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Mining Method <br />The depth and thickness of these seams art wall suited for the existing longwall <br />equipment and conventional underground methods used by WF-U at the Deserado <br />Mine. Brizfly, conventional continuous miner sections develop a fivz entry main <br />system off of which the three zntry headgatz and three entry tailgate are <br />driven, usually at right angles to the mains. The gate entrizs are driven for <br />as long a distance as possible in order to maximize the efficiency of the <br />longwall once it is set up. The longwall equipment is moved in and installed <br />in a setup room running between the headgate and tailgate entries which are <br />separated by a distancz of 750 feet. The longwall mining method mines the block <br />of coal between the headgate and tailgate entries by cutting the coal with a <br />rotary shear xhile supporting the roof temporarily with movable hydraulic <br />shields. The roof is allowed to cave in behind the shields as the longwall face <br />advances. Coal is transportzd from the longwall face by a chain convzyor to a <br />conventional rubber belt convzyor which transports the coal outside for <br />przparation and sale. „s the coal is cut and rzmoved, the shields are moved <br />forward, and the process is more or less continuous. Recovery within the actual <br />longwall panel itself is nearly 100. <br />t4aximum Economic Recovery Dzterm~nzt~.~n <br />The method proposed by WF-U will result in the I4aximum Economic Recovery of the <br />B and D seam coal on this tract and, in addition, will enhance recovery and <br />Maximum Economic Recovery on the adjacent federal coal leaszs. The above <br />described lands constitute a lzasable coal tract and should be offered by <br />competitive least sale. <br />~ ~~~ <br />Jerry Strahan <br />Craig District iiining Engineer <br />