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2.05.3 -OPERATION PLAN -MINE PLAN AREA
<br />METHOD OF COAL EXTRACTION
<br />The King I Mine is an underground coal mine. A maximum stripping ratio of
<br />1:50 make coal extraction operations amendable to underground methods only. The
<br />method used is common to most U.S. underground coal mines and is called coal
<br />extraction by room and pillar mining. A series of mine openings are developed from
<br />the surface to the coal resources of the mine property. At the King I Mine, the upper
<br />Menefee coal seam outcrops along Hay Gulch. The portals (mine openings) are
<br />constructed at the seam outcrop. The openings or entries are then advanced in the
<br />coal following the seam. No shafts (vertical openings) or inclines through
<br />overburden material are necessary.
<br />The coal reserves are divided up into sections or panels convenient for
<br />extraction. First, rooms are developed leaving coal pillars to support the main roof.
<br />Later, after a panel has been developed, the pillars are extracted on retreat from the
<br />panel. In this way, the recovery of the coal is maximized. Since pillaring operations
<br />began at the King I Mine during the late summer months of 1979, the extraction
<br />ratio of coal removed from the panels to coal left behind is 5:1. This is an excellent
<br />extraction ratio.
<br />MINE WORKINGS
<br />Map King I-005 shows the existing mine workings within the current and
<br />proposed Permit Area boundaries. Superimposed above the workings, the surface
<br />topography has been drawn in for correlation purposes between the surface and the
<br />underground workings. Mining projections of future panel development are also
<br />shown on Map King I-005.
<br />MINING EQUIPMENT
<br />The coal is currently mined using two continuous mining units. These
<br />sections consist of one or two continuous miners, two or three shuttle cars, one or
<br />two dual boom roof drills (bolter machines), afeeder/breaker belt feeder, and a
<br />4160/480 volt power center. After coal is ripped from the face, it is loaded into the
<br />shuttle cars for transporting to the conveyor belt for removal from the mine. All the
<br />above equipment is electrical.
<br />Haulage vehicles for moving men and supplies into the mine are electric.
<br />Electric power for the mine is supplied by a 1500kva surface sub-station.
<br />Voltage entering the mine is 4160vac which is stepped down by the power centers in
<br />the mine to 480vac for the electrical equipment.
<br />Water used for dust suppression and motor cooling in the mine is supplied via
<br />a four inch diameter P.V.C. pipe. Two wells supply the water. The location of the
<br />wells is shown on Map King I-005.
<br />Ground water is generally absent and therefore spore water pressure does not
<br />contribute to instability of the roof, floor or pillars. In general, working conditions in
<br />the mine are good.
<br />STRUCTURAL CONSIDERATIONS OF THE MINE LAYOUT
<br />King Coal workings are confined to the upper Menefee (A) coal seam of the
<br />Menefee formation (Mesa Verde Group). The seam is about six feet in thickness.
<br />The equipment used in the mine and the mining method itself is tailored to this
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<br />National King Coal, LLC King I Mine
<br />Section 2.05.3
<br />Page 1 February, 2007
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