Beruflich Dokumente
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Who We Are
It’s frequently noted that “every coal mining job creates another five to remaining mineable reserves amount to about 52 billion tons.
eight jobs somewhere in the economy.” West Virginia is in no danger of running out of coal.
Anyone who has ever visited a coal mining community in West Virginia Coal supplies about 48 percent of this country’s electrical power demand,
would have no hesitation in believing that statistic. It is likely no other state and and West Virginia is the nation’s second largest coal producer. There is no
industry are as closely identified as West Virginia and coal. danger the demand for energy will cease.
Friends of Coal is based on the simple premise West Virginia is full of In a shrinking world community, however, competition for West Virginia’s
people who understand and appreciate the value and the importance of the traditional coal markets is increasing every year. States with less sensitive
coal industry to the Mountain State and its people. It is environmental concerns, and nations with low safety and
a grassroots movement involving thousands of West environmental standards, low pay and government subsidies,
Virginians who consider coal to be the lifeblood of the are threats to the Appalachian coal’s place in the market.
state’s economy. West Virginia’s greatest advantages have always been
These people have always been around. But the quality of its coal and its relative proximity to the markets.
they have never before been organized into a But, as transportation systems have gotten more
cohesive force capable of demonstrating just how sophisticated, and the production cost differential has grown,
many West Virginians are directly and indirectly these advantages have diminished.
involved with the coal industry. In other words, despite the best coal miners in the world,
Friends of Coal also was born out of a desire to the best coal in the world and a growing demand for energy,
correct the impression that coal’s time has passed in West Virginia’s coal industry is still plagued by the
West Virginia. uncertainties of the shifting marketplace.
The Friends of Coal Ladies Auxiliary is literally the “right arm” of the As the industry streamlines and adapts to meet these challenges, it is
organization. Formed three years ago, the Auxiliary is active throughout the increasingly important the Friends of Coal in West Virginia unite to speak with
region. It has created a coal-oriented curriculum for use in the public school one voice.
system, conducted charity drives, managed the production of several key It is up to the Friends of Coal to clearly demonstrate that coal must be a
events throughout the summer festival season and has reached out to the sick major consideration in the establishment of public policy in the state and in the
and infirm in local hospitals with visits and gifts. We are proud of our Ladies nation.
and the hard work they do for our coal mining families. For more information, visit the Friends of Coal website at
In the 140-year history of the state’s coal industry, only a small www.friendsofcoal.org.
percentage of the state’s coal reserves have been extracted. The state’s
Page 4
From the President’s Desk ...
Thorney Lieberman
Page 5
West Virginia Coal Producing Regions
All values expressed in tons (rounded to the nearest 1000) except for dollar figures and employment.
Discrepancies in the data are due to different reporting standards from the sources (eg. number of mines).
Page 6
U.S. Coal Production by State
Source - Energy Information Agency Figures expressed in millions of tons
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2008 Rank
Alabama 120.1 22.3 21.3 18.8 19.2 20.6 14
Alaska 1.1 1.5 1.5 1.3 1.3 1.4 21
Arizona 12.1 12.7 12.1 8.2 8.0 8.0 15
Colorado 35.8 39.9 38.5 36.3 36.4 32.0 9
Illinois 31.6 31.9 32.1 32.2 32.4 32.9 8
Indiana 35.4 35.1 34.4 35.7 35.0 35.9 7
Kansas 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.4 0.4 0.2 23
Kentucky 112.8 114.3 119.8 120.0 115.0 120.3 3
Louisiana 4.0 3.8 4.2 4.1 3.1 3.8 16
Maryland 5.1 5.2 5.2 5.1 2.3 2.8 17
Mississippi 3.7 3.6 3.6 3.8 3.5 2.8 18
Missouri 0.5 0.6 0.6 0.4 0.2 0.2 22
Montana 37.0 40.0 40.4 41.8 43.4 44.8 5
New Mexico 26.4 27.2 28.5 25.9 24.5 25.6 12
North Dakota 30.8 29.9 30.0 30.4 29.6 29.6 10
Ohio 22.0 23.2 24.7 22.7 22.6 26.3 11
Oklahoma 1.6 1.8 1.8 2.0 1.6 1.5 20
Pennsylvania 63.7 66.0 67.3 66.0 65.0 65.4 4
Tennessee 2.6 2.9 3.2 2.8 2.6 2.3 19
Texas 47.5 45.9 45.9 45.5 41.9 39.0 6
Utah 23.1 21.7 24.5 26.0 24.0 24.4 13
Washington 6.2 5.7 5.3 2.6 0.0 0.0 --
West Virginia 145.9 153.6 159.5 158.8 161.21 157.8 2
Wyoming 376.3 396.50 406.4 446.7 453.6 467.6 1
U.S. Total 1,071.8 1,112.1 1,133.3 1,161.4 1,145.6 1,171.8
NOTE: The numbers reported in this table representing West Virginia’s 2008 production are slightly different from
those in other references in this book due to the difference between data collected by EIA and WVMSHT
Note: The data included in this chart was taken from the EIA and there are
some discrepancies in the numbers due to different sourcing of the data..
Page 7
West Virginia Coal
Producing
Counties
Note: Slight discrepancies on these pages is due to a differences in the measurement methodologies
used by the two sources, the EIA and WVOMHST. tlh
Page 8
County By County Rankings 2008
Source - West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health, Safety & Training
DIRECT EMPLOYMENT UNDERGROUND TONNAGE
01 Boone 4,656 01 Boone 13,086,610
02 Wyoming 1,833 02 Marion 10,817,042
03 Mingo 1,806 03 Marshall 10,774,733
04 Logan 1,741 04 Monongalia 9,790,624
05 Kanawha 1,540 05 Logan 7,684,837
06 Raleigh 1,403 06 Kanawha 7,627,141
07 Monongalia 1,173 07 Raleigh 5,613,946
08 McDowell 1,106 08 Mingo 5,285,591
09 Marshall 1,039 09 Wayne 4,063,020
10 Harrison 790 10 Wyoming 3,562,488
11 Fayette 606 11 McDowell 3,019,110
12 Marion 590 12 Fayette 2,561,353
13 Nicholas 552 13 Tucker 2,534,721
14 Wayne 456 14 Upshur 2,173,109
15 Webster 388 15 Barbour 1,628,683
16 Barbour 289 16 Nicholas 1,318,055
17 Preston 255 17 Preston 1,290,386
18 Upshur 254 18 Webster 1,077,271
19 Greenbrier 180 19 Randolph 903,409
20 Clay 156 20 Greenbrier 624,710
21 Randolph 146 21 Mason 604,111
22 Lincoln 124 22 Lincoln 385,755
23 Braxton 120 23 Braxton 354,379
24 Tucker 114 24 Harrison 307,037
25 Grant 103 25 Clay 290,582
26 Brooke 44 Total 97,378,703
27 Mineral 14
28 Mercer 12 TOTAL TONNAGE
Total 20,925 01 Boone 30,975,289
02 Logan 20,641,448
03 Kanawha 12,973,693
SURFACE TONNAGE 04 Mingo 11,931,482
01 Boone 17,888,679 05 Marion 11,165,320
02 Logan 12,956,611 06 Monongalia 10,871,603
03 Mingo 6,645,891 07 Raleigh 10,858,837
04 Kanawha 5,346,542 08 Marshall 10,774,733
05 Raleigh 5,244,891 09 Webster 5,592,945
06 Webster 4,515,674 10 McDowell 5,502,941
07 Clay 3,882,969 11 Wyoming 5,270,787
08 Nicholas 3,257,727 12 Wayne 5,089,591
09 McDowell 2,483,831 13 Nicholas 4,396,038
10 Wyoming 1,708,299 14 Fayette 4,206,015
11 Fayette 1,644,662 15 Clay 3,548,309
12 Monongalia 1,080,979 16 Tucker 2,534,721
13 Wayne 1,026,571 17 Upshur 2,214,777
14 Brooke 517,742 18 Barbour 1,962,620
15 Marion 348,278 19 Preston 1,290,386
16 Barbour 333,937 20 Randolph 907,580
17 Harrison 114,995 21 Greenbrier 668,176
18 Mineral 89,507 22 Mason 604,111
19 Greenbrier 43,466 23 Brooke 517,742
20 Upshur 41,668 24 Harrison 422,032
25 Lincoln 385,755
Total 68,372,114 26 Braxton 354,379
27 Mineral 89,507
Total 165,750,817
Page 9
Largest West Virginia Coal Companies 2008
Source - West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health, Safety & Training
Company Corporate Affiliation Tonnage
Consolidation Coal Co. CONSOL Energy 17,567,296
McElroy Coal Co. CONSOL Energy 9,636,828
Elk Run Coal Co., Inc. Massey 7,849,554
Independence Coal Co., Inc. Massey 7,791.583
Alex Energy Massey 5,329,198
Eastern Associated Coal Corp. Patriot 4,003,568
Mingo Logan Coal Co. Arch Coal 3,931,847
Brooks Run Mining Co., LLC Alpha Natural Resources 3,770,569
Hobet Mining LLC Magnum Coal (Now Patriot) 3,705,446
Marfork Coal Co., Inc. Massey Energy 3,680,780
Wolf Run Mining Co., Inc. International Coal Group 3,407,238
COAL MAC dba Phoenix Coal Mac Arch Coal 3,267,757
Fola Coal Co., LLC CONSOL Energy 3,257,727
ICG Eastern, LLC International Coal Group 3,234,516
Catenary Coal Co. Magnum Coal (Now Patriot) 3,024,514
Rockspring Development, Inc. Foundation Coal 2,943,470
Brody Mining, LLC Brody Mining, LLC 2,595,976
Mettiki Coal, LLC (WV) Alliance Coal Corporation 2,534,721
Apogee Coal Co., LLC Magnum Coal (Now Patriot) 2,485,197
Speed Mining, Inc. Speed Mining, Inc. 2,325,075
Pinnacle Mining Co., LLC Cliffs Natural Resources 2,154,252
Argus Energy WV LLC Booth Energy 2,146,121
Newtown Energy, Inc. Newtown Energy, Inc. 2,049,296
Frasure Creek Mining, LLC Trinity Coal 2,045,659
INR-WV Operating, LLC INR-WV Operating, LLC 1,828,351
Page 10
West Virginia Million Ton Surface Mines - 2008
Source - West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health, Safety & Training
Mine Company County Production Employees
1 Twilight MTR Independence Coal Co. Boone 5,162,828 314
2 Westridge Surface Hobet Mining, Inc. Boone 3,705,445 300
3 Surface No. 1 Fola Coal Co., Inc. Clay 3,257,727 149
4 Birch River ICG Eastern, LLC Webster 3,234,516 250
5 No. 1 Alex Energy, Inc. Nicholas 2,664,227 242
6 Samples Catenary Coal Co. Kanawha 2,600,053 303
7 Guyan Arch of West Virginia, Inc. Logan 2,485,197 204
8 Phoenix Surface #4 Phoenix Coal-Mac Mining, Inc. Logan 2,330,482 96
9 Republic Energy Elk Run Coal Co., Inc. Raleigh 2,158,485 182
10 No. 10 White Flame Energy, Inc. Mingo 1,709,813 115
11 Edwight Surface Alex Energy, Inc. Raleigh 1,689,790 147
12 Toney’s Fork Surface Appalachian Fuels, LLC Boone 1,607,452 102
13 Seven Pines Brooks Run Mining Co., LLC Webster 1,281,158 73
14 Rockhouse Branch Surface Roadfork Development Co., Inc. Logan 1,204,407 87
15 Surface No. 1 Ed Coal, Inc. Boone 1,194,829 61
16 Camp Branch Rum Creek Coal Sales Logan 1,169,120 71
17 Ewing Fork No. 1 Simmons Fork Mining, Inc. Raleigh 1,128,042 86
18 Synergy No. 1 Legacy Resources, LLC Boone 1,067,483 89
19 Copley Trace Surface Argus Energy WV, LLC Wayne 1,026,571 89
Page 11
West Virginia Coal Production By Method - 2008
Source - West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health, Safety & Training
COUNTY CONTINUOUS LONGWALL TOTAL SURFACE GRAND TOTAL
Barbouir 1,628,683 1,628,683 333,937 1,962,620
Boone 11,605,222 1,481,388 13,086,610 17,888,679 30,975,289
Braxton 354,379 354,379 354,379
Brooke 517,742 517,742
Clay 290,582 290,582 3,257,727 3,548,309
Fayette 2,561,353 2,561,353 1,644,662 4,206,015
Greenbrier 624,710 624,710 43,466 668,176
Harrison 304,037 307,037 114,995 422,032
Kanawha 5,641,737 1,985,405 7,627,141 5,346,552 12,973,693
Lincoln 385,755 385,755 385,755
Logan 4,277,887 3,351,175 7,684,837 12,956,611 20,641,448
McDowell 3,012,111 6,999 3,019,110 2,483,831 5,502,941
Marion 1,192,615 9,564,430 10,817,042 348,278 11,165,320
Marshall 1,126,691 9,648,042 10,774,733 10,774,733
Mason 604,111 604,111 604,111
Mineral 89,507 89,507
Mingo 5,238,847 36,744 5,285,591 6,645,891 11,931,482
Monongalia 1,952,497 7,834,005 9,790,624 1,080,979 10,871,603
Nicholas 1,318,055 1,318,055 3,077,983 4,396,038
Preston 1,290,386 1,290,386 1,290,386
Raleigh 5,613,946 5,613,946 5,244,891 10,858,837
Randolph 903,409 903,409 4,171 907,580
Tucker 306,913 2,109,806 2,534,721 2,534,721
Upshur 2,173,109 2,173,109 41,668 2,214,777
Wayne 4,063,020 4,063,020 1,026,571 5,089,591
Webster 1,077,271 1,077,271 4,515,674 5,592,945
Wyoming 1 ,716,216 1,833,481 3,562,488 1,708,299 5,270,787
TOTAL 59,262,610 37,851,475 97,378,703 68,372,114 165,750,817
Page 13
West Virginia Coal Production and Employment - 1900-2008
Source - West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health, Safety & Training
Page 14
The Coal Severance Tax
In 1987, West Virginia enacted a severance tax on coal. The is divided among all counties and municipalities, according to
tax amounts to 5% of the saled price of mined coal. Of this population.All incorporated communities receive a share, based
amount, the State retains 93%. The remaining 7% is on population, Each county receives an additional share, based
apportioned among the State’s 55 counties and it’s 228 on the population of the unicorporated areas of the county.
incorporated municipalities. The total severance tax collections for 2008 amounted to more
Three-fourths of the 7% share is divided among the coal than $400 million. A total of $32,499,860 was distributed to all
producing counties. This money is apportioned according to counties and municipalities. Of this amount, $24,374,890
each county’s production level. The remaining quarter of the 7% represented coal production in the 27 coal producing counties.
Page 15
2008 Coal Severance Tax Receipts by Local Government
County/Town Distributions
County 2008 Receipts County 2008 Receipts
Town Town
Tucker $457,638.36
Parsons $6,564.42
Davis $2,799.87
Thomas $2,028.08
Hendricks $1,431.30
Hambleton $1,103.82
Page 18
West Virginia Mining Permits Issued 2008
Source - West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection
Permit Permittee Nearest PO Acres Permit Type
SURFACE
O200108 Marion Docks, Inc. Volga 9.17 Haulroad
O200207 Country Club Inv. Development Co. Inc. Fairmont 2.30 Incdntl/Constr
O200308 Jerry Stalnaker Coal Company, Inc. Buckhannon 2.00 Incdntl/Constr
O200807 Kitzmiller Herald Elk Garden 2.00 Incdntl/Constr
O201706 ICG Tygart Valley, LLC Thornton 259.00 Impoundment
O300508 Key Point Mining, LLC Summersville 3.60 Incdntl/Constr
O301907 Appalachian Fuels, LLC Alloy 9.90 Other
O302207 Coyote Coal Co. LLC Orgas 61.40 Other
O500807 Powdermill Processing, Inc. Fort Gay 10.46 Haulroad
O501108 INR-WV Operating LLC Lorado 94.80 Ref Disposal
O501308 Coyotoe Coal Co. LLC Amherstdale 19.80 Haulroad
O501406 FMC Services Inc. Kermit 31.67 Haulroad
O502307 Eastern Associated Coal, LLC Kopperston 104.70 Haulroad
S200407 D & L Coal Co. Inc. Elk Garden 246.00 Surface
S200508 Marion Dock, Inc. Volga 53.82 Surface
S200607 Patriot MiningCo. Inc. Cassville 45.85 Surface
S301606 Wildcat LLC Eskdale 1,008.30 Surface
S302107 Wildcat LLC Dawes 70.26 Surface
S302407 Pocahontas Coal Co. LLC Odd 235.50 Surface
S302607 Coyote Coal Co. LLC Orgas 1,132.72 Surface
S302805 Marfork Coal Co. Inc. Dorothy 2,039.89 Surface
S303007 Catenary Coal Co. LLC Sylvester 91.55 Surface
S303507 Eagle Ridge Development Group LLC Calvin 74.94 Surface
S303707 Upper Kanawha Valley Dev. Corp. Cabin Creek 30.22 Surface
S400807 CNP Properties, LLC Montcalm 88.24 Surface
S400906 MID-VOL Coal Sales, Inc. Squire 246.61 Surface
S500207 Hobet Mining, LLC Spurlockville 602.00 Surface
S500407 Argus-Energy WV LLC Wilsondale 74.40 Surface
S500607 Coal-Mac Inc. DBA
Phoenix Coal-Mac Mining Inc. Barnabus 758.97 Surface
S500707 Central Appalachian Mining, LLC Edgarton 342.30 Surface
S500808 Hampden Coal Co. LLC Gilbert 172.40 Surface
S500907 Coyote Coal Company, LLC Blair 218.50 Surface
S500908 Mingo-Logan Coal Co. Sharples 70.90 Surface
S501007 Raven Crest Contracting LLC Costa 154.98 Surface
S501506 Highland Mining Co. Ethel 623.45 Surface
S501806 Consol of Kentucky, Inc. Chattaroy 810.58 Surface
S502007 Independence Coal Co. Inc. Twilight 1,179.20 Surface
UNDERGROUND
U200707 McElroy Coal Co. Cameron 22.93 Other
U300308 Atlantic Leasco, LLC Calvin 15.70 Underground
U300406 Catenary Coal Co. LLC Eskdale 26.81 Underground
U300506 Catenary Coal Co. LLC Eskdale 63.18 Underground
U301206 Frasure Creek Mining, LLC Kincaid 6.80 Underground
U301407 Green Valley Coal Co. Leivasy 22.00 Underground
U301707 Marfork Coal Co. Inc. Naoma 12.64 Underground
U301807 Appalachian Fuels, LLC Alloy 5.00 Underground
U302907 Alex Energy Inc. Gilboa 17.00 Underground
U400308 Shane Coal Co. Davy 16.39 Underground
U400707 Gunz Energy Inc. Iaeger 3.49 Underground
U401207 Riverside Energy Co. LLC Iaeger 4.20 Underground
U500108 Consol of Kentucky Inc. Lenore 21.26 Underground
U500308 Aracoma Coal Co. Inc. Lyburn 18.51 Underground
U500507 Resources Limited LLC West Logan 12.43 Underground
U500508 KMW Operations LLC Wharncliffe 13.30 Underground
U500606 FMC Services Inc. Kermit 15.30 Underground
U501206 Hampden Coal Co. LLC Gilbert 27.40 Underground
U501207 Raven Crest Contracting LLC Costa 57.20 Underground
U501407 Independence Coal Co. Inc. Uneeda 14.89 Underground
U501607 Rockhouse Creek Development LLC Man 4.50 Underground
U501906 Argus-Energy WV LLC Kiahsville 6.00 Underground
U501907 Coyote Coal Co. LLC Amherstdale 25.20 Underground
U502008 INR-WV Operating Lorado 9.40 Underground
U502107 Laurel Creek Co. Inc. Dingess 11.13 Underground
U502207 Elk Run Coal Co. Inc. Whitesville 21.30 Underground
Page 19
West Virginia Coal Reserves
Original Source - West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health, Safety & Training (2007 data)
Estimations by West Virginia Coal Association based on annual production for 2008 subtracted from the earlier totals.
Note: This is only an estimate of the remaining reserve base.
Remaining Remaining
Recoverable Recoverable
Reserves Reserves
Barbour 1,580,579,890 Mineral 360,843,059
Boone 3,654,129,503 Mingo 3,009,790,350
Braxton 1,111,064,532 Monongalia 966,252,386
Brooke 54,916,513 Nicholas 3,363,188,424
Cabell 0 Ohio 336,292,256
Calhoun 0 Pocahontas 299,843,805
Clay 1,826,191,774 Preston 1,391,830,363
Doddridge 671,587,864 Putnam 238,231,342
Fayette 1,846,288,992 Raleigh 1,619,206,587
Gilmer 495,526,312 Randolph 2,413,717,430
Grant 482,627 Roane 0
Greenbrier 633,471,428 Summers 10,676,345
Hancock 246,659,014 Taylor 613,961,430
Harrison 487,829,480 Tucker 174,845.679
Kanawha 2,646,999,425 Tyler 474,066,616
Lewis 1,364,763,631 Upshur 1,670,268,434
Lincoln 1,044,191,983 Wayne 784,366,572
Logan 3,474,205,962 Webster 3,652,466,812
Marion 1,410,218,202 Wetzel 1,660,868,193
Marshall 1,857,362,505 Wirt 11,151,360
Mason 150,169,938 Wyoming 2,406,071,595
McDowell 1,638,788,332 TOTAL 51,753,656,083
Mercer 99,535,892
• The coal industry and the coal burning electric generating industry together
represent nearly 60% of the business taxes paid to the State of West Virginia.
• West Virginia coal miners earn an average of more than $62,500 annually,
more than twice the amount of the statewide average for all workers.
• West Virginia’s coal industry pays for nearly $1.3 billion in annual direct wages.
• West Virginia’s estimated recoverable coal reserves amount to nearly 52 billion tons.
• Coal is responsible for more than 12 percent of West Virginia’s gross state product.
Page 20
COUNTY PROFILES OF
WEST VIRGINIA COAL COUNTRY
Barbour County
Founded – 1843
Major Seams
Bakerstown, Kittanning, Pittsburgh, Redstone,
Sewickley
Primary Producers
Wolf Run Mining Co., Inc. 3,407,236
Page 21
Boone County
Founded – 1847
Braxton County
Founded – 1836
Mines 1
Employees 120
Estimated Direct Wages $7,524,000
Severance Tax Receipts $121,528
Production 354,379 25th
Major Seams
Underground 354,379 23rd
Bakerstown, Lower Kittanning, Pittsburgh
Surface 0
Primary Producer
Recoverable Reserves – Tons
Brooks Run Mining Co., LLC 3,770,569
1,111,009,699
Page 22
Brooke County
Founded – 1797
Clay County
Founded – 1858
Mines 4
Employees 156
Estimated Direct Wages $9,750,000
Severance Tax Receipts $511,024
Production 3,548,309 15th
Underground 290,582 25th
Surface 3,357,720 7th
Major Seams
Coalburn, Lower Kittanning, Upper Kittanning
Recoverable Reserves – Tons 1,826,191,774
Primary Producer
Fola Coal Co., Inc. 3,257,727
Little Eagle Coal Co. 421,011
Page 23
Fayette County
Founded – 1831
Grant County
Founded – 1866
Mines 10
Employees ----
Estimated Direct Wages ----
Severance Tax Receipts $50,697
Production 0 Recoverable Reserves – Tons 482,237,627
Underground 0
Surface 0 Major Seams
Bradshaw, Elk Lick, Freeport
Note: WVMHST data does not include employee or production data for Grant County operations.
Page 24
Empowering West Virginia
The coal industry and the coal burning electric generating industry
together represent nearly 60% of the business taxes paid to the
state of West Virginia. Visit friendsofcoal.org to learn more.
Coal Preparation Plants Material Handling Systems
www.taggartglobal.com
Harrison County
Founded – 1784
Mines 15
Employees 106
Estimated Direct Wages $6,646,200
Severance Tax Receipts $362,460
Production 422,032 24th
Underground 307,037 24th
Surface 114,995 17th Major Seams
Pittsburgh, Redstone
Recoverable Reserves – Tons 488,251,512
Primary Producers
Ten-Mile Coal Co., Inc. 298,685
Gold Resources, LLC 109,394
Page 29
Kanawha County
Founded – 1788
Lincoln County
Founded – 1867
Mines 3
Employees 124
Estimated Direct Wages $7,774,800
Severance Tax Receipts $690,007
Production 385,755 25th Recoverable Reserves – Tons 1,044,191,983
Underground 385,755 22nd
Surface 0 Major Seam
Lower Kittanning
Primary Producer
Coal River Mining, LLC 364,460
Page 30
Logan County
Founded – 1824
Mines 37
Employees 1,741
Estimated Direct Wages $108,812,500
Severance Tax Receipts $3,144,233
Production 20,641,448 2nd
Underground 7,684,837 5th
Surface 12,956,611 2nd Primary Producers
Mingo Logan Coal Co. 3,931,847
Recoverable Reserves – Tons 3,474,205,962 Apogee Coal Co., LLC 2,485,197
INR-WV Operating, LLC 1,828,351
Major Seams Road Fork Development Co., Inc. 247,199
Alma, Belmont, Buffalo Creek, Cedar Grove, Chilton, Aracoma Coal Co., Inc. 1,530,166
Coalburg, Dorothy, Eagle, Kittanning, Winifrede, Rum Creek Coal Sales, Inc. 254,327
Stockton-Lewiston Phoenix Coal-Mac Mining, Inc. 3,267,757
Highland Mining Co. 262,570
Marion County
Founded – 1842
Page 31
Marshall County
Founded – 1835
Mines 2
Employees 1,039
Estimated Direct Wages $64,937,500 Major Seam
Severance Tax Receipts $1,979,942 Pittsburgh
Production 10,774,733 8th
Underground 10,774,733 3rd Primary Producers
Surface 0 McElroy Coal Co. 9,636,828
Consolidation Coal Co. 1,137,905
Recoverable Reserves – Tons 1,857,362,505
Mason County
Founded – 1804
Mines 1
Employees 143
Estimated Direct Wages $8,966,100 Recoverable Reserves – Tons 150,169,938
Severance Tax Receipts $223,481
Production 604,111 22nd Major Seam
Underground 604,111 21st Pittsburgh
Surface 0
Primary Producer
Big River Mining, LLC 604,111
Page 32
McDowell County
Founded – 1858
Mines 71
Employees 1,106
Estimated Direct Wages $69,125,600
Severance Tax Receipts $1,061,369 Primary Producers
Production 5,502,941 10th Brooks Run Mining Co., LLC 1,915,138
Underground 3,019,110 10th Extra Energy, Inc. 1,160,887
Surface 2,483,831 9th XMV, Inc. 530,979
Rock “N” Roll Coal Co. 269,271
Recoverable Reserves – Tons 1,638,788,332 R & S Coal Co., Inc. 203,838
Justice Highwall Mining 142,791
Major Seams Harvest - Time Coal, Inc. 142,763
Beckley, Ben’s Creek, Bradshaw, Eagle, Fire Creek, Gilbert, Mt. View Resources, Inc. 130,683
Pocahontas, Powellton, Red Ash Postar Coal Co., Inc. 124,457
Mineral County
Founded – 1866
Mines 5
Employees 14
Estimated Direct Wages $875,000
Severance Tax Receipts $135,207
Recoverable Reserves – Tons 360,843,059
Production 89,507 27th
Underground 0
Major Seams
Surface 89,507 18th
Bakerstown, Elk Lick, Harlem, Kittanning,
Mahoning
Page 33
Mingo County
Founded – 1895
Mines 57
Employees 1,806
Estimated Direct Wages $112,875,000
Severance Tax Receipts $2,020,440 Primary Producers
Production 11,165,320 4th White Flame Energy, Inc. 1,709,813
Underground 5,285,591 8th Cobra Natural Resources 1,373,680
Surface 6,645,891 3rd Consol of Kentucky, Inc. 1,314,351
Premium Energy, Inc. 1,223,295
Recoverable Reserves – Tons 3,009,790,350 Laurel Creek Co., Inc. 937,265
Frasure Creek Mining, LLC 704,950
Major Seams Rockhouse Creek Development 613,914
Alma, Cedar Grove, Coalburg, Eagle, Freeport, Alpha & Omega Coal Co. 588,753
No. 2 Gas, Williamson, Winifrede Spartan Mining Co. 524,798
Eagle Creek Mining, LLC 395,274
KWV Operations, LLC 211,487
Jacob Mining Co., LLC 190,010
Monogalia County
Founded – 1776
Page 34
Nicholas County
Founded – 1843
Preston County
Founded – 1818
Page 35
Raleigh County
Founded – 1850
Randolph County
Founded – 1786
Mines 2
Employees 146 Recoverable Reserves – Tons 2,413,717,430
Estimated Direct Wages $9,125,000
Severance Tax Receipts $182,961 Major Seams
Production 907,580 20th Bakerstown, Lower Kittanning, Pittsburgh
Underground 903,409 19th
Surface 4,171 21st Primary Producer
Carter Roag Coal Co. 904,409
Page 36
Tucker County
Founded – 1856
Upshur County
Founded – 1851
Mines 7
Employees 254 Recoverable Reserves – Tons 1,670,268,434
Estimated Direct Wages $15,875,000
Severance Tax Receipts $228,118 Major Seams
Production 2,214,777 17th Alma, Elk Lick, Kittanning, Peerless, Pittsburgh,
Underground 2,173,109 14th Redstone
Surface 41,668 19th
Primary Producer
Wolf Run Mining Co. 2,012,552
Page 37
Wayne County
Founded – 1842
Webster County
Founded – 1860
Page 38
Wyoming County
Founded – 1850
Mines 26
Employees 1,833
Estimated Direct Wages $114,562,500
Severance Tax Receipts $978,789
Production 5,270,787 11th
Underground 3,562,488 10th Primary Producers
Surface 1,708,299 10th Pinnacle Mining Co., LLC 2,154,252
Simmons Fork Mining, Inc. 1,558,730
Recoverable Reserves – Tons 2,406,071,595 Bluestone Coal Corp. 1,236,480
Brooks Run Mining Co. 242,032
Major Seams Dynamic Energy, Inc. 205,778
Alma, Beckley, Ben’s Creek, Cedar Grove, Douglas, Eagle, Frontier Coal Co. 172,561
Gilbert, Kittanning, Matewan, Pocahontas, Spartan Mining Co. 146,209
No. 2 Gas, Red Ash, Sewell, Stockton-Lewiston Baylor Mining, Inc. 138,089
In the Industrial Revolution, coal was the fuel that powered the transformation of the United States from an agricultural society
into the greatest economic power in the world. Today, it is the direct and indirect source of hundreds of thousands of jobs and
billions of dollars in economic impact. Abundant and affordable, coal-fired electricity is the life force of the American economy.
It is America's best friend.
American coal was used at least 1,000 years ago by Hopi Indians in present day Arizona to bake clay pottery. Europeans
discovered the mineral in the Illinois River basin in the 1670's. The first coal mining occurred before the American Revolution,
along the Potomac River near the modern border of West Virginia and Maryland.
Technically, coal is not a mineral. Like petroleum and natural gas, coal is a fossil fuel, formed from once living organic
materials. Coal was formed from the remains of trees, ferns and other plant life that thrived in the age of dinosaurs, from 400
million to a billion years ago. Each foot of a coal seam represents the accumulation of about 10,000 years of plant remains.Over
time, geological processes compressed and altered the plant remains, gradually increasing the carbon content and transforming
the material into coal
Due to varying levels of geologic pressure, coal deposits are of four types: lignite, subbituminous, bituminous and anthracite.
Each succeeding type is higher in heating value, as measured by British Thermal Units, or BTU's. Lignite is found primarily in
the southwest and subbituminous in the upper west. Anthracite is limited primarily to certain areas of Pennsylvania. Considering
quality and quantity, bituminous coal is the nation's most valuable coal resource. Bituminous coal is found primarily in the
Appalachian states and in the midwest. West Virginia is the most intensive coal state in the U.S.
Western coals were formed 50 to 70 million years ago. Eastern and midwestern coals were formed 200 to 250 million years
ago. America is in no danger of running out of coal. Recoverable U.S. reserves total over 290 billion tons, nearly three
centuries worth at current production levels.
Page 39
A History of Coal in West Virginia
by Dr. Stuart McGehee
Coal has a rich heritage in West Virginia and has
contributed significantly to the progress and well-being of rugged mountaineers lived in the remote, isolated hills
West Virginians since it was first discovered in what is and hollows where the operations developed. Thus,
now Boone County in 1742 by Peter Salley, more than a operators recruited much of their labor from two human
century before West Virginia became a state. The coal migrations underway around 1900. Thousands of African-
industry has played a major leadership role in the state’s Americans fleeing discrimination and segregation left the
economic, political and social history. The industry has Deep South, and many exchanged the poverty of the
also been a center of controversy and the brunt of cotton fields for the bustling coalfields.
unfounded criticism, giving rise to battles in the arenas of
labor, environment and safety. Meanwhile, European immigrants fleeing religious
persecution and impending war came to America to find
Over the years, West Virginia has furnished our nation jobs and homes, and many came from coal-bearing
and the world with the finest bituminous coal found regions of Europe to the prosperous mines in West
anywhere. And today, West Virginia’s coal miners apply Virginia.
efficient and effective mineral extraction technology that
makes them the envy of their counterparts around the Over the next half century, tonnage and employment
globe. West Virginia exports more coal than any other increased dramatically. By 1950, some 125,000 West
American state, has more longwall mining systems than Virginia coal miners lived and worked in more than 500
any other state, leads the nation in underground coal company towns built to house them and their families.
production and sets the pace for the rest of the industry Whole new cities sprang up where silent mountains had
in reclamation and environmental protection. At the same rested for centuries. Although coal mining was dark, dirty,
time, the West Virginia coal industry exhibits a sense of and inherently dangerous, many miners enjoyed their
responsibility - social, health, safety and environmental - day’s work. They enjoyed being skilled craftsmen who
that is unmatched anywhere in the world. produced a product they could take pride in. People liked
the close friendly life in the company towns, where ties of
It was coal that transformed West Virginia from a family, neighbors, church, school, and home bred a close-
frontier state to an industrial state. Coal in 62 knit community. Old-timers fondly recall company
recoverable seams can be found in 43 of the state’s 55 baseball teams, neighborhood gatherings, church
counties. Knowledge of the coal reserves in western suppers, and other characteristic features of coalfield life.
Virginia predated the American Revolution. Thomas
Jefferson reported in his Notes on the State of Virginia Today many decry conditions in the “coal camps,” but
that coal underlay most of the trans-Allegheny Ohio miners and their families fared as well as most working
Valley. Jefferson’s neighbor, John Peter Salley, traced class Americans, and better than those unfortunate souls
huge deposits of bituminous coal along the Coal and who labored in urban sweatshops or as rural
Kanawha Rivers in the mid-eighteenth century, but there sharecroppers. West Virginia’s coalfields were home to
was little demand for the mineral outside of local use in some of the most significant labor strife in this nation’s
iron forges and blacksmith shops. history, as the United Mine Workers battled coal operators
for control of the industry. Spectacular incidents such as
The first widespread use of West Virginia coal began the famed Matewan Massacre and the Battle of Blair
when the saltworks along the Kanawha River expanded Mountain, landmarks in American labor history, showed
dramatically in the decades before the Civil War. Coal the strategic importance of the state’s crucial industry, and
was used to heat the brine pumped from salt beds its national significance. After World War II, coal mining
underneath the river. That modest use soon was became increasingly dependent upon mechanization and
dwarfed by the demands of a growing nation that looked sophisticated machinery. Continuous mining machines,
to coal to heat its homes, power its factories and fuel its conveyor belts and other advances increased tonnage
locomotives and steamships. When the anthracite fields dramatically.
of Pennsylvania no longer could provide the tonnage
needed, American industrialists discovered the massive Surface mining operations and longwall machines
coalfields of West Virginia. Large-scale investment soon produced astounding outputs in an efficient and safe
opened the remote valleys along the New, Bluestone, manner. Increased productivity meant more coal could be
Tug, Monongahela, and Guyandotte rivers. produced by fewer miners. Pointing to that lower level of
employment, some foolishly argue that coal’s day is over.
The Chesapeake & Ohio and Norfolk & Western They couldn’t be more wrong.
railroads were built specifically to penetrate the rugged
terrain of the coalfields, and investors purchased Today, West Virginia’s coal industry contains more than
extensive tracts of land to lease to independent coal 500 mines, provides more than 44,000 direct and contract
operators, Later, the Virginian and the Baltimore & Ohio jobs, pays $1 billion dollars in annual payroll and
also became coal-hauling lines as well. In those days, hundreds of million dollars to state and local governments
coal mining was highly labor intensive, but only a few in taxes and contributions. Coal is still the rock-solid
backbone of West Virginia’s industrial economy.
Page 40
Coal Fact:
Coal is the most abundant American energy source, accounting
for 90 percent of the nation’s fossil energy reserves.
Association Report
Mine Lands Restoration
Beyond Approximate
Original Contour Notice where the fills are...
In the heads of the hollows, not in free-flowing stream beds.
One of the many prerequisites to
receiving a permit to mine a certain area
is that the company must outline how it
plans to leave the land once mining is
complete.
For those sites where developable land
is not needed for some specific future
purpose, the company must reconstruct
the area similar to its original
appearance.
This is a rigorously engineered and
highly technical project, but one that the
industry takes great pride in as mining
employees live and work in the same
area as the former mine site.
In many cases, the mountain is
reconstructed and streams, ponds and
wetlands are created. A variety of such trees and are even being used to
grasses and millions of trees are planted restore the American Chestnut tree to its SMCRA
on these sites. former native range. In 1977 Congress passed the federal
Once mining is completed in a As for topsoil., most if not all the Surface Mining Control & Reclamation Act
particular section of a surface mine or original topsoil from a surface site is or “SMCRA” to effectively balance energy
even when an underground mine ends removed, segregated and kept in storage production through coal mining and
production, crews immediately move in for use in restoring the area. protection of the environment.
and begin the process of cleaning up old One of the preferred reclamation uses
equipment, rebuilding mountainside and today – one that has been strongly SMCRA contains strict performance
restore the aesthetic and environmental encouraged by governmental agencies standards on the design, engineering,
operation and final reclamation of surface
quality of the area. and environmental groups – is leaving the
and underground mining operations.
For former surface mines that means land in a condition that will attract and
resculpting the mine site and restoring enhance usage by fish and wildlife.
Reclamation plans that contain vital
the original appearaance. The Appalachian region has seen a information regarding the post-mining
The same is true of former resurgence of wildlife on and around restoration of affected areas are a required
underground mine sites. The accesses former mine sites, as they provide open component of the SMCRA permit and no
are sealed and the site restored to its spaces and sources of food and water. It operation can be authorized without an
former condition. was on reclaimed land where over 150 adequate reclamation plan.
Water quality is monitored throughout mountain elk were released recently in
the mining process and steps taken to Kentucky and wild horses have been SMCRA requires that operators post
treat any streams and preserve the seen in Logan County, West Virginia. As financial assurances to ensure the
biology. a practical matter, this could not have completion of the required reclamation
Once restoration is begun, this process occurred other than on reclaimed mine plan.
enters a new phase as well, with long- sites.
term treatment facilities put in place to The mining industry is committed to SMCRA requires that all mined land be
make sure there is no environmental environmental stewardship and takes its restored to Approximate Original Contour
harm to the area or downstream waters. job seriously. Many governmental and or AOC following the completion of coal
extraction.
One of the common complaints about environmental groups, such as the West
former surface mine lands is that large Virginia Department of Environmental
AOC means restoring the excavated
and hardwood trees cannot grow due to Protection, Ducks Unlimited and the Wild
overburden to mined area in a such a way
some perceived lack of top soil. Turkey Federation, annually review and that mine site resembles the elevation and
As has been shown in other portions of nominate coal company reclamation configuration of the surrounding un-mined
this publication, this is not true. In fact, projects for special recognition. These topography.
properly prepared, former surface mine are highly coveted awards and something
lands are very good for the growth of for which everyone in the industry strives.
Page 41
Coal Fact:
Recoverable U.S. coal reserves total more than 250 billion
tons or three centuries worth of production at current levels.
Association Report
Weirton
Hospital Twisted Gun Golf Course
Logan County Airport
Fast Facts
While most of the land on former sites is restored and naturalized, some sites
are identified as suitable for economic development. When this occurs, the
sites are confiigured to suit the downstream need, whether that use is
recreational, industrial, educational or perhaps community building. These
photos show the myriad uses these sites already play around the state.
The Hatfield-McCoy Trail System
Page 43
Coal Fact:
One ton of coal equals 3.8 barrels of oil, 189 gallons of gasoline, one cord of
firewood, 21,000 cubic feet of natural gas and 6.500 KW of electricity.
Association Report
West Virginia Coal: Responsibly Green
Fourteen companies were recognized for excellence in mine
reclamation for 2008. The awards were made at the
concluding luncheon of the 36th Annual West Virginia Mining
Symposium Charleston Civic Center. The awards are co-
sponsored by the West Virginia Coal Association and the West
Virginia Division of Environmental Protection.
To be eligible, a mining operation must be nominated by
their local state inspector.
Ducks Unlimited presented the West Virginia Wetlands
Award to Coal-Mac, Inc. for its wetlands development in
Mingo and Logan counties.
The Turkey Habitat Restoration Award went to Pioneer Fuel
Corporation’s Simmon’s Fork Surface Mine 1 in Wyoming
County. The Greenlands Award, the state’s top environmental
award, went to Brooks Run Mining Company in Webster
County.
Brooks Run Accepts the Greenlands Award
The Winners
The Greenlands Award
Special Recognition Award
Brooks Run Complex, Webster County
Innovative Construction and Reclamation Practices
Argus Energy WV, LLC Rollem Fork Haul Road, Wayne
Surface Mine South Award
County
Colony Bay Coal Company North Surface Mine,
Boone County
West Virginia Woodlands Award
Given by the West Virginia Chapter of the Society of
Coal Refuse Facility South Award
American Foresters
Mingo-Logan Coal Company, Inc. Monclo Preparation
ICG Eastern Birch River
Plant, Boone County
Mine Ducks Unlimited Wetlands Award
Coal Refuse Facility North Award
Phoenix Coal Mac
Kingwood Mining Company Kingwood Refuse Facility,
Preston County
Turkey Habitat Reclamation Award
Pioneer Fuel Corporation, Simmons Fork Surface Mine,
Haul Road South Award
Wyoming County
Apogee Coal Company Guyan Complex Road Permit,
Logan County
AML Awards
Coal Refuse Impoundment North Award
AML North Award
Island Creek Coal Company Beaver Creek Slurry
Cowgirl, Inc. Overfield Refuse & Mining Equipment Site,
Impoundment Permit, Grant County
Barbour County
Coal Refuse Impoundment South Award
AML-South Award
Coal-Mac, Inc. Pine Creek Impoundment, Logan County
Green Mountain Company Bearwallow Branch Refuse Piles
Project, McDowell County
Underground Coal Mine South Award
Long Fork Coal Company Logan Fork Deep Mine Permit,
Boone County
Association Report
The Winners
Underground
International Coal Group, Upshur County Imperial Mine
Eastern Associated Coal, Monongalia County Federal #2
Brooks Run Mining Co, McDowell County Cucumber Mine
Elk Creek Mining Coal, Inc.,Boone County Castle Mine
Aracoma Coal Coal. Inc., Logan County Hernshaw Mine
Laurel Creek Coal, Inc., Mingo County No. 1 Mine
Brooks Run Mining Company, LLC, Webster County Poplar Ridge #1
Pocahontax Coal Company, Raleigh County Josephine No. 2
Surface
Oxford Mining Company, Brooke County Crosscreek
Extra Energy Inc., McDowell County Castus Ridge
Simmons Fork Mining, Inc., Wyoming County Paynter Branch
Hobet Mining LLC, Boone County West Ridge
Premium Energy LLC, Mingo County Surface Mine 2
Phoenix Coal-MAC Inc., Mingo County Phoenix Surface #4
Simmons Fork Mining, Inc., Raleigh County Ewing Fork, No. 1
International Coal Group, Webster County Birch River Surface
Preparation Plants
International Coal Group – Beckley LLC, Upshur Sawmill Run Prep. Plant
Kepler Processing Co., LLC , Wyoming Kepler No. 1 Prep Plant
Mingo Logan Coal Company, Logan Cardinal Prep Plant
Pine Ridge Coal Company, Boone Big Mountain Prep Plant
Rockspring Development Inc., Wayne Camp Creek Plant
Patriot Coal, Boone Harris Plant
ICG Eastern LLC, Webster Birch River Plant
Brooks Run Mining Co., Webster Erbacon Plant
Internatonal Coal Group, Beckley LLC, Raleigh Beckley Pocahontas
Kingston Resources, Inc., Fayette Kingston Processing
Maple Coal Company, Fayette Maple Prep Plant.
Fola Coal Company, Clay Peach Orchard Prep Plant
Quarry
J.F. Allen Company, Randolph Aggregates Quarry
Independent Contractor
Powell Construction, Statewide Powell Construction
Page 45
A Glossary of Coal Terms
Air split - The division of a current of air into two or more Bump - An abrupt dislocation of the mine workings,usually
parts. due to severe stress in the surrounding rock.
Anemometer - Instrument for measuring air velocity. Byproducts - Useful substances made from the gasses
and liquids left over when coal is converted to coke.
Angle of dip - The angle at which strata or mineral
deposits are inclined to the horizontal place. Cannel coal - A non-caking block coal with a fine, even
grain, burns with a long, yellow flame and is very easy to
Anthracite - The hardest classification of coal, almost pure ignite.Canopy - A protective covering of a cab on a mining
carbon, used mainly for heating homes. Anthracite is machine.
mined primarily in Pennsylvania.
Captive mine - A mine in which the production is used
Auger mining - Mining which employs a large auger, wholly or primarily by the mine owner or subsidiary.
which functions much like a carpenter’s wood drill. The
auger bores into a coal seam and discharges coal out of Cast - A blast in which rock and dirt is directed to a
the spiral onto waiting conveyor belts. After augering is specific spot.
completed, the openings are regraded. This method of
mining is usually employed to recover any additional Chain pillar - The pillar of coal left to protect the gangway
mineral left in areas that cannot be reached economically or entry and the parallel airways.
by other types of surface mining.
Cleat - The vertical cleavage of coal seams. The main set
Appropriate original contour - The surface configuration of joints along which coal breaks when mined.
achieved by backfilling and grading of the mined area so
that the reclaimed area, including any terracing or access Coal gasification - The conversion of coal into a gaseous
roads, closely resembles the general surface or fuel.
configuration of the land prior to mining and blends into
and compliments the drainage pattern of the surrounding Coal seam - A bed or stratum of coal. The term is usually
terrain, with all highwalls and spoil piles eliminated. applied to a large deposit of coal.
Aquifer - A water-bearing bed or porous rock, often Coal washing - The process of separating coal of various
sandstone. sizes, densities and shapes by allowing them to settle in a
fluid. The washing process plays an important role in
Backfill - Operation of refilling an area where overburden improving coal quality by removing rock, other impurities
has been removed, including the grading of the refilled and some organic sulfur. Washing takes place at
excavation. Also, the material placed in an excavation in preparation plants, usually located at the mine or shipping
the process of backfilling. site.
Barricading - Enclosing part of a mine to prevent inflow of Coke - A hard, dry carbon substance produced by heating
noxious gases from a mine fire or an explosion. coal to a very high temperature in the absence of air.
Coke is used in the manufacture of iron and steel.
Bed - A stratum of coal or other sedimentary deposit.
Continuous mining - The most common method of
Belt conveyor - A looped belt on which coal or other underground coal mining currently in use in the U.S. This
materials can be carried, generally constructed of flame- process utilizes a continuous mining machine that totally
resistant material or reinforced rubber. mechanizes the coal extraction process by cutting or
removing the coal from the seam using a large steel drum
Bench - One or more divisions of a coal seam separated with many huge teeth and loading the cut coal into a
by slate or formed by the process of extracting coal. shuttle car or a continuous haulage system for removal
from the mine.
Bituminous - A medium soft classification of coal, the most
common and useful type mined in the U.S. It is used Contour - An imaginary line that connects all points on a
primarily for electric generation and for coke making for surface having the same elevation.
the steel industry.
Conventional mining - This type of mining involves the
Bottom - Floor or underlying surface of an underground insertion of explosives into the coal seam, blasting the
excavation. seam and removal of the coal onto a conveyor or shuttle
car by loading machine. Once the most common form of
Brow - A low place in the mine roof, causing insufficient deep mining, conventional mining now accounts for only a
headroom. small proportion of coal production.
BTU - British Thermal Unit. A measure of the energy Core Sample - A cylinder sample generally 1-5 inches in
required to raise the temperature of one pound of water diameter, drilled out of ore to determine the geological
one degree Fahrenheit. On average, coal contains 25 and chemical analysis of the overburden of coal.
million BTU’s per ton.
Page 46
A Glossary of Coal Terms
Cover - The overburden of any deposit. following the extraction of coal.
Cribbing - The construction of crips or timbers laid at right Highwall miner - A highwall mining system consists of a
angles to each other, sometimes filled with earth as a roof remotely controlled continuous miner which extracts coal
support or as a support for machinery. and conveys it via augers, belt or chain conveyors to the
outside. The cut is typically a rectangular, horizontal cut
Crosscut - A passageway driven between the entry and its from a highwall bench, reaching depths of several
parallel air course or air courses for ventilation purposes. hundred feet or deeper.
Also, a tunnel driven from one seam to another through or
across the intervening measures; sometimes called Hopper Cars - Open freight cars with a floor sloping to
“crosscut tunnel”, or “breakthrough”. In vein mining, an one or more hinged doors for discharging bulk materials
entry perpendicular to the vein. including coal.
Cross entry - An entry running at an angle with the main Inby - In the direction of the working face.
entry.
In situ - In the natural or original position. Applied to a
Deep mine - An underground mine. rock, soil, or fossil when occurring in the situation in which
it was originally formed or deposited.
Demonstrated reserve base - Coal deposits which are
economically feasible to mine with existing technology. Intake - The passage through which fresh air is drawn or
forced into a mine or to a section of a mine.
Dip - The inclination of a geologic structure (bed, vein,
fault, etc.) from the horizontal; dip is always measured Lignite - The softest classification of coal, with the highest
downward at right angles to the strike. moisture content. It is mined primarily in the western U.S.
and used for some electric generation and for conversion
Dragline - A large earthmoving machine which uses a to synthetic gas.
giant bucket suspended from cables to remove the
overburden from a coal seam in surface mining. Liquefaction - The process of converting coal into a
synthetic fuel, similar in nature to crude oil and/or refined
Drift mine - A coal mine entered directly through a products, such as gasoline.
horizontal opening drilled into the side of a hill or
mountain. This method of mining is used in hilly or Longwall mining - Longwall mining employs a steel plow
mountainous areas. or rotating drum, which is pulled mechanically back-and-
forth across a face of coal that is usually several hundred
Face - The exposed area of a coalbed from which coal is feet long. The loosened coal falls onto a conveyor for
extracted. removal from the mine. Longwall operations include a
hydraulic roof support system that advances as mining
Fluidized bed combustion - A process that removes sulfur proceeds allowing the roof to fall in a controlled manner.
from coal during combustion. Crushed coal and limestone Longwall operations are the fastest growing underground
are burned together in a boiler. Sulfur gases from the coal mining technique, highly productive, and generally
combine with the limestone to form a solid compound that improve mine safety. West Virginia is the leading longwall
is recovered with the ash. mining producer in the United States.
Fossil fuel - Any naturally occurring fuel of an organic Man Car/Man Trip - The vehicle that transports miners to
nature, such as coal, crude oil and natural gas. working sections of a deep mine.
Fly ash - The finely divided particles of ash resulting from Metallurgical coal - The types of coal carbonized to make
the combustion of fuel. coke for steel manufacture, typically high in BTU value
and low in ash content.
Frequency Rate/Incident Rate - Frequency with which
accidents and fatalities occur. Calculated on the basis of Methane - A potentially explosive gas formed naturally
200,000 hours of exposure during work. from the decay of vegetative matter, similar to that which
formed coal. Methane, the principal component of natural
Haul road - Shot rock or asphalt road constructed or
gas, is frequently encountered in underground coal
utilized to transport coal by truck from the mine to the
mining operations, and is kept within safe limits through
tipple, or to rail or barge facilities.
the use of extensive mine ventilation systems. Coalbed
Haulageway - Any underground entry or passageway that methane has now been recognized as an important
is designed for transport of mined material, personnel, or energy resource. Increased efforts are underway to
equipment, usually by the installation of track or belt expand its extraction from coal seams.
conveyor.
Mine mouth power plant - A steam-electric power plant
Highwall - Unexcavated face of exposed overburden and built close to a mine. Because of this proximity, the coal is
coal in a surface mine. Highwalls must be recontoured often delivered to the plant by tramway or covered
Page 47
A Glossary of Coal Terms
conveyor. The plant delivers its electricity output to distant Red dog - a nonvolatile combustion product of the
points through large transmission lines. oxidation of coal or coal refuse. Most commonly applied to
material resulting from in situ, uncontrolled burning of coal
Mountaintop mining - Surface mining technique which or coal refuse piles. It is similar to coal ash.
removes overburden at the top of the mountain in order
to recover 100% of the mineral. Reserve - That portion of the identified coal resource that
can be economically mined at the time of determination.
Outcrop - Coal which appears near or at the surface. The reserve is derived by applying a recovery factor to
that component of the identified coal resource designated
Overburden - Layers of native rock and soil covering a as the reserve base.
coal seam. Overburden is removed prior to surface
mining and replaced after the coal is taken from the Respirable dust - Dust particles 5 microns or less in size.
seam. The excess of this material is often placed in valley
fills. Return - The air or ventilation that has passed through all
the working faces of a split.
Panel - A coal mining block that generally comprises one
operating unit. Rib - The side of a pillar or the wall of an entry. The solid
coal on the side of any underground passage. Same as
Pillar - An area of coal left to support the overlying strata rib pillar.
in a mine; sometimes left permanently to support surface
structures. Rider - A thin seam of coal overlying a thicker one.
Pneumoconiosis - A chronic disease of the lung arising Rock Dusting - The process of coating the tunnels in deep
from breathing coal dust, commonly known as “black mines with powdered limestone, for the purpose of
lung.” diluting potentially unhealthy or dangerous concentrations
of coal dust and to help minimize explosion hazards.
Portal - The structure surrounding the immediate
entrance to a mine; the mouth of a tunnel. Roof Bolting - A method of supporting the ceilings of
underground mines by inserting long steel bolts into holes
Preparation Plant - Usually located on a mine site, bored into the strata forming the roof.
although one plant may serve several mines. A
preparation plant is a facility for crushing, sizing and Room and pillar mining - A method of deep mining in
washing coal to prepare it for use by a particular which approximately half of the coal is left in place to
customer. The washing process has the added benefit of support the roof of the active mining area. Large “pillars”
removing some of the coal’s sulfur content. are left while “rooms” of coal are extracted.
Productivity - The amount of coal produced by one Run-of Mine Coal - Coal as it comes directly from the
worker in a one workday. Productivity is calculated by mine, not treated by a a preparation plant.
dividing the total number of worker/days into total coal
Safety lamp - A lamp with steel wire gauze covering every
production. The productivity of underground and surface
opening from the inside to the outside so as to prevent
mining operations is calculated in the same manner,
the passage of flame should explosive gas be
using the specific man day and production totals.
encountered.
Reclamation - The restoration of land and environment
Sandstone - A sedimentary rock consisting of quartz sand
after the coal is extracted. Reclamation operations are
united by some cementing material, such as iron oxide or
usually underway where the coal has already been taken
calcium carbonate.
from a mine, even as mining operations are taking place
elsewhere on the site. The process commonly includes Scoop - A rubber tired-, battery- or diesel-powered piece
recontouring or reshaping the land to its approximate of equipment designed for cleaning runways and hauling
original appearance, restoring topsoil and planting native supplies.
grasses and ground covers. Reclamation is closely
regulated by both state and federal law, and the coal Scrubber - Any of several forms of chemical/physical
industry’s outstanding effort in this area has resulted in devices that remove sulfur compounds formed during coal
millions of acres of restored productive land throughout combustion. These devices, technically known as flue gas
the country. desulfurization systems, combine the sulfur in gaseous
emissions with another chemical medium to form inert
Recoverable Reserves - The amount of coal that can be “sludge which must then be removed for disposal.
recovered from the Demonstrated Reserve Base. There
are about 285 billion tons of recoverable reserves in the Seam - A stratum or bed of coal.
U.S., enough to last nearly 250 years at current
consumption levels. Secondary roof - The roof strata immediately above the
coalbed, requiring support during the excavating of coal.
Recovery - The proportion or percentage of coal or ore
mined from the original seam or deposit. Section - A portion of the working area of a mine.
Page 48
A Glossary of Coal Terms
Self-contained breathing apparatus - A self-contained Split - Any division or branch of the ventilating current.
supply of oxygen used during rescue work from coal mine
fires and explosions; same as SCSR (self-contained self Steam Coal - Coal used primarily for electricity production,
rescuer). generally lower BTU value than metallurgical coal.
Self-rescuer - A small fighting device carried by a coal Stripping ratio - The unit amount of overburden that must
miner underground, either on his belt or in his pocket, to be removed to gain access to a similar unit amount of
provide him with immediate protection against carbon coal or mineral material.
monoxide and smoke in case of a mine fire or explosion.
Subbituminous - Classified between bituminous and
It is a small canister with a mouthpiece directly attached
lignite, with low fixed carbon and high volatility and
to it. The wearer breathes through the mouth, the nose
moisture.
being closed by a clip. The canister contains a layer of
fused calcium chloride that absorbs water vapor from the Subsidence - The gradual sinking, or sometimes abrupt
mine air. The device is used for escape purposes only, collapse, of the rock and soil layers into an underground
because it does not sustain life in atmospheres containing mine. Structures and surface features above the
deficient oxygen. The length of time a self-rescuer can be subsidence area can be affected.
used, usually between 30 minutes and one hour, is
governed mainly by the humidity in the mine air. Support - The vital function of keeping the mine workings
open. As a verb, it refers to this function; as a noun it
Shaft - A primary vertical or non-vertical opening through refers to all the equipment and materials- timber, roof
mine strata used for ventilation or drainage and/or for bolts, concrete, steel, etc.- that are used to carry out this
hoisting of personnel or materials; connects the surface function.
with underground workings.
Surface Mine - A mine in which the coal lies near the
Shaft mine - An underground mine in which the main entry surface and can be extracted by removing the covering
or access is by means of a vertical shaft. layer of native rock and soil.
Shale - A rock formed by consolidation of clay, mud, or Short Ton - Standard American measurement, equal to
silt, having a laminated structure and composed of 2,000 pounds. Conversely, a long or British ton is 2,240
minerals essentially unaltered since deposition. pounds, and a metric ton is approximately 2,205 pounds.
Shearer - A mining machine for longwall faces that uses a Suspension - Weaker strata hanging from stronger,
rotating action to “shear” the material from the face as it overlying strata by means of roof bolts.
progresses along the face.
Timber - A collective term for underground wooden
Shift - The number of hours or a specified part of the supports.
workday.
Tipple - Originally the place where the mine cars were
Shortwall - An underground mining method in which small tipped and emptied of t heir coal, and still used in that
areas (15 to 150 feet) are worked by a continuous miner same sense, now refers to the surface structures of a
in conjunction with hydraulic roof supports. mine, including the preparation plant and loading tracks.
Shuttle Car - A self-discharging truck, generally with Top - A mine roof.
rubber tires or caterpillar-type treads, used for receiving
coal from teh loading or mining machine and transferring Trip - A train of mine cars.
it to an underground loading point, mine railway or belt
conveyor system. Underground Mine - Also known as a deep mine. Usually
located several hundred feet below the earth’s surface.
Slack - Small coal; the finest-sized soft coal, usually less Most underground mines are located east of the
than one inch in diameter. Mississippi River.
Slate - A miner’s term for any shale or slate accompanying Unit Train - A long train of between 60 and 150 hopper
coal. Geologically, it is a dense, fine-textured cars, carrying coal between a mine and a destination. A
metamorphic rock, with excellent parallel cleavage so that typical unit train can carry at least 10,000 tons of coal in a
it breaks into thin plates or pencil like shapes. single shipment.
Slip - A fault. A smooth joint or crack where the strata Waste - Any rock or mineral which must be removed from
have moved on each other. a mine to keep the mining scheme practical, but which
has no value.
Slope Mine - A mine with an opening that slopes upward
or downward to the seam, with adjoining vertical shafts for Working face - Any place in a mine where mineral is
air ventilation and emergency use. extracted.
Sounding - Knocking on a roof to see wheather it is sound Working section - The area from the faces to the point
and safe to work under. where coal is loaded onto belts or rail cars.
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