|
seam's structural contours. The seam dips at a 3% grade to the Southwest. The
<br />strike of the seam is S 55° E. For specific details of the local geology and
<br />information concerning adjacent rider coal seam see Section 2.04.6.
<br />For practical purposes the. upper Menefee seam may be considered flat or
<br />tabular with no rolling of seam. Consequently, the layout of the mine workings is
<br />not dependent upon the steepness of the seam as it is upon the boundary lines of
<br />the coal leases. The panels or mining sections are laid out as shown on Map King I-
<br />005 to maximize the recovery of the lease coal. Most of the underground openings or
<br />entries are driven along some given angle to the true dip to take advantage of the
<br />property boundaries. This angle cannot be correlated to the cleat of the coal. The
<br />tight cleat allows the mine workings to be oriented without rib spalling problems
<br />arising. In addition, the lack of ground water seepage allows the workings to be laid
<br />out without regard to drainage slopes.
<br />The main structural consideration of the mine layout is the width of the panels
<br />(number of multiple entries) and the width of the entries. A panel width of 250 to
<br />300 feet with five entries has proved satisfactory for development and pillar
<br />extraction. This width allows for room development upon retreat from the panel
<br />during pillar extraction. Stresses due to overburden thickness are minimal
<br />compared to deeper operating coal mines. Maximum over-burden cover does not
<br />exceed 325 feet at any point, and the stress field seems to act in a vertical direction.
<br />No ground forces other than vertical have been observed by inspection during
<br />mining operations. The shallow overburden cover would accommodate an increase
<br />in the panel width or the number of multiple entries without undue stress problems.
<br />No major faults or slip planes Criss-cross the mine workings allowing for an even
<br />greater degree of optional orientation of the workings. The width of the openings has
<br />been limited to twenty feet for control of the immediate roof (the thickness of the roof
<br />to the top of the resin bolting horizon).
<br />ANTICIPATED PRODUCTION
<br />While current production is stable at about 300,000 tons per year, it is
<br />anticipated that production may reach 500,000 tons per year.
<br />OPERATION PLAN -PERMIT AREA
<br />MINE BENCH
<br />The surface disturbed area includes the mine bench and the access road to
<br />the mine bench. Total disturbed acreage is 10.88. All surface facilities for the
<br />support and processing of coal have been constructed on the mine bench. No
<br />surface mining operations exist on the mine bench; all coal extraction activities are
<br />confined to the underground King I Mine.
<br />Map King I-007 shows the permit area which includes the mine bench.
<br />Facilities constructed on the bench include office building, bath house, shop, scale
<br />house, office trailer, tipple area with coal storage bins, coal stocking (storage) areas,
<br />a main fan, 10,000 8s 37,000 gallon water storage tanks, a rock dust silo, and a sub-
<br />station.
<br />With the exception of the tipple and the main fan construction site, the
<br />remaining facilities have been erected upon the natural (original) contours of 3:1
<br />slopes. A 1.5:1 sloped highwall was cut to provide a bench for the main fan and the
<br />• tipple area. The tipple sets at the outcrop of the coal seam being mined. A third
<br />,. ~, ~,. ~, ®, ®, ®, ®, ®, ®, ~ ; ®, ®,. ~, ®, ®, ®, ®, ®, ®, ®, ~, ®, ®, ®, ®, ®, ®, . ~ , p, ®, ®, ®, ®, . ~, ®, ®, ®, ®, ®, , ~, ~, ®, ®, ®, ®, ~, . ~ ~ ~, ®, ®, ~ ~ a, ®, ®, ®,
<br /> ®, ®, ®, ®, ~, ®, ®~ ®, ~ ~ ®, . ~ ~ ®, a, ~ ~ ~ ~ ®, ®, ®~ ®, ®, ®, ®, ®, ®, ~, ®~ ®~ . ~, ®, ~ ., . ~,
<br />National King Coal, LLC King I Mine
<br />Section 2.05.3
<br />Page 2 February, 2007
<br />
|