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<br />Coal Geology; <br />There are two coal seams on the property of which only the upper seam <br />has been developed. The upper seam has a thickness varying between 66-74 <br />inches. The coal seam is overlain by a few inches of interbedded sandstone and <br />coal which are overlain in turn by massive sandstone which stands well. <br />The lower seam is not exposed. Bedding at the property dips 3° in a <br />South-Southwesterly direction. <br />Coal-Quality: <br />The coal of the Blue Flame Coal Mine is low ash, low sulfur, bitumin- <br />ous coal with a ] .0 free swelling index. An average analysis as received, <br />follows: <br />VOLATILE FIXED <br />MOISTURE MATTER CARBON ASH BTU SULFUR <br />3.8 37.9 52.9 5.4 13,082 0.8 <br />• Geologic Hazards: <br />Geologist, TIMOTHY D. MEIERS, has reported no unusual geologic hazards <br />are known that might adversely effect mining in the Upper Menefee coal seam. <br />He noted that groundwater tables were below the seam. <br />An inspection of the Blue Flame Coal Mine workings show no significant <br />faults or strata displacements. The coal is strong and pillars are structural- <br />ly competent showing a lack of squeezing (crushing) or rib spalling. The mine <br />floor does not buckle due to stress from the overburden and because the water <br />table is lower than the seam, pore water pressure is nonexistent in the immedi- <br />ate overlying and underlying strata of the coal seam. The immediate mine roof <br />consists of thinly laminated shales and sandstones. These beds rise up the <br />base of the Cliff house Sandstone an average of twenty feet above the coal <br />seam. The thick Cliff House Sandstone provides a great deal of ground stabil- <br />ity and prevents subsidence from reaching the surface after pillars are <br />extracted during secondary mining. <br />The overburden above the Blue Flame Coal Mine (Upper Menefee) seam <br />consists exclusively of sandstone and shale. <br />