Mining the Sky & Space Tethers to achieve LEO

>
> MW: Of course the problem with mining the Earth's
> surface is the fact that there is-- life on it. There
> would be no such problem with mining the asteroids.
>
> Marcel F. Williams
> 12/19/00
>

Start with an open pit mine 10 km in diameter with a depth of 5 km.
Now start escavating tunnels in all direction in an orderly honeycomb
structure leaving 80% of the material intact. The tunnels can go into
the ground approximatey 100 km in all direction. At the hundred km
mark dig another open pit mine as before, and form a hexagonal network
of open pit mines.

This allows you to escavate the entire planet while only disturbing
10% of the surface. You can also go much deeper than 5 km.

Bill