Stripper shovels are mostly deployed for . . . . . . . .

Answer: Option B

Stripper shovels are mostly deployed for Overburden removal in surface mining operations. Stripper shovels are large excavation machines used in open-pit mining, and they are designed specifically for removing overburden or waste rock from the surface to expose the underlying ore or mineral deposit.

Option A, Coal mining, is a common application of stripper shovels as coal deposits are often located beneath thick layers of overburden material, which must be removed before the coal can be extracted.

Option C, Hard rock mining, and Option D, Very hard rock mining, typically involve the use of other types of excavation equipment, such as drilling rigs, blasting equipment, and tunneling machines, that are better suited for the hard rock excavation.

Therefore, the answer to this question is Option B, Overburden removal.