terrace cut in surface mining is

• A. surface miner.
• B. shovel.
• C. dragline.
• D. bucket wheel excavator.

Hint:

BWEs are preferred when continuous high-production cutting is required in multiple bench layouts.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Drop cut and terrace cut methods are common layouts in large-scale continuous surface mining.

Step 1: Bucket wheel excavators (BWEs) operate continuously with a rotating wheel fitted with buckets that scoop material.

Step 2: Their long reach, continuous cutting ability, and conveyor-based material handling make them suitable for both drop and terrace cuts.

Step 3: Other equipment like shovels, draglines, and surface miners do not support continuous cutting in both layouts.
Thus, the equipment used is the bucket wheel excavator.