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West Elk Mine <br /> <br />2.05-6 Rev. 11/04- PR11; 03/06- PR10; 07/15- MR413; 07/18- PR15, 01/24-TR152, 04/24-TR154 <br /> <br />Longwall Method <br />Location Coal Recovery <br />Main Development 30 – 40 % <br />Submain Development 30 – 40 % <br />Panels 80 – 90 % <br />Total 80% <br /> <br />Mining Equipment <br /> <br />Mining equipment in use at West Elk Mine varies. Typical equipment used in the development <br />mining operations is shown on Table 30. Typical equipment used in the longwall mining <br />operations is shown on Table 31. <br />Use and Conservation of the Coal Resource <br /> <br />The mine plan has been laid out to recover as much coal as practical, considering prudent mining <br />practices and economic viability of the operation. Longwall technology is utilized at West Elk <br />Mine to achieve the maximum economic recovery of the coal reserves, enhance personnel safety, <br />and protect surface resources. Although this method attains the highest overall reserve recovery, <br />not all coal will be recovered. <br /> <br />Although high recovery rates will be achieved with longwall technology in the E and B Seams, <br />some coal will remain unmined. Because of the specific block pattern needed for longwall panel <br />development, small areas of marginally thick E and B Seam coal will not be mined. These areas <br />occur where the planned longwall panel layout cannot be configured to fit the reserve area. <br />Where E and B Seam mining will occur, some top coal, from one to two feet in thickness, will be <br />left unmined in the roof to improve roof conditions and hence, personnel safety and product <br />quality. Because the full seam thickness commonly exceeds the maximum extraction height of <br />the mining equipment, some floor coal will also be left unmined. <br /> <br />To recover as much coal as possible the retreat mining method was introduced in 2024. This <br />method recovers coal from existing main roads, gate roads, longwall recovery chute roads, and <br />solid coal barrier pillars positioned along outside entries. <br /> <br />Table 30 <br />Typical Equipment Used for Longwall Development Mining at West Elk Mine <br />Equipment Principal Use <br />Continuous Miner Cutting Coal <br />Diesel Shuttle Car Transport Coal To Feeder <br />Feeder Breaker Break Coal/Meter Flow To Belt <br />Section Conveyor Belt Transport Coal To Main Belt <br />Main Conveyor Belt Transport Coal To Surface <br />Roof Bolter Primary/Secondary Roof Support <br />Power Center Provide Electrical Power <br />Auxiliary Fan Provide Face Ventilation <br />Water Truck/Wagon Dust Suppression-Roadways <br />Rock Duster-Mobile Section & Outby Dusting <br />Trickle Duster Return Entry/Beltline Dusting <br />Bulk Dust System Mine-wide Rock-dusting & Transport <br />Mine Monitoring System Equipment Control, Monitoring & Safety <br />Scoop/LHD Clean-Up/ Equipment Moves