Mining equipment and techniques
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Photo Library: Mining equipment and techniques |
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With the development of larger equipment, this mining operation is removing the entire tops of the mountains, not just a small strip around the edge as shown in the previous photo. Although much greater surface disturbance is done during the mining operation, all water runoff from this active mine is directed into sedimentation ponds that prevent off-site pollution. As mining is completed at this operation it is being reclaimed to farm land. Photo 3 (76 KB file)
This is one of the largest producing coal mines in the United States. Because the coal seam is 80 to 100 feet thick there is a very small area of disturbance compared to large volume of coal extracted. This photo shows the coal seam being blasted to break it up for loading. Coal from western mines is transported by train to electric generating plants in this county and to sea ports for shipping to other parts of the world. Photo 4 (53 KB file)
This active coal mining operation is located in northwest Colorado and produces approximately 2,000,000 tons of coal annually. It is typical of coal mining in this part of the country, where overburden is removed with a dragline, the coal removed, and the land reclaimed in one continuous operation. Photo 103 (82 KB file)