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State Reg. <br />• coal field has been made (generally by drilling several <br />"wildcat" test holes), engineers and geologists, utilizing <br />available maps and information, will establish an <br />exploratory drilling program to "prove up" the coal reserve. <br />The drill hole pattern is determined and normally based on some <br />convenient breakdown of the public land survey system. <br />Additional drilling is called for where the coal is expected to <br />outcrop or where faulty conditions are expected. <br />The engineers then direct survey crews to establish baseline <br />control in order to locate the drill holes and property <br />corners. This baseline control is used to produce topographic <br />contour mapping from aerial photography. With an accurate base <br />map and all of the necessary drilling information, the <br />engineers can calculate the various factors necessary to <br />establish a mining plan. In area surface mining, these factors <br />would include acres of coal available, tons of recoverable coal <br />• expected, cubic yards of overburden to be removed, and the <br />ratio of cubic yards of overburden removed per ton of coal <br />produced. An examination of these factors and others in the <br />light of prevailing market conditions is done and a <br />determination made as to the potential economic viability of a <br />mine. <br />Once a positive determination is made and an annual output <br />established for the mine, the engineers are required to <br />determine the size, type and quantity of equipment needed, <br />including topsoil removal equipment, primary stripping <br />machines, drills, tractors, loaders, haulage equipment, <br />reclamation equipment, coal handling facilities and service <br />facilities. Standard mine engineering practices, including <br />examination of contour maps and borings, preparation and <br />examination of range diagrams, and examination of <br />manufacturer's specifications, are utilized in sizing the major <br />• stripping machines. Quantities of soils to be moved (as <br />determined by soil surveys) and haulage distances and travel <br />conditions anticipated are used to determine fleet type and <br />12-3 Revised 8/27/86 <br />