JUNE 1976
OEA76-1
MINING
IN THE
NORTHERN GREAT PLAINS
UNITED STATES
AN INTRODUCTION AND INVENTORY UTILIZING AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY
COLLECTED IN 1974-75
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
ROCKY MOUNTAIN - PRAIRIE REGION
REGION VIII
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SURFACE COAL MINING IN THE
NORTHERN GREAT PLAINS OF THE
WESTERN UNITED STATES
An Introduction and Inventory Utilizing Aerial Photography
Collected in 1974 and 1975
June, 1976
Prepared by:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
"A" Off ice of Energy Activities^
Region VIII, Denver, Colorado
^Office of Energy, Minerals, and Industry^
Office of Research and Development
Washington, D.C.
Assisted by:
^Environmental Monitoring and Support Laboratory^
Las Vegas, Nevada
^States of North Dakota, Wyoming, and Montana-^-
Report Cooperatively Funded by:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Denver, Colorado and Washington, D.C.
Old West Regional Commission
Billings, Montana
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Surface Environment and Mining Program
Billings, Montana
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PREFACE
Approximately one half of the nation's coal resources, forty
percent of the now economically recoverable uranium resources, and
all of the present-day commercially feasible oil shale resources
are contained within a six state area of the western sector. This
six state area encompases the states of Colorado, Montana, North and
South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming. Also widespread in this area are
present and future energy resources in the form of oil, gas, "tight
gas", tar sands, geothermal, and hydropower developments. The exist-
ence of somewhat ideal conditions have led to experimentation in the
utilization of wind and solar power within the area - another immense
and virtually untapped resource. Major-scale energy initiations
dependent upon these resources are presently occurring and proposed.
Other valuable resources play equally important roles within
the six-state area. These resources include vast and fertile agri-
cultural lands, extensive wildlife habitat and production areas,
wild and scenic areas, national park areas, national forests, and
abundant natural beauty. The area is not industrialized. Settlement
has, however, been typically and greatly influenced by natural resource
developments within the area such as mining.
In order to establish the environmental datum and management
processes necessary for the orderly and sound development of the
area's immense energy resources, the EPA has established a regional
energy-environment program contained within the early stages of re-
gional planning. This report is one of a series that provides the
interested and concerned reader with a comprehensive understanding
for the meaning of near-future extraction of western national coal
resources. It is also hoped that this report will provide the pro-
per introduction to a tool in the field of environmentally managed
energy development - that of aerial color imagery. It is thought
that this aerial color imagery will experience increased and wide-
spread application.
We invite you to share with us your thoughts and experiences
as you read and utilize this report. We also wish to express our
sincere appreciation to all those public, industrial, and govern-
mental entities which helped so willingly in providing information.
Cooper H. Wayman, Director SS "John A. Green
Office of Energy Activities £/ Regional Administrator
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
List of Tables, Plates, and Figures iii
Abstract v
Chapter 1 Introduction and Background 1
Chapter 2 Coal in the Western United States 4
Chapter 3 Coal Mining Methods in the Western United States 9
Chapter 4 Characteristic Responses of Aerial Photography 18
Chapter 5 Inventory of Surface Coal Mines in the Northern
Great PIains 21
5-1 Dave Johnston Mine 23
5-2 East Antelope Mine 29
5-3 Belle Ayr South Mine 33
5-4 Wyodak Mine 39
5-5 Welch Strip Mine 45
5-6 Big Horn Mine 49
5-7 Decker No. 1 Mine 56
5-8 Sarpy Creek (Absaloka) Mine 62
5-9 Big Sky Mine 67
5-10 Rosebud Mine 73
5-11 Savage Mine 81
5-12 Peerless (Gascoyne) Mine 87
5-13 Lehigh (Husky) Mine 92
5-14 Center Mine 96
5-15 Glenharold Mine 101
5-16 Beulah North & South Mine 107
5-17 Indian Head Mine 113
5-18 Underwood Mine 118
5-19 Velva Mine 120
5-20 Noonan Mine 125
5-21 Highland Uranium Mill & Mine 131
Chapter 6 Satellite Imagery 134
Chapter 7 Acknowledgements 142
Appendix I Mineral Resource Terminology 143
ii
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LIST OF TABLES, PLATES, AND FIGURES
NUMBER
TABLES
TITLE
PAGE
1 Comparison of Three Great Plains Coals With
Other U.S. Coals 6
2 General Specifications of Imagery Aquisition
Systems 20
3 Aerial Distribution of Land Use - Dave John-
ston Mine 136
PLATES
1 Location of Operating Surface Mines in the
Northern Great Plains 1974-75 (BACK POUCH)
2 Dave Johnston Mine 27
3 Dave Johnston Mine 28
4 East Antelope Mine 32
5 Belle Ayr Mine 37
6 Belle Ayr Mine 38
7 Wyodak Mine 43
8 Wyodak Mine 44
9 Welch Strip Mine 48
10 Big Horn No. 1 Mine 54
11 Big Horn No. 1 Mine 55
12 Decker No. 1 Mine 60
13 Decker No. 1 Mine 61
14 Absaloka Mine 66
15 Big Sky Mine 71
16 Big Sky Mine 72
17 Rosebud Mine 77
18 Rosebud Mine 79
19 Rosebud Mine 80
20 Savage Mine 84
21 a Savage Mine 85
21 b Savage Mine 86
22 Peerless Mine 91
23 Lehigh Strip Mine 95
24 Center Mine 100
25 Glenharold Mine 105
26 Glenharold Mine 106
27a Beulah South Mine Ill
111
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27b Beulah North Mine 112
28 Indian Head Mine 117
29 Underwood Mine 119
30 Velva Mine 124
31 Noonan Mine 129 &130
32 Highland Mine 132
33 Highland Mine 133
FIGURES
1 Revegetation of Dave Johnston Mine 137
2 Satellite Image of Dave Johnston Mine 138
3 Classification Map of Dave Johnston Mine 139
4 A Comparison of Dave Johnston Mine
Classification Maps 140
iv
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ABSTRACT
Color aerial photography collected in 1974 and 1975 is presented to
portray 21 surface coal mines and one surface uranium mine located in the
Northern Great Plains Coal Province of Montana, North Dakota, and Wyoming.
Geologic, hydrologic, engineering, operational, and other data are also
presented. ^Through a brief description of surface coal mining operations,
the uses of aerial photography, both color and color infrared, are introduced
as tools for planning and regulating surface coal mining and secondary
impacts thereof^ A brief synopsis and example of a related effort involving
satellite imagery is provided. Irhe report provides a basis for planning
and assessing surface mining of minerals in the interior western states.
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CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
This report is one of a series published dealing with coal mining
by the Environmental Protection Agency. Previous reports have dealt
with acid mine drainage most typical of many Eastern and Midwestern
coal mines. More recently, the Agency has been involved in the full
spectrum of pollution control activities surrounding energy development
and has concentrated significant effort in assisting other Federal and
State authorities in developing standards of performance that provide
greater assurance that coal mining will be conducted in a manner that
insures environmental protection. In so doing, the EPA believes it is
important that the public understands the technology applicable to
mining coal, the options and trade-offs available when planning and
operating a coal mine, and the ramifications of preventing pollution
from coal mines. This activity within the EPA involves responsibilities
of the Office of Energy, Minerals, and Industry, Office of Research
and Development and the Office of Energy Activities, Office of the
Regional Administrator (Denver). It also involves responsibilities
of water and enforcement-related programs.
Land disturbance caused by surface coal mining has potential for
significant impacts in the form of sediments washed into streams of
the affected watershed. As a result, sediment loads are increased.
Exploration activities, haul and access roads, housing and service
facilities all can disturb the land surface to a sufficient degree
so as to increase sediment loads. Such activities can also expose
sufficient soil and disturbed geologic strata and thereby create
a larger potential for dust problems. Earth materials previously
buried and compacted are broken and exposed to weathering. In
the East and Midwest, lands disturbed by coal mining are exposed to
high annual rainfalls which erode the lands and oxidize sulfur
compounds contained in the coal beds. Where high concentrations
of iron sulfide exist, these weathering processes may result in the
creation of acid waters. Western coals are not generally associated
with deposits of iron sulfides and acid drainage does not generally
occur. High annual rainfall facilitates fast vegetative growth which
in turn can stabilize the disturbed areas and hasten the formation of
organic material in the surface materials. In the coal-rich plains and
mountain foothills of the Western United States, average annual precipi-
tation of six to twenty inches* somewhat reduces the total erosion and
*Approximate average annual total (rain and snow) precipitation in
areas in which coal is currently mined using surface mining methods.
If on the order of 30% of the total annual precipitation is in the
form of snow, much of this snow-moisture will be evaporated in the
semi-arid climate as the result of sublimation. It is not, therefore,
available to vegetation.
1
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acid-forming potential from pyrites in coal, but makes it difficult
for vegetation to grow. In an often confusing manner then, the pre-
cipitation-related reduction in erosion potential in the West is
"compensated" for by the resulting sparseness of vegetative cover in
terms of stabilizing soils, making the sediment problem as
important in the West as the East.
From this brief discussion, it easily follows that vegetation is
important in mined land reclamation since successful establishment of
vegetation on disturbed lands stabilizes those lands. Such stabili-
zation reduces sediment yields in a manner that can require a minimum
of caretaking by the mine operator after mining. That caretaking can
involve maintenance of sediment catchment basins, reshaping the land
surface, maintaining drainage diversion systems, mulching, and so on.
It is equally apparent that pre-mining environmental assessment and
comprehensive operation controls are key elements in assuring that coal
mining in any region is environmentally acceptable.
Housing and service facilities for the mines, if improperly sited
and constructed, can also cause water and air pollution. Transportation
systems have high potentials for interfering with man's and wildlife
activities. Thus, mechanisms such as aerial imagery that help to identify
geologic and hydrologic hazards (e.g., landslides and floods), soils and
vegetative systems, and hydrologic interrelationships facilitate the
pre-activity planning and design necessary to mitigate and avoid these
potential pollution problems.
This report addresses the tool of aerial imagery*, often included
under the term of "remote sensing"**, principally as a mechanism to
assist with planning and regulation of surface mining for coal. Aerial
imagery provides a status report on numerous characteristics of mined
land such as surface water hydrology, soil types, vegetative species
and their condition, shallow ground water hydrology as it affects the
surface ecosystem"1", physical modifications of the land surface caused
by man, including changes in topography, and so on. This document, in
presenting aerial imagery, provides a view of a spectrum of effects of
*Aerial imagery refers to acquisition of information on film and is
limited here to recording reflectance of electromagnetic radiation in
the visible and near infrared ranges.
**Remote sensing is the acquisition of information by a recording device
that is not in close proximity to the phenomenon under study.
+Surface ecosystem includes in this context principally the vegetative
species dependent upon shallow ground water and the soil or rock at the
surface. In the total sense, however, the phrase encompasses the terres-
trial biological system which contains vegetation, soils, vertebrates,
invertebrates, and thus includes man as he interacts with that system.
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surface coal mining, not the least of which is the visible effect on
water quality. The characteristic responses of the aerial imagery
presented are discussed in a later section. Ongoing research in this
area is sponsored by the EPA at its Environmental Monitoring and Sup-
port Laboratory, Las Vegas, Nevada.
Aerial imagery is a useful means not only in the identifica-
tion of reclamation activities in terms of topographic changes and via-
bility of the vegetative ecosystem, but also in laying out a mining
plan in a readily understandable format, with geologic data and up-
to-date land surface information included in the imagery.
This report is also issued to relay selected information that
various agencies have obtained over the past four years in the course
of visits to surface coal mines. We feel strongly that it is necessary
to describe reclamation activities in the same breath as one describes
mining activities. It is both difficult and inappropriate to separate
the planning for and operation of a coal mining operation from the
reclamation of disturbed lands of a coal mine. For example, as a drag-
line removes rock laying over the coal,, at which point does the dumping
of that rock become reclamation? Further, surface mining of coal is
viewed as a temporary imposition on other land uses. Therefore, re-
clamation of the land to a post-mining land use has to be an integral
part of the mining plan. Lastly, the method of mining dictates the
type and cost of reclamation (and vice-versa). Thus, this report pre-
sents data reflecting both mining and reclamation.
We have also found that the aerial imagery is invaluable when trying
to assess the implications of proposed legislation or regulations on
existing surface mining operations. It is equally useful in assessing
the possible effects of planned operations.
Sometimes, it is equally rewarding to view the photography and
just enjoy it. We invite you to use your imagination as well as your
technical expertise as you proceed.
One last note of caution: most of the imagery presented was
collected in 1974. A lesser amount was collected in mid-1975.
Production of coal from the Northern Great Plains has increased
significantly since then. Activities have changed. You should not,
therefore, expect the imagery to accurately reflect current status
of the mines. Nor should one expect the statistical information to
accurately describe the current status. Larger areas have been
mined and larger areas have been graded and seeded.
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CHAPTER 2
COAL IN THE WESTERN UNITED STATES
The mines shown in this report Tie within the Northern Great
Plains Coal Province as that geographical area is defined by geologists.
As such, the whole province includes all coal in Western North Dakota,
coal occurring in the Missouri River drainage and East of the Rocky
fountains of Montana and Wyoming, coal in Western South Dakota, coal
in the Denver Basin of Colorado and Raton Mesa of Colorado, and Eastern
New Mexico. The information presented was derived from surface mines
operating in the shallow coals of lignite and sub-bituminous rank occurring
principally in Western North Dakota, Eastern Montana and Eastern Wyoming.
Time has not permitted acquisition of equivalent information for Colorado,
New Mexico, or Western Wyoming, but the aerial imagery methodology
portrayed for the northern mines is equally applicable to surface mines
in those areas as well as in Southern Utah and Arizona. The discussions
center on the mining of coals that lie within about 60 meters (200 feet)
of the land surface.
In excess of 1.5 trillion tons of coal are estimated to lie at all
depths within this entire province. About 10 percent of this total
amount is actually measured or at least strongly indicated by local
measurements, and is also considered mineable; about 30 percent inferred
(based on geologic studies), but not considered recoverable; and the
remaining 60 percent only hypothesized (based on the statistical prin-
ciples of geology and coal exploration). The 10 percent "actually
measured or strongly indicated," or so-called "mineable reserve base,"
equals 160 billion tons and presently represents 37 percent (by weight)
of the Nation's coal reserve base. Of this 160 billion tons, half is
located within the Northern Great Plains such that mining by surface
methods* is feasible. Assuming an 80 percent recovery during mining
of this 80 billion tons, 64 billion tons of surface mineable coal might
presently (1976) be considered "available" or as a "recoverable
resource" using current mining and processing techniques, current
economic criteria, and assuming that mining is permitted.
One must keep in mind that the estimated quantities of recoverable
coal resources change as exploration and mining proceed. Over the last
few years, the estimates of recoverable coal in the West have risen,
primarily as the result of data obtained from increased exploration
*The feasibility of surface mining is related to the thickness, quality
and depth of a coal bed. Thin coal beds are economical to mine if they
lie near the surface; the thicker the coal bed, the deeper the mine can
be. Presently Northern Great Plains coals within 60 meters of the land
surface, if thicker than about 2 meters, may be considered minable by
surface mining techniques. A discussion of the standard classifications
of coal resources is contained in Appendix I.
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and more comprehensive analysis of existing information and to some
undertermined degree as a result of rises in market prices for coal.
However, there is still only a limited amount of information available
to accurately estimate the quantity and quality of shallow western
coals throughout the Northern Great Plains and the Rocky Mountain
Coal Province.
It is also noteworthy that the quantity of coal resource is none-
theless much more accurately estimated than is the quality. Coal of
the Northern Great Plains, as it comes from the mines, differs in several
aspects from many eastern coals.
- Sulfur content as percent by weight is often lower averaging
perhaps 0.6 percent and ranging from 0.1 percent to 4.0 percent
in the coals presently mined. Sulfur is organic and inorganic
(pyrite, marcasite). The relative percentage of organic sulfur
tends to be high in low sulfur coals.
- Ash content is moderate, ranging to almost 20 percent, but
averaging 7 percent.
- Water content is high, ranging to almost 45 percent and
averaging 30 percent.
- Heat content, on a run-of-mine basis, ranges from about 5,600
BTU per pound to 11,000 BTU per pound.
Table 1 provides some more detailed information, drawn from another
report, on the content of various elements in these coals. These data
are representative of coals presently mined and may not accurately reflect
the nature of coals that may be mined in the future.
Their low heat and low fixed carbon content place most of these
coals in the lignite and sub-bituminous ranking categories.* Since many
of the coals in the rest of the Nation are of higher BTU values, in
terms of heat content, the Northern Great Plains coal region does not
contain quite as high a percentage of the Nation's coal in terms of heat
value or energy as the tonnage figure of 37 percent previously noted
*Principal coal rank classifications .are lignite, sub-bituminous, bitum-
inous and anthracite. Heat content and fixed carbon tend to increase
from the lignites to the anthracites, while moisture content tends to
decrease. Coal is also classified by grade, which is a function of its
ash content, sulfur content, and content of other elements that affect
use. DeCarlo, J.A., Sheridan, E.T., and Murphy, Z.E., (1966 "Sulfur
Content of United States Coal": U.S. Bureau of Mines Information Cir-
cular 8312) indicate that sulfur content of bituminous coals is higher
than for higher or lower rank coals.
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TABLE I
COMPARISON OF THREE NORTHERN GREAT PLAINS COALS WITH OTHER U.S. COALS
Element
Sulfur
Mercury
Chlorine
Antimony
Fluorine
Selenium
Lead
Molybdenum
Nickel
Boron
Z1nc
Cadmium
Chromium
Copper
*"*r r * '
Cobalt
Uranium
Arsenic
Silver
Barium
Beryllium
Vanadium
Aluminum
Calcium
Iron
Manganese
Magnesium
Titanium
BTUVlb(dry)
Ash (dry basis)
Moisture
Coal
Ib/lO^BTU
760
0.014
4.6
0.056
15
0.23
0.44
0.42
0.95
5.4
2.5
0.019
2.2
3.6
0.22
0.14
0.087
0.0047
14
0.086
5.4
2420
1850
420
18
300
120
21700
38800
I
ppm
Dry Weight
0.72*
0.13
44
0.53
140
2. .2
4.2
4.0
9.0
51
24
0.18
21
34
2.1
1.3
0.83
0.045
130
0.82
51
2.32!
1.76*
0.40*
170
0.29*
1100
9511
20.6*
27.0*
Coal
lb/109BTU
420
0.012
0.80
0.014
5.7
0.14
0.20
0.055
0.18
2.6
0.35
<0.008
0.79
2.6
0.13
0.076
0.21
0.0041
39
0.025
1.7
610
930
180
2.0
130
48
6150
35200
II
ppm
Dry Weight
0.49%
0.14
9.4
0.16
67
1.6
2.3
0.64
2.1
31
4.1
< 0.1
9.3
31
1 .5
0.89
2.5
0.048
460
0.29
20
0.71*
1 .09*
0.21*
24
0.15*
565
11708
7.2*
29.2*
Coal
lb/109BTU
1460
0.0075
5.6
0.041
5.8
0.13
0.087
0.20
0.55
15
0.79
0.020
1.3
1 .1
0.076
0.15
0.81
0.0035
45
0.061
1.5
750
1400
760
8.0
380
35
12600
59300
III
ppm
Dry Weight
1.44*
0.074
55
0.40
57
1.3
0.86
2.0
5.4
150
7.8
0.20
13
10.5
0.75
1.5
8.0
0.034
440
0.60
15
0.74%
1.38*
0.75*
79
0.37*
350
9838
12.4*
36.8*
Average of
(Illinois Basin)
82 Coals
Ib/lO^BTU
2750
0.016
120
0.11
4.7
0.16
3.1
0.62
1.7
8.9
25
2.3
1.1
1.1
7.2
1.2
0.13
2.6
960
580
1610
4.2
39
47
8850
8730
Average of
(Illinois Basin)
82 Coals
Dry Weight
3.51%
0.21
0.15%
1.35
59.3
1 .99
39.83
7.96
22.35
113.79
313.04
2.89 <
14.10
14.09
9.15
14.9
1.72
33.13
1.22*
0.74*
2.06*
53.16
0.05*
0.06*
12750
11.28*
10.02*
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suggests. If one adopted an average heat content for western coals
of 9,000 BTU per pound, and an average of 12,000 BTU per pound for
midwestern and eastern coals, the national coal energy reserve base,
on a BTU basis, for the Northern Great Plains would be on the order
of 30 percent. But then this does not reduce the demand for these
western coals and the low heat content is often compensated for by
a lower cost of mining the thick, shallow coals.
Coal was formed from thick and extensive accumulations of biological,
principally vegetative, matter buried through geologic time. Development
of the thick coal seams of the West required very large flooded areas
(swamps) which slowly subsided while growth of vegetation was optimal.*
The paleoenvironment often produced a cyclic sequence of sedimentary
strata, ideally consisting of coal overlain by marine shale and lime-
stone and underlain by a sequence consisting, in progressively deeper
manner, clay, fresh water argillaceous strata and sandstone and shale.**
Paleogeographic conditions for western coals have not been thoroughly
described. In general, the deeper the coal was buried through geologic
history, the higher its present-day heat content. Coals mined under-
ground are often of higher rank or sufficient quality to be used for
coke. The volatiles of the vegetative matter of coal are reduced by
the increased pressures and temperatures of burial. The fixed carbon
percentage increases commensurately. The higher rank coals tend to
occur in thinner beds and in deformed attitudes (folded and faulted).
The lower rank coals of the Northern Great Plains often occur in
horizontal to gently dipping beds. The Northern Great Plains coals,
especially those beds shallow enough to be considered surface mineable,
increase in rank from lignite to bituminous westward across the Province.
In the Rocky Mountain Coal Province, adjoining the Northern Great Plains
Province on the west, coal beds tend to have been folded as well as
buried deeper. The coal beds in the western part of the Northern Great
Plains Province are also generally thinner and a number of beds may oc-
cur in close proximity to each other. The number of beds is not, how-
ever, a function of coal rank, but rather of depositional conditions.
"Multiple seam (bed) surface mining" is practiced in western Wyoming,
Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona where individual coal beds, sequential-
ly mined, may be vertically separated by 10 meters (33 feet) or more.
*See "Final Environmental Impact Statement - Proposed Federal Coal
Leasing" pages 1-32 through 1-39 for a concise, useful description.
**The sequence lacks a limestone in western coals thereby leading to
questions as to the depositional environments that facilitated
formation of these western coals.
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In one western location, seven individual coal beds may be sequential-
ly mined.
Measured coal bed thicknesses have been reported to range up to
60 meters (200 feet) in the Northern Great Plains. However, it is
likely that any such "beds" contain partings* and therefore consist
of a number of coal beds, closely spaced in a stratigraphical or
vertical sense. The thickest coal bed mined presently is the Anderson
Canyon ("Wyodak") seam mined immedaitely east of Gillette, Wyoming,
comprised of two twelve-meter thick (40 feet) coal beds with only a
thin shaley parting in between for an aggregate thickness of twenty-
four meters of coal.
It may be useful to note that coal beds may thin out and end, may
split into more than one bed and then "regroup" into perhaps one bed
again. Coal bed nomenclature can thus become complex and it is not sur-
prising to find the same bed with different names and different beds with
the same name. The degree of confusion is inversely proportional to the
amount of exploration conducted.
Adding to the confusion is the extensive natural (in situ) burn-
ing of coals in Montana and Wyoming which results in loss of coal out-
crops and, possibly, subsidence of overlying shales and siltstone.
Lastly, the coals are more than occasionally faulted resulting in
challenges to mapping and correlations. Such discontinuities are com-
pounded by the divisions in land and mineral ownership and in leasing.
Conversely, the extensive outcrops of burned coal (clinker) and baked
clay and shale ("porcellanite") facilitate exploratory mapping of coal
seams and appear to play an important role in the shallow ground water
aquifer systems of Montana and Wyoming.
*Parting usually refers to a bed of shaley strata occurring between
two coals where the thickness of the shale is thinner than the coal.
In the West, this material tends to be saline and toxic to certain
vegetative species when present in thicknesses of more than a meter.
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CHAPTER 3
COAL MINING METHODS IN THE WESTERN UNITED STATES
Surface coal mining methods are becoming better known as a result,
perhaps, of renewed national interest in coal. Surface mining can be
described as extraction of a mineral resource in a manner that first
requires removal of all earth materials that overlie the desired mineral
resource. The majority of coal mining in the Western United States
is surface mining. However, in western Colorado and in Utah, and thus,
in that portion of the Rocky Mountain Coal Province, underground mining
prevails. Surface mining is currently a highly efficient method of pro-
ducing coal from those vast coal deposits lying near the land surface.
Underground mining of those same coals is inefficient and dangerous.
However, our dependence upon underground mining will increase as the
shallow coals are removed.
The first stage of coal mine development, after certain entry rights
are acquired and whether subsequent extraction is by surface or under-
ground methods, is exploration. Despite the advanced age of the science
of geology and the high degree of knowledge of geologic mechanisms that
create coal, it remains necessary to conduct drilling, perform chemical
analysis, and implement other exploration procedures even prior to re-
moving relatively shallow coals. Exploration efforts are directed toward
determining the precise depths to coal, and locations, thickness and
quality of coal. To plan a safe and economic mine, the operator needs
to determine accurately the depth to coal and overburden characteristics
(the latter, for example, to determine roof strength in the case of an
underground mine and for blasting data in the case of the surface mine),
the quality of coal (which affects the mining sequence), its thickness,
and the rock conditions beneath the coal. Pre-mining determinations of
overburden strength are critical both for underground mining and are
essential for determining surface mining methods. Major overburden
removal equipment may be determined by the hardness of the overburden.
Detailed coal quality (BTU content, ash, sulfur, volatiles) varies
both vertically and horizontally within a single bed and from bed to
bed, so that mined coal may need to be blended to meet contract spec-
ifications. Coal may occur in lenses and thus disappear within a short
horizontal distance. A coal bed's location, thickness and depth cannot
be precisely predicted, and therefore, equipment specification dependent
on these data may not be finalized until exploration data are sufficient
to answer such questions. For example, it may be necessary to mine from
*At present, large surface coal mines in the western United States have
been located principally where an operator has first gained control of
the surface overlying coal through lease, agreement, or purchase. Only
then does there begin a detailed resource analysis.
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10
a number of individual pits in order to meet contract specifications
for coal quality and this may determine the size and the type of mining
equipment required.
Exploration procedures include interpretation of aerial imagery
and acquisition of geochemical and geophysical (seismic, electrical,
magnetic) data. As noted earlier, the purpose of exploration is to
define the resource and its surroundings to reduce the risk in develop-
ing the coal resource to reduce the unknowns. The information is
used in planning the mining operation to meet applicable laws and regu-
lations.
Exploration activities usually involve the use of drilling rigs,
either truck or trailer mounted; in the region of western coals, such
rigs are equivalent to small water well drilling outfits with capa-
bilities to drill at least 80 meters (250 feet). Many drilling
operations use air and minimal water for drilling. The greatest poten-
tial that exploration activities hold for adverse impact on the land lies
in off-road travel. Truck and dozer trails are susceptible to erosion
and to future unauthorized use unless the vegetative (biological) sys-
tem is encouraged to return. In some isolated cases, improperly plugged
drill holes may serve to allow water under artesian pressure to escape
to the surface.
Exploratory drilling is being used to a greater extent to obtain
data on the occurrence of subsurface water at the mine site and to
subsequently determine the quality of overburden in terms of its
reclamation potential. In these cases, water and soil samples are
collected and analyzed to project the impact of surface mining and
reclamation on water quality in terms of the Teachability of overburden
and the ability of the overburden to maintain vegetation. This activity
has increased importance in surface mining of western coals because the
shallow coals are usually portions of locally-significant aquifers.
Exploration activities are also carried on after a mine is in
operation. This activity is principally "development drilling". In
the case of underground mines, most extensive development drilling
may be necessary prior to production. In the case of surface coal mines
in the western United States, pre-mining exploration activities generally
produce sufficient information to permit development of an accurate
mining plan for ten or more years of mining. In the case of the Exxon
Highland Uranium Mine located in eastern Wyoming and included in the
aerial photography of this report, development drilling is most exten-
sive druring mining and the surface result of close-spaced drilling shows
clearly on the imagery.
The surface mining process is often initiated on a new lease area
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11
in the western United States by excavation of a relatively small pit
from which a number of thousand tons of coal are extracted for a test
burn at a use or conversion point, usually a power plant. Access and
haul roads are then constructed for delivery of materials and later
transport of coal. At the same time, a rail spur may be constructed
if rail transport of coal is planned. Two or more large coal storage
silos will often be constructed (or a pit and shed) to store and protect
the coal. Also possible is the construction of a slurry pipeline and
associated preparation, water supply and pumping facilities. An early
use of a railroad spur is often for the delivery of a shovel and/or
dragline. The dragline and other large equipment is then constructed
on-site and takes on the order of a year to complete.
Using diesel-powered tractors, scrapers, or other conventional
earth-moving equipment, the first major earth-moving activity at a
surface mine is the removal of soil. For dragline operations, a
relatively flat bench must be created upon which the dragline operates.
This bench may not be a straight path, but will rather follow an area
of equal thickness of overburden or follow a route dictated by haul
routes, land ownership, quality of coal, or other factors. Certain
surface mining operations may not be required to preserve the unconsol-
idated soil. In these instances, a dozer may be used to level vege-
tation and soil so that stripping equipment has access to the overburden,
or the soils and vegetation may be moved as overburden using draglines.
In locations where soil is saved or segregated for replacement, scrapers
are employed. In select cases, front-end loaders or shovels and trucks
are used. On occasion, a dragline or large shovel may be used to move
soil separately.
This period is an extremely sensitive one in terms of erosion
potential of the disturbed soil and overburden. This sensitivity is
increased in areas of new mines where often the surface runoff diversions
and retention facilities are inadequate to control higher flows or pri-
cipitation events.
In most areas of the Northern Great Plains Coal Province, it is
necessary to prevent large amounts of runoff from reaching the mine pit.
Thus, diversion dams and ditches may be seen uphill from many of the mines.
Sedimentation ponds and discharge points are visible. Dust is no
stranger in western mining operations, even in these early stages of
mining such as soil removal. Under certain conditions, it becomes
possible to see, in aerial imagery, dust accumulations in patterns
downwind of the mining and hauling operations. Control measures such
as sprinkling are often visible in the aerial imagery. In some cases,
perennial streams are diverted around the areas to be mined.
The increased probability of this stream diversion activity has created
significant interest in obtaining a better understanding of stream
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12
dynamics during and after such diversions.
If the overburden is hard (indurated), it will be blasted prior to
removal using ammonium-nitrate and fuel oil packed in 8 to 30 centimeter
diameter holes drilled on 3 to 6 meter centers. The drill hole pattern is
often reflected in the aerial imagery. In mines such as the Belle Ayr South
Mine of AMAX Coal Company, overburden has not been blasted, but has been
removed directly by shovel and front-end loaders. Similar solutions
exist for removal of the coal. But it appears "normal" to blast the
overburden and coals prior to removal in the West. A bulk tank for
ammonium-nitrate is located on the mine site in most cases.
Removal of the overburden is often achieved using equipment called
a "dragline". The usual dragline is best described as "huge". Standing
perhaps 20 meters tall and with a higher boom, they suggest a drawworks
and maintenance shop, if not a house, on "wheels." Draglines operate by
pulling (toward the operator or away from the operator) on a bucket in
contrast to shovels which undercut by digging out away from the shovel
drawworks and up. Both large shovels and draglines are used almost ex-
clusively to handle overburden in the West. Draglines are generally
characterized by the capacity of the bucket and the "throwing" radius
within which the draglines can excavate and dump. This radius is
dictated by the length of the boom that supports the bucket. The boom
length must be scaled (inversely proportioned or otherwise strengthened
proportionally) to bucket capacity. The boom length also determines the
practical depth capabilities of the dragline. All of these dimensions
are affected by the type of overburden encountered and, in turn, certain
dimensions affect the method of overburden placement. More specifically,
hard overburden may require a reduction in boom length. A longer
boom may allow more selective placement of overburden material. The
latter is an important consideration since it permits material condu-
cive to plant growth to be segregated from potentially toxic spoils
with a minimum of rehandling and/or hauling. Today's large draglines
are "walking". The walking mechanism consists of a shaft, cam and
elongated pontoon-like box commonly called a "shoe" which moves up and
down. The shoe serves as the base for the cam-jacking arrangement. The
dragline is supported by the cam-jack as it moves. The shoes are retracted
*The material removed from above the coal beds in surface mining is often
called overburden though it may include material that lies between two or
more coal beds. As the overburden is removed and placed elsewhere, it
is called "spoil" because the material is essentially useless to the coal
recovery process.
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13
while operating and the dragline rotates on a circular rail supported
by a steel rim or tub.
An alternative method of overburden removal uses large shovels.
Shovels must work from below the material excavated. The excavation
procedure, as noted earlier, is "up and out." Shovels may be as large
as draglines, but (1) generally require a hard coal since they may work
off the top of the coal, (2) generally are designed to move material as
far away from the pit as can a large dragline, and (3) are normally
used in conjunction with trucks that haul away the materials. Of course,
those generalities are functions of design. Shovels could match drag-
lines and do in midwestern coal mines.
There is an increasing tendency for surface coal mining operations
in the Northern Great Plains states to look toward "truck and shovel"
operations. The phrase refers to the use of small electric- or diesel-
powered shovels which remove overburden and load it into trucks, often
rear dump trucks, for hauling to dump sites. Since delivery times for
large equipment are long, the use of smaller equipment allows the opera-
tors to achieve production of shallow,, thick coals; that is, the
Northern Great Plains coals, within a shorter start-up time than possible
with draglines. Further, truck and shovel operations allow greater
mining flexibility and can facilitate reclamation by selective dumping
and spreading of earth materials. It seems possible to initiate a
major "truck and shovel" operation in about one year considering only
the time required to obtain equipment and place it into operation.
In other cases, all overburden removal is accomplished with equipment
also suited for road construction namely scrapers and dozers. Scrapers
and dozers (tractor", "cat", "blade", "bulldozer", etc.) are a part of
almost every major mine's equipment roster. They are usually used to
remove, possibly to stockpile, and to place soils. They are used to
rehandle spoil after dumping by dragline or shovel. These activities are
in addition to "clean up" behind a dragline or shovel and access or haul
road construction. In the case of the Big Horn #1 Mine, North of Sheridan,
Wyoming, overburden and partings from the South pit are removed entirely
by scrapers. If the overburden is sufficiently soft not to require
blasting prior to removal or if when blasted, the overburden is relatively
fine, the mine could depend upon scrapers for the majority of the earth
movement.
Bucket wheel excavators (BWE's) may be used to remove either over-
burden or coal. BWE's consist of a series of shovel buckets, perhaps
eight, arranged around a large diameter wheel which can dig up into
relatively unconsolidated material and dump the material onto an artic-
ulated conveyor system designed to either transfer to another conveyor
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14
or to load trucks or trains. BWE's cannot operate efficiently in
indurated (hard) material or material containing boulders. Nor can one
generally expect to blast material and then remove it with BWE's. A
BWE was reported used without success during the initial mining of the
Glenharold mine (Colsolidation Coal Company) in Western North Dakota.
A BWE type of machine started operating in the Belle Ayr South Mine
(AMAX Coal Company), South of Gillette, Wyoming in 1975. The Belle Ayr
South operations have involved BWE excavation of both coal and over-
burden. This equipment is more a bucket wheel loader compared to the
BWE's in use in Europe or in the midwestern United States. It has been
reported the BWE design modifications show promise for the equipment
used for coal in the Belle Ayr South Mine. It is reported to increase
the loading rate for coal considerably.
In the West, shovels, generally of moderate size, are used to
remove coal. Coal shovels and front-end loaders fill trucks which
haul the coal to a central preparation (crushing) and transfer point.
Small draglines can also be used to load coal, but this might be con-
sidered only when the coal or "underburden" (geologic strata underlying
the coal) is not strong enough to support the coal shovel or coal hauling
equipment. At certain mines, some coal is left in the mine as support
for the spoil dumped in the low wall* side. An inverted "V" - shaped
ridge of coal left on the low wall side allows spoil to be piled high-
er and/or closer to the working pit.
Coal is hauled from the pit using off-road trucks with capacities
ranging up to 200 tons (about 90 cubic yards). Truck haul distances
vary and may end at power plants or, more frequently, at rail loading
facilities. Eight to ten miles is currently considered the economical
limit for truck haul. Trucks are generally diesel-fueled, although
some gasoline-fueled equipment remains. Many of the coal haul trucks
use electric motor drives powered by diesel engine-driven generators.
Bottom-dump trucks are common. A few end-dump trucks are in operation,
but the newer ones are used for hauling overburden.
When more than one bed of coal is mined, the parting material
separating the beds may be removed using a dragline if the parting is
sufficiently thick; scrapers or front-end loaders are used where the
parting is thinner. Thick partings are usually blasted. Thin hard
partings may be ripped by dozers and loaded into trucks.
*Low wall refers to the side of an open pit adjacent to the previously
mined area or what is generally the area of thinner overburden. "High
wall" refers to the face of freshly exposed earth material not yet or
not planned to be mined.
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15
Most of the Western mines use rail transport for coal. Coal is
dumped from the haul trucks into crushing equipment, sized to less than
two inches, and delivered by a short conveyor system to silos or other
covered facilities for storage. Such storage is required to permit
quick loading of the trains and to even out mine production requirements.
Trains are quite frequently loaded semi-automatically from the silos.
Silo capacities are usually 10,000 or 12,000 tons, while individual
rail car capacities are usually 100 tons. Thus, one silo can store
sufficient coal to load a 100 car train.
Such trains are termed "unit coal trains"* in that they haul one
comodity to a single location. Unit coal trains may be smaller or larger
than 100 cars, but that number seems to be a frequent one for relatively
long hauls. Increasingly common destinations for such trains are barge-
loading facilities in the Midwest.
An important consideration when shipping coal long distances is
the BTU content or heat value of the material. The lower the heat
content, the more it costs to ship a certain amount of heat. Similarly,
with higher water content in the coal, the cost to ship a given amount
of heat is higher. High water content can also cause problems in empty-
ing coal cars in cold weather since the coal freezes in the cars. Fuel
oil sprays have been used to mitigate this problem.
Coals mined from the Northern Great Plains are not now washed.
However, since washing removes sulfur and upgrades the heat content of
the coal, there may be some coal washing proposed in the near future.
However, the initially low sulfur content, principally organic sulfur,
constrains the efficiency of conventional washing in terms of sulfur
removal. To the West, in the Rocky Mountain Province, many coals are
or are proposed to be washed.
"Captive mines" or mines located near the coal conversion point
often require fly ash and bottom ash to be dumped back into the surface
pit. The gray color of the ash serves to identify it in photography.
This material is then covered prior to seeding. At the Navajo Mine in
New Mexico, a mine not photographically examined in this report, bottom
ash is also used as an experimental mulch and soil conditioner over
spoil. Experimental work has also been conducted in the Northern Great
Plains.
*Unit trains are dedicated to hauling a single commodity. Unit coal
trains return to mines empty. Generally the same cars and motive
power service one mine and one unloading facility and thus travel the
same route at all times and seldom uncouple.
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16
After spoils are dumped by the dragline or other equipment, they
are graded to the planned post-mining configuration, with the exception
of active haul roads which may intersect the graded areas at regular
intervals. If appropriate and possible, soil material is respread over
the graded spoil to enhance the potential for revegetation. The post-
mining configuration acheived often has the appearance of rolling ter-
rain in which a somewhat regular "wave length" and "frequency" of low hills
is introduced into the topography. This occurs where the overburden to
coal ratio is large; where the ratio is small, the configuration may
be superimposed on a shallow basin. Post-mining slopes may be graded
as shallow as»l:10 (vertical:horizontal) depending upon the post-min-
ing land use plans. However, typical post-mining grades are 1:3 and
1:4. Of course, some areas are almost flat. Grading should be perform-
ed as close to the mining operation as does not physically interfere
with the operation and so as to prevent erosion problems.
Final grading can, in select cases, involve the retention of high
walls (vertical cuts), the creation or replacement of lakes or impound-
ments, and the creation or replacement of drainage paths. In certain
instances haul roads are retained. Thus, the visual patterns dis-
played by aerial imagery of mined and reclaimed areas may be varied.
Grading may be followed by placement of soil amendments (fertili-
zer, soil conditioners such as gypsum) and the creation of small-scale
surface configurations' (e.g., dozer basins or terraces to retain water and
seed and to limit erosion). Graded and seeded areas are generally fenc-
ed to limit grazing. Seeding is usually done using conventional agri-
cultural equipment with seed drills preferred by most operators, though
a return to broadcast seeding has been noted. Seedling transplant of
shrubs or trees is not widely practiced. Mulching has been practiced
at most mines with widely different results in terms of producing
notable improvements in seedling emergence and soil stability. Hay
and netting have been tried as mulches. Planting of annuals to pro-
vide stubble has been employed. Most recent visits show increased
use of hydromulching using wood fibers.
Most agronomists are recommending careful reestablishment of native
species as the most appropriate revegetation procedure. Such rees-
tablishment does not preclude the use of non-noxious introduced species
especially on a temporary basis. The reestablished vegetative ecosystems
evidenced on aerial imagery of revegetated mined lands may thus be
similar to the systems shown on undisturbed land, though some degree of
regularity may initially be evidenced.
Seeding is rarely followed by irrigation at the mines examined in
this report. The only large-scale commitment to irrigation at Western
coal mines as a whole is the sprinkler system installed at the Navajo
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17
Mine in New Mexico. Annual precipitation rates there of about 15
centimeters (6 inches) have necessitated the use of supplemental water
for at least 1.5 years. This area, of course, is outside the Northern
Great Plains.
Though vegetated areas may be recultivated, reseeded, refertilized,
and harvested, the overriding activity following seeding is one of wait-
ing to see if the desired vegetative ecosystem will develop and survive.
The physical disturbances of a mining operation are not necessarily
limited to the mine site itself. Employee housing and service facilities,
rail lines, roads, pipelines and power transmission lines all can make
their mark. The physical effects of these activities are evidenced in
various ways on aerial imagery. Similarly, land uses not related to
coal mining provide visual contrasts that are obvious on aerial photo-
graphs. Fence lines are notable examples, especially where range
management practices differ on sides of the fence.
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CHAPTER 4
CHARACTERISTIC RESPONSES OF AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY
Two forms of aerial photography are presented here. The principal
form used is a print from the normal color process film. Experience
suggests that true-color imagery provides more information to the
typical area than does black and white photography. Any land character-
istics differing in visible color are detected on the film and the grays
of black and white are further differentiated into the hues of the
visible spectrum.
The second type of film used for this report is "color-infrared"
or "false color." This film responds also to electromagnetic or infra-
red (IR) radiation (longer wave length) beyond the red limit of the
visible range or, quantitatively, out of the 1,100 nanometer wave length*,
Color as well as black and white IR are possible. Color IR imagery is
collected through a yellow filter (filters out lower wave length blue)
which assists in the shift of greens to blues on color IR positives.
The IR radiation shows as red on the film. What is normally red
becomes green. Principal "false" colors for Western mines flown with
color IR are hues of red and blue respectively, then, IR and green.
The red is response to IR energy reflected from that part of vegetation
dependent upon moisture for its health. Thus, a bright red or magenta
color on color IR prints is indicative of higher soil moisture (un-
saturated) or even ground water (saturated) supplying the vegetation.
Water can appear black on color IR film if the angle of view is right
since water absorbs IR radiation. Color IR tends, obviously, to enhance
detection of healthy vegetation and water boundaries. Color IR can
therefore reflect degrees of vegetative stress.
There are, of course, limitations to the use of aerial photography.
Weather is obviously an important factor. Planning is necessary to
insure adequate coverage of the area. Film and print processing re-
quire professional assistance. Knowledge of climatic conditions pre--
ceding image acquisition is most useful. Above all, the photography
will not answer all questions and it may raise some. Therefore, field
work to collect ground truth data will still be required.
*This range is short of the heat-sensitive range for thermal IR sensing
(8,000 to 14,000 nanometers).
18
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19
Finally, the aerial photography shows large-scale contrasts in
the geology of the areas. Contacts between geologic formations often
provide striking linear contrasts. The different formations also pro-
duce different soils which then support different vegetative species.
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20
TABLE 2 - General Specifications of Imagery Acquisition Systems
Date Photography
Acquired Specifications
1974 B-26 Aircraft (approx. 6,000 feet or 1,800
meters)
RC-8 9-Inch Mapping Camera, 6 inch (15 cm)
Focal Length Lens
EK 2443 Color Infrared Film
KA-76 5-Inch Reconnaissance Camera, 3 inch
(7.6 cm) Focal Length Lens
EK 2445 Aerocolor Negative Film
1975 High Altitude (approx. 56,000 feet or 17,000
meters)
NASA RB-57 Aircraft
ZEISS 9-Inch Mapping Camera, 12 inch (30 cm)
Focal Length Lens
EK 2443 Color Infrared Film
ZEISS 9-Inch Mapping Camera, 6 inch (15 cm)
Focal Length Lens
EK 2402 Plus X B&W Negative Film
1976 Low Altitude (approx 6,000 feet or 1,800 meters)
NASA PSA Aircraft
ZEISS 9-Inch Mapping Camera, 6 inch (15 cm)
Focal Length Lens
EK 2443 Color Infrared Film
ZEISS 9-Inch Mapping Camera, 6 inch (15 cm)
Focal Length Lens
EK S-397 Ektachrome Aerographic Film
This report provides a brief summary of one detailed computer analysis
of satellite imagery analyzed in a similar fashion for the majority of the
mines in the Northern Great Plains area. A more extensive presentation of
the analysis procedures and results thereof may be obtained in the refer-
enced report prepared by the EPA National Field Investigation Center in
Denver.*
*EPA National Field Investigation Center, "An Application of ERTS
Technology to the Evaluation of Coal Strip Mining and Reclamation in
the Northern Great Plains," Feb., 1975.
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CHAPTER 5
INVENTORY OF SURFACE COAL MINES
IN THE
NORTHERN GREAT PLAINS
This chapter provides a graphic inventory of major coal mine sites
present in the Northern Great Plains area of Montana, North Dakota, and
Wyoming. The graphic inventory takes the form of color aerial photography
presented in an introductory fashion as a technique that has applicability
to planning and regulation of coal mining. The principal photography was
collected in July of 1974. The 1974 imagery was collected by the EPA
Environmental Monitoring and Support Laboratory in Las Vegas, Nevada using
the equipment noted in Table 2 at altitudes close to 1,800 meters (6,000
feet). The remainder of the imagery is comprised mainly of color-infrared
photography flown in 1975. This later imagery was collected while flying
at an altitude of approximately 17,000 meters (55,000 feet). The lower
altitude photography was collected to provide a high degree of resolution,
and to thus provide some ground data* in the photography itself. However,
the lower altitude photography is more cumbersome to handle in that
numerous frames have to be mosaicked**'or otherwise combined to obtain
the desired perspective of a mine covering a large area. The higher al-
titude photography often embraces a single surface mine on one frame, thus
allowing, if adequate spatial resolution is achieved, expeditious enlarge-
ments of the imagery to various scales compatible with other data such as
that contained in topographic maps.
Near infrared (IR) aerial (or "color infrared") imagery was collected
on color IR film simultaneously with the low altitude color imagery but is
not presented in its entirety since the additional photography would require
more extensive interpretation than is available for this report. This
chapter presents color IR-instigated (or "false color") imagery for
selected mines to enable the reader to make some comparisons between the
true and false color imagery. The high altitude photography collected in
1975 and presented in this report is also color IR.
*Ground data, also called ground truth data, refers to data that identify
the vegetative species, soil types, mining procedures, types of equipment,
land uses, or other land surface characteristics that produce a visual
pattern on the photography but which, on higher altitude photography, cannot
be completely or accurately defined.
**Mosaic refers to the careful cutting of individual photographic prints
along visual-lineations or other natural marks to produce a composite aerial
photograph covering a large area. Using principally the center of each
print reduces the distortion of the image and facilitates matching.
21
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22
Along with the aerial imagery are presented tabulated summaries
of technical information describing the mining activity. Perhaps the
greatest value of that information will come if the technical information
is regularly updated and verified. The data are considered preliminary
at this stage, but are presented for two reasons. First, the photography
shows varied visual appearances caused both by the physical environment
and the mining practice. The summaries may help to explain some of the
differences. Second, it is necessary to provide statistics that can be
used, albeit carefully, to estimate, for example, the numbers of people
involved in the various mining situations, equipment requirements, and
transportation arrangements. The data were obtained from numerous sources
and at various times. In obtaining the data, we attempted not to impose
upon the already full schedule of the operators any more than we had
already. Only in North Dakota did we go to the operators (through the
North Dakota REAP*) to refine the information. The Bureau of Mines** of
the U.S. Department of the Interior has adopted a system that is capable
of keeping track of this descriptive information as the information
characterizes technical considerations, areas affected, and equipment
used at a mine site. Operators are therefore encouraged to refine these
data and provide them on a regular basis.
Plate 1 (in rear pocket) is a location map for the mines inventoried.
*REAP stands for Regional Environmental Assessment Program. This
organization was formulated by North Dakota State Legislature.
**Intermountain Field Operations Center, Denver, Colorado
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23
Section 5-1
Dave Johnston Mine - Plates 2 and 3
The Dave Johnston Mine, or "Dave Johnston Fuel Recovery Pit" as
it is formally called, takes on the appearance of a snake and is repre-
sented here in both true color and color infrared photography. The
true color photograph (Plate 2) is a low altitude mosaic collected on 29
July 1974. The color infrared film was exposed at an altitude of 17,450
meters (57,200 feet) on 28 January 1975. The mine is also the subject of
an investigation of the applicability of satellite imagery (See Chapter
6). This mine is considered a "captive mine" and ships coal by rail to
the Dave Johnston Power Plant nearby at Glenrock, Wyoming.
The effects of more arid climate limit the infrared photographic re-
sponse to vigorous vegetative growth in the 1975 photography of this mine.
However, the varied vegetation and earth patterns along the southwest side
of the mine reflect the vegetation and reclamation efforts. Along the
extreme south-southwestern edge, the rows extending out from roads repre-
sent areas from which soil was removed for use over the older spoils. The
1974 lower altitude photography shows only tinges of green in the revege-
tated areas. The remainder of the affected land looks not too unlike the
undisturbed lands except in terms of density of vegetative growth.
The mined area northwest of the mine offices and coal loading area
and west of the eastern extension of the mine was seeded in 1969. Pro-
gressing northwest, areas were reseeded in 1970, 1971, 1972, and 1973.
Most of the mined areas with vegetation to the southeast were seeded in
1972. Note the termination of drainage channels by the mine as shown in
the plates.
Comparison of the two photographs (Plates 2 and 3) facilitates an
assessment of mining and reclamation progress. The separate pit on the
northeast side of the mine has progressed north and east and additional
excavation has been performed preparatory to mining the deeper bed.
Grading activities east of the loading area have been extended toward
the pit and emergent vegetation can be seen north of the loading area
near the pit. In the newer pit area, spoil has been placed on the high-
wall side (Plate 3).
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24
DESCRIPTION OF MINE
1 .
2.
Mine: Dave Johnston Fuel Recovery Pit
Location: State: Wyoming
(all acreage on which present
corporate owners have conducted
or are conducting operations)
County:
Range:
Converse
75W Sec :
Township:
21,28,33,24
36N
County: Converse Township: 36N
Range: 74W Sec: 3. 10. 11
3. Mine Operators: Pacific Power and Light Company
4. Production Rates: For Year 1974: 2,897.383 tons per year
Estimated or Projected for Year 1974: 2.687,045 tpy
Monthly Average for 1974: 224.000 tons per month
5. Destination of Coal: (A) Estimated tons per year ( 2.687.045 ) to
Glenrock. WY. Dave Johnston Plant (EGS) 750 MW
City, State Use
6. Description of Long-Haul Transportation (reference 5 above):
(A) None (e.g., unit train), Ownership:
, # Cars per train
(B) Yes (e.g.. unit train), Ownership: Pacific Power
and Light Company . # Cars per train
Approximate rate of car loading min. per car (100 ton)
Storage Capacity for Loading tons
7. Stratigraphic Data:
(A) Average Overburden Thickness 110 feet; range 60' to 200 feet
(B) Name of Coal Seams Mined and Average Thickness in feet: (youngest to oldest)
Badeer 16J
School 37*
(C) Average Thickness of Partings Between Seams (feet): (youngest to oldest)
Deeper Seams
145* . , thickness and approximate separation from
mined seams.
(D) Depth of Active Pit: (feet) Average 140' , Maximum: 180'
Minimum: 80*
(E) Bulking Factor for Spoils: % (measured; estimated)
Major Operating Equipment:
Draglines: Page 752 LR , 39 (cuyd). 261 (ft), (kw)
modelcapacity boom length power rqmts
Shovels: BE-150-B , 10 (cuyd), 43 (ft), 350/875 (hp)
modelcapacity max. radius power rqmts
Marion 151M , 14 (cuyd), (ft), (kw)
modelcapacity max. radius power rqmts
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25
Trucks:
Scrapers:
Dozers:
Drills:
4
number
1
number
1
number
1
number
1
number
3 ,
number
1 ,
number
1
number
1 .
number
Front End: l ,
Loaders
Water
number
1
number
number
Yes ,
number
*
LW (Rear dump) ,
model /power
Dart (Rear Dump) ,
model /power
Euclid ,
model /power
L/W Self-loading B70 ,
model /power
Terex S-24 ,
model /power
Cat D9 Dozers >
model /power
Cat 14 Grader >
model/power
Austin Western 3000 Grader ,
model /power
B40L-22 Coal Drill
model /power
Michigan 275B
model /power
Cat 950
model /power
Michigan 275B
model /power
1
model /power
Trucks: number model /power
Employment:
(A) Number of full-time employees at the site: Average
65
capacity
65
capacity
capacity
capacity
capacity
capacity
capacity
capacity
»
capacity
»
capacity
9
capacity
>
capacity
?
capacity
9
(tons)
(tons)
(cuyd)
(cuyd)
(cuyd)
(cuyd)
(cuyd)
(cuyd)
(cuyd)
(cuyd)
(cuyd)
(cuyd)
(cuyd)
(cuyd)
capacity
for 1973: 96
109
in July, 1974
(B) Number of other full-time employees employed off-site, but who are
working essentially full-time for this mine: (Average for 1973)
In local area:
, In Headquarters:
(C) Contract Labor: Average for 1973:
Type of Work:
% of year worked %
(D) Places of Residence of Full-Time Employees (and approximate number
residing there):
Glenrock
Town
Douglas
Number
Town
Casper
Number
Town
Number
-------
26
10. Coal Ownership: As of July 1974, currently covered by Mining and Reclamation
Plan and by Permit:
Federal: %, State: %, Private: %
11. Coal Lease and "Permit" Numbers: (as of July 1974}
Federal Lease: W038597.W041355 . State Permit:
(if any)
W0244167. W0312918
W038602. C054769
12. Disposition Of Surface in July 1974: Estimated from Photography.
(A) Active Pit and "Active" Spoils: 612 acres(Includes scraped areas and
(including areas leveled for (300 ac. pit and miscellaneous disturbed
dragline or shovel) spoils alone) land.)
(B) Spoils Regraded or Being Regraded: 640 acres
Total A+B-1252 acres
(C) Revegetated (Seeded and for Growing): 500 acres
(Portion of graded area (B))
(D) "Orphan Spoils" and Open Water: (27) acres (This acreage is within
active pit areas and is limited to ponded water.)
(E) Support Facilities, Transportation Routes: > 65+ acres
(doesn't include transportation)
TOTAL disturbed acreage (A+B+E) = 1317 acres
13. Average Analyses of Coal:
Name of Coal Seam school t Moisture 22 %, Ash (wet) 11 %
Na?0(Ash) .13 %,Sulfur (wet) .6 %, Btu (wet) 8200 per Ib.
Name of Coal Seam Badger , Moisture 27 %, Ash (wet) 8 %
Na?0(Ash) .13 %,Sulfur (wet) .45 %, Btu (wet) 7950 per Ib.
Name of Coal Seam Average , Moisture 26 %, Ash (wet) 12 %
Sulfur (wet) 0.5 %, Btu (wet) 7800 per Ib.
14. Other Items of Interest such as previous (historical) methods of mining
including underground, water-bearing strata encountered, amount of water
removed from workings, water quality data.
Estimated Reserves: 150,000,000 tons.
-------
PAGE NOT
AVAILABLE
DIGITALLY
-------
29
Section 5-2
East Antelope Mine - Plate 4
This mine is the small operation shown on the right of Plate 4,
which is a mosaic of low altitude, true color photography collected
on 19 July 1974. The water-filled pit to the west (left) is an
abandoned coal mine. Obviously, the East Antelope operation is one
of the smaller surface coal mines in the Northern Great Plains.
We have not yet determined the significance of the X-like mark
located in the west center of the mosaic, but it continues to be of
interest.
-------
30
DESCRIPTION OF MINE
1 . Mine: East Antelope
County: Converse
2. Location: State: Wyoming
(all acreage on which present
corporate owners have conducted
or are conducting operations) Range: 71W
Sec:
Township: 41N
35
3. Mine Operators: Best Coal Company
4. Production Rates: For Year 1974:
1,195
Estimated or Projected for Year 1974:
Monthly Average for 1974: None
5. Destination of Coal: (A) Estimated tons per year {
tons per year
None tpy
tons per month
) to
Miscellaneous users in Wyoming - homes
City, StateUse
6. Description of Long-Haul Transportation (reference 5 above):
(A) l (e.g., truck),Ownership: Best Coal Company
, # Cars per train
Approximate rate of car loading min. per car (100 ton)
Storage Capacity for Loading tons.
7. Stratigraphic Data:
(A) Average Overburden Thickness 30 feet; range _5 to
40 feet
(B) Name of Coal Seams Mined and Average Thickness in feet: (youngest to oldest)
(called "D" coal also)
Anderson
35'
(C) Average Thickness of Partings Between Seams (feet): (youngest to oldest)
Deeper Seams 20-40' 3V
, , thickness and approximate separation from
mined seams.
40'
, Maximum: 60'-
(D) Depth of Active Pit: (feet) Average
Minimum:
(E) Bulking Factor for Spoils: % (measured; estimated)
8. Major Operating Equipment:
Draglines: None
25'
.(cuyd), (ft), (kw)
Shovels:
Trucks:
Scrapers:
Dozers:
Drills:
Front End:
model
None
model
* »
number
None ,
number
None ,
number
None ,
number
capacity
(cuyd),
capacity
5-ton gasoline
model /power
model /power
model /power
model /power
small
boom length power rqmts
(ft), (kw)
boom length power rqmts
5 (tons)
capacity
(cuyd)
capacity
(cuyd)
capacity
(cuyd)
capacity
. 1-3 (cuyd)
model/power
capacity
-------
31
Water None , , (cuyd)
Trucks: number model /power capacity
Employment:
(A) Number of full-time employees at the site: Average for 1973: l
l in July, 1974
(B) Number of other full-time employees employed off-site, but who are
working essentially full-time for this mine: (Average for 1973)
In local area: , In Headquarters:
(C) Contract Labor: Average for 1973: , % of year worked
Type of Work:
(D) Places of Residence of Full-Time Employees (and approximate number
residing there):
At Mine
Town Number
10. Coal Ownership: As of July'1974, currently covered by Mining and Reclamation
Plan and by Permit:
Federal: 100 %, State: %, Private: X
11. Coal Lease and "Permit" Numbers: (as of July 1974}
Federal Lease: B031719 , State Permit:
(if any)
12. Disposition of Surface in July 1974: Estimated from Photography.
(A) Active Pit and "Active" Spoils: 6 acres
(including areas leveled for
dragline or shovel)
(B) Spoils Regraded or Being Regraded: 0 acres
Total: A+B+C+D « 24 ac
(C) Revegetated (Seeded and for Growing): o acres
(D) "Orphan Spoils" and Open Water: 18 acres (4-acre pond included)
(E) Support Facilities, Transportation Routes: 3 acres
TOTAL DISTURBED ACREAGE: 27 acres.
13. Average Analyses of Coal:
Name of Coal Seam Anderson ("D") . Moisture 26 %, Ash (wet) _6 %
Sulfur (wet) .2 %, Btu (wet) 8650 per Ib.
14. Other Items of Interest such as previous (historical) methods of mining
including underground, water-bearing strata encountered, amount of water
removed from workings, water quality data.
Pit does have to be pumped out prior to each year's operation - usually
open October-March.
-------
PLATE 4
EAST ANTELOPE MIME
Best Coal Company
Converse County, Wyoming
19Jul74 1201-1202 hrs
0.25
MILES
N
0.5
..
-------
33
Section 5-3
Belle Ayr South Mine - Plates 5 and 6
:nv57;;^
--
w -
?alley'of Caballo Crlll V >ter t0 Ve9etation m the undisturbed
and arkinq ar Is 1 lite g^hn^'T' The &1nkish color of roads
clinker used to surface the Joads P Y ^ ^ baked Shale °r
The yellow?sn aeth'^ S6tS °f ^ a^e noteworthy.
from the mine is most ke y el teS^ T^ -9 S04th;southeast
and shows as a reddish tft J f e^b 1 2%
-------
34
DESCRIPTION OF MINE
1. Mine: Belle Ayr - South (Presently "Belle Ayr")
2.
3.
4.
Location: State: Wyoming County: Campbell
(all acreage on which present
corporate owners have conducted
or are conducting operations) Range: 48W Sec:
Mine Operators: AMAX Coal Company
Production Rates: For Year 1974: 867,544
Township:
34,35
tons [
71N
>er yea1
Estimated or Projected for Year 1974: 5,501,472 tpy
Monthly Average for 1974: 275,000 tons per month
5. Destination of Coal: (A) Estimated tons per year ( 1,500,000 ) to
Pueblo, Colorado Commanche Plant
City, State Use
(Public Service of Colo. - 350 MW Sta)
(B) Estimated tons per year (1.000,000 ) tp
Denver and Boulder, Colorado (EGS)
City, StateUse"
(Public Service of Colo.)
(C) Estimated tons per year ( 500.000 ) to
Burlington, IA (EGS)
City, StateUse
(Kansas City Pwr & Light - Burlington)
(D) Estimated tons per year ( 500.000 ) to
East St. Louis M3 to barges (EGS)
City, StateUse
6. Description of Long-Haul Transportation (reference 5 above):
(A) 4 Destinations (e.g., unit train), Ownership: Burlington -
Northern , # Cars 100-124 per train
Approximate rate of car loading 1 min. per car (100 ton)
Storage Capacity for loading 24.000 tons two silos plus 2 under
construction, primary crusher
to 4", secondary crusher to
2" topsize
7. Stratigraphic Data:
(A) Average Overburden Thickness 35 feet; range 20 to 60 feet
(Max 200' in future) (Soft, sandy shale)
(B) Name of Coal Seams Mined and Average Thickness in feet: (youngest to oldest)
Anderson-Canyon 70'
(also called Roland-Smith or Wyodak Coals)
(C) Average Thickness of Partings Between Seams (feet): (youngest to oldest)
Deeper Seams
Few inches to no visible thickness and approximate separation from
partings. mined seams.
(underlain by hard, sandy shale)
(D) Depth of Active Pit: (feet) Average 105 , Maximum: 150
Minimum: -0-
(E) Bulking Factor for Spoils: % (measured; estimated)
-------
35
8. Major Operating Equipment:
(cuyd), (ft), (kw)
Shovels:
model
2 ea B-E
capacity boom length power rqmts
295B . 24 (cuyd). 55 (ft). 800/2000 (hp)
model capacity max. raaius power rqmts
295B . 20 (cuyd), (ft), (kw)
Trucks:
Scrapers:
Dozers:
Drills:
Front End
Loaders
Water
Trucks:
model capacity max. radius power rqmts
5 , Dart - Diesel Dumps , 75 (tons)
number
8
number
1
number
number
3
number
1
number
1
number
number
2 .
number
number
model/power
(17 each end dump 120 ton)
Lectrahauls 1000 HP
model /power
Terex End Dump
model/power
model/power
Michigan Dozers
model/power
Motor Grader Mod 12
model /power
Coal Drill (from Wyodak)
model/power
Cat 988
model/power
model/power
model/power
capacity
120
capacity
170
capacity
9
capacity
capacity
capacity
1
capacity
capacity
, 10,000 gal
capacity
,
capacity
(tons)
(tons)
(cuyd)
(cuyd)
(cuyd)
{cuyd)
(cuyd)
(cuyd)
(cuyd)
9. Employment:
(A) Number of full-time employees at the site: Average for 1973: 28_
51 in July, 1974 2 shifts, 6 days
June 75 88
(B) Number of other full-time employees employed off-site, but who are
working essentially full-time for this mine: (Average for 1973)
In local area:
, In Headquarters:
(C) Contract Labor: Average for 1973:
Type of Work:
% of year worked
(D) Places of Residence of Full-Time Employees (and approximate number
residing there):
Gillette, Wyoming
Town
Number
10. Coal Ownership: As of July 1974, currently covered by Mining and Reclamation
Plan and by Permit:
Federal:
76
X, State:
%, Private:
24
-------
36
11. Coal Lease and "Permit" Numbers: (as of July 1974)
Federal Lease: Wyoming 0317682 . State Permit:
(if any)
12. Disposition of Surface in July 1974:
(A) Active Pit and "Active" Spoils: 71 acres (includes 10 acres
(including areas leveled for of topsoil storage
dragline or shovel) and 9 acres miscell.)
(B) Spoils Regraded or Being Regraded: 100 acres
(C) Revegetated (Seeded and/or growing): 100 acres
(D) "Orphan Spoils" and Open Water: 1 acre pond acres (included in re-
graded figure)
(E) Support Facilities, Transportation Routes: 46 acres
Total Disturbed Acreage: 217 acres
13. Average Analyses of Coal:
Name of Coal Seam: Wyodak Moisture: 30.4* ; Ash: 6.4% (wet)
Na20 Ash dry: 1.27%; Sulfur (wet): 0.48% ; BTU (wet): 8020 per Ib.
14. Other Items of Interest such as previous (historical) methods of mining
including underground, water-bearing strata encountered, amount of water
removed from workings, water quality data.
Reportedly pump 90 gallons/minute for dewatering of mine
Reserves estimated 300,000,000 tons
Blasting ANFO or slurry - coal only
4:1 or 3:1 slope on spoiled overburden
Pumping about 100,000 gpm from pit
Caballo Creek diverted, Creek bed filled in part
Wheat grasses and sweet clover - 15 acres in 1972 (Spring)
65 acres seeded in Fall 1973
Inside rail loop: Spring 1973 - 35 acres seeded with Y/estern Wheatgrass
and four-wing salt brush
Annual precipitation: 15"
Bucketwheel loader undergoing tests - Mechanical Excavators, Inc.
-------
PLATE 5
BELLE AYR MINE
AMAX Coal Company
Campbell County, Wyoming
29Jul74 1020-1021 hrs
0.25
MILES
0.5
s
-.
- -
-------
PAGE NOT
AVAILABLE
DIGITALLY
-------
39
Section 5-4
Wyodak Mine - Plates 7 and 8
This mine is represented in low altitude photography collected on
19 July 1974 (Plate 7). The active pit is that lying south of the
highway. Obviously, the coal is thick and mining equipment require-
ments are minimal to date. The mine is also shown in low-level oblique
color photography flown on the same day (Plate 8).
The Neil Simpson power plant lies between and to the east of the
two mine pits with some grading evident east of the plant which is related
to the plant's expansion. Some grading and subsequent vegetative growth
is shown by the green vegetative hues on the north of the south pit and
the south of the north pit. In 1974-5, this mine was operating in the
thickest coal (two beds with minimal partings aggregating 24 meters or
80 feet) currently mined in the Northern Great Plains and probably in
the United States.
The green color of Donkey Creek is related to algae nourished by
sewage effleunt from the town of Gillette. Seepage into the Wyodak
Pit from the diverted creek has been noted.
-------
40
DESCRIPTION OF MINE
Mine: Wyodak Mine - Wyodak South Pit
2. Location: State: Wyoming County: Campbell Township: SON
(all acreage on which present
corporate owners have conducted
or are conducting operations) Range: 7iw Sec: 27,28
3. Mine Operators: Wyodak Resources Development Corporation
4. Production Rates: For Year 1974: 727,019 tons per year
Estimated or Projected for Year 1974: 738,248 tpy
Monthly Average for 1974: 61.500 tons per month
5. Destination of Coal: (A) Estimated tons per year ( 250,000 ) to
Osage, WY Osage Station EGS 34.5 MW
City, State DsT"
(Black Hills Power & Lght)
(B) Estimated tons per year ( 230.OOP ) to
Wyodak, WY Kiel Simpson Station EGS 26.8 MW
City, StateOse
(C) Estimated tons per year ( 130.000 ) to
Lead, SD Kirk Station EGS 31.5 MW
. City, StateUse
(D) Estimated tons per year ( 120,000 ) to
Rapid City, SD Ben French Station EGS 22.5 MW
City, StateUse
6. Description of Long-Haul Transportation (reference 5 above):
(A) Conveyor to Steam Plant
(B) Yes (e.g., unit train), ownership: Chicago and
Northwestern , # Cars 25-30 per train
Approximate rate of car loading min. per car (100 ton)
Storage Capacity for Loading 80 tons.
7. Stratigraphic Data:
(A) Average Overburden Thickness 30 feet; range 15 to 40 feet
(B) Name of Coal Seams Mined and Average Thickness in feet: (youngest to oldest)
(also called Roland-Smith or Wyodak coal).
Anderson 40
Canyon 40
(C) Average Thickness of Partings Between Seams (feet): (youngest to oldest)
Deeper Seams
0.7* to 1.5'. "Mud" thickness and approximate separation from
mined seams.
(D) Depth of Active Pit: (feet) Average 110' , Maximum: 160'
Minimum: 85'
(E) Bulking Factor for Spoils: % (measured; estimated)
-------
8. Major Operating Equipment:
Draglines: 2
41
2.5 (cuyd). Clan Shell
Shovels:
Trucks:
Scrapers:
Dozers:
Drills:
Front End
Loaders:
Water
Trucks:
model capacity boom length power rqmts
(not used)
None , (cuyd), (ft), (kw)
model capacity max. radius power rqmts
1 , ,25 (tons)
number
number
number
2 ,
number
1 ,
number
3 ,
number
1 ,
number
number
1 ,
number
model /power
Euclid Diesel ,
model /power
Cat Diesel
model /power
(ordering 100 ton - going to conveyor
Cat 621
model /power
Road Grader Cat Model 12 ,
model /power
Cat D8H § Cat DTE
model /power
Coal Drill Salem-McCarthy 108,
model /power
Hough 400
model /power
Ford
model/power
capacity
20 (tons)
capacity
70 (tons)
capacity
from pit)
15 (cuyd)
capacity
(cuyd)
capaci ty
(cuyd)
capacity
6"
capacity
14 (cuyd)
capacity
2000 (gal)
capacity
Employment:
(A) Number of full-time employees at the site: Average for 1973: 29
28 in July, 1974 one shift
(B) Number of other full-time employees employed off-site, but who are
working essentially full-time for this mine: (Average for 1973)
In local area: None
(C) Contract Labor: Average for 1973:
Type of work:
In Headquarters: None
None
% of year worked %
(D) Places of Residence of full-time employees (and approximate number
residing there):
Gillette
Town
Number
10. Coal Ownership: As of July 1974, currently covered by Mining and Recla-
mation Plan and by Permit:
Federal:
90
%, State:
*, Private: 10 %
11. Coal Lease and "Permit" Numbers : (as of July 1974)
Federal Lease: W073289, W0111833
W0313666, B037423
, State Permit:
(if any)
-------
42
12. Disposition of Surface in July 1974: Estimated from Photography.
(A) Active Pit and "Active" Spoils: 73 acres (includes 16 acres
(including areas leveled for in inactive North pit)
dragline or shovel)
(B) Spoils Regraded or Being Regraded: 55 acres
(C) Revegetated (Seeded and for Growing): 45 acres (portion of part B)
(D) "Orphan Spoils" and Open Water: 45 (orphan). 4 ac. pond acres
(E) Support Facilities, Transportation Routes: 9 acres
(includes old power plant, but none of the new construction)
TOTAL DISTURBED ACREAGE (A+B+IH-E) - 186 acres
13. Average Analyses of Coal:
Name of Coal Seam Anderson-Canyon . Moisture 28 %, Ash (wet) 5.9 %
Na20(Ash) 1.3 %. Sulfur (wet) .52 %, Btu (wet) 8300 per Ib.
14. Other Items of Interest such'as previous (historical) methods of mining
including underground, water-bearing strata encountered, amount of water
removed from workings, water quality data.
Recoverable coal 160,000,000 tons.
Blasting AN-FO with dynamite and primacord slurry, E-Cord & primer 24'
spacing to 120' deep.
Annual precipitation 14".
Currently terracing but will slope.
Using crested wheat, western wheat grass, alfalfa, sweet clover.
Water enters both North & South Pits (total) at 150 gpm.
-------
PLATE 7
WYODAKMINE
Wyodak Resource Develop-
ment Company
Campbell County, Wyoming
19Jul74 1526-1527 hrs
0.25
MILES
0.5
-------
PAGE NOT
AVAILABLE
DIGITALLY
-------
45
Section 5-5
Welch Strip Mine - Plate 9
This is one of the smaller surface coal mines presently in
operation in the Northern Great Plains. It is located in the Tongue
River valley. The mine is viewed here through low altitude true color
photography collected on 20 July 1974. The photograph (Plate 9) shows
great distinction between the ground water dependent vegetation of the
oxbow at the top of the photograph and the brownish cast of the range
grasses on lands surrounding the mine.
Large portions of the mine have been graded but the darker gray
color of the graded areas shows a relatively high concentration of
waste coal (carbonaceous sandstone and shale) on the surface. Experi-
ments performed at the Dave Johnston Mine have suggested that placement
of such material on the surface materials can serve to complicate the
revegetation process.
Surface drainage from the mined area appears along the north boundary
of the disturbed lands and is impounded near there.
-------
46
DESCRIPTION OF MINE
1. Mine: Welch Strip Mine
2. Location: State: Wyoming County: Sheridan Township: 57N
(all acreage on which present
corporate owners have conducted
or are conducting operations) Range: 85w sec: 22
3. Mine Operators: Walch Coal Company (Subsidiary of Montana-Dakota
Utilities)
4. Production Rates: For Year 1974: 18.708 tons per year
Estimated or Projected for Year 1974: 20,340 tpy
Average for 1974: 1700 tons per month
5. Destination of Coal: (A) Estimated tons per year ( 20.340 ) to
Acme, HY Acme Plant EGS
City, StateUse
6. Description of Long-Haul Transportation (reference 5 above):
(A) None (e.g., unit train), Ownership:
, # Cars per train
(B) Yes - l (e.g., unit train), Ownership: Welch Coal
Company , # Cars per train
Approximate rate of car loading mln. per car (100 ton)
Storage Capacity for Loading tons.
Stratigraphic Data:
(A) Average Overburden Thickness 50 feet; range 20 to 70 feet
(B) Name of Coal Seams Mined and Average Thickness in feet: (youngest to oldest)
(Seam is split by many partings that are not mined.)
Monarch 13'
(C) Average Thickness of Partings Between Seams (feet): (youngest to oldest)
Deeper Seams
< 1' . , thickness and approximate separation from
mined seams.
(D) Depth of Active Pit: (feet) Average 70 , Maximum: 80
Minimum: 30
(E) Bulking Factor for Spoils: % (measured; estimated)
8. Major Operating Equipment:
Draglines: None , (cuyd), (ft). (kw)
modelcapacity boom length power rqmts
Shovels: ? , 2-4 (cuyd). (ft), Gas or diesel
modelcapacity max. radius power rqmts
(very old, not presently used)
-------
47
Trucks: 1 . , 5 (tons)
Scrapers:
Dozers:
Drills:
Front End
Loaders
Water
Trucks:
number
1
number
»
number
i
number
: 1
number
t
number
model /power
Towed
model /power
model /power
model /power
Rubber Wheeled
model/power
model /power
capacity
, Very Small
capacity
*
capacity
t
capacity
, small
capacity
t
capacity
(cuyd)
(cuyd)
(cuyd)
(cuyd)
(cuyd)
9. Employment:
(A) Number of full-time employees at the site: Average for 1973: 3_
2 in July, 1974
(B) Number of other full-time employees employed off-site, but who are
working essentially full-time for this mine: (Average for 1973)
In local area: , In Headquarters:
(C) Contract Labor: Average for 1973: , % of year worked
Type of Work:
(D) Places of Residence of Full-Time Employees (and approximate number
residing there):
Sheridan
Town Number
10. Coal Ownership: As of July 1974, currently covered by Mining and Reclamation
Plan and by Permit:
Federal: %, State: %, Private: 100 %
11. Coal Lease and "Permit" Numbers: (as of July 1974)
Federal Lease: , State Permit:
(if any)
12. Disposition of Surface in July 1974: Estimated from photography.
(A) Active Pit and "Active" Spoils: 7.5 acres
(Including areas leveled for
dragline or shovel)
(B) Spoils Regraded or Being Regraded: 29 acres
(C) Revegetated (Seeded and for Growing): 12 acres (remaining 17 acres
have probably been seeded, but no evidence of revegetatlon.)
(D) "Orphan Spoils" and Open Water: l.l acres of ponded water
(E) Support Facilities, Transportation Routes: .8 acres
TOTAL: A+B+D+E 38.4 acres disturbed.
13. Average Analyses of Coal:
Name of Coal Seam Monarch , Moisture _19J5, Ash (wet) 11 X
NagO(Ash) 1.4 %, Sulfur (wet) 1.5 X. Btu (wet) 8900 per Ib.
-------
PLATE 9
WELCH STRIP MINE
Welch Coal Company
Sheridan County, Wyoming
20Jul74 1110hrs
I
N
0.25
0.5
MILES
~
-------
49
Section 5-6
Big Horn Mine - Plates 10 and 11
This mine is located north of Sheridan, Wyoming in the topographic
valley of the Tongue River. It is represented in this report in low
altitude true color photography flown on 28 July 1974. It is also shown
in oblique and aerial photography flown the same day. The surface mining
activity is located in the southeast corner of the intersection of the
Tongue River and Goose Creek. In fact, Goose Creek and the Tongue River
flow in part through open areas where coal was mined. The large pond in
Goose Creek near the south edge of the mosaic is a mined-out area as are
the rectangular ponds to the north of the Tongue River. The town of
Acme, Wyoming lies near the center of the mosaic.
The northern part of the area shown is characterized by subsidence
features resulting from collapse of underground workings in the same
(age) coal beds not being surface-mined. However, little surface mining
is being done in the areas that were once underground mined. Surface
mining has not ex-tended into these areas for a variety of reasons related
to equipment problems, underground fires, and ownership of coal and
surface.
The Big Horn Mine area also contains a large clinker (baked shale)
recovery operation located to the west of the coal mine, across Goose
Creek. One can see the reddish gravel-like material both at the mine
and over the coal mine haul roads. Note also the extension of the reddish
hue along both sides of the Tongue River. These are "burn lines" where
coal outcrops have caught fire and left baked clay and shale and some
clinker from the coal bed. This material is called "scoria" by some,
but bears no relationship to volcanic processes producing scoria rock.
The portion of the mine to the south is a scraper-shovel-truck
operation while the mine area to the north is a dragline operation to
date. Grading and seeding activities are evidenced by the appearance of
vegetative growth along the area between Goose Creek and the exposed
coal. A varying density of growth is evident.
This mine has a potential to interfere with typical alluvial valley
floor systems, but the south mined area is generally in a steeper area
which rises abruptly from the drainage channels. If mining were feasible
either to the west along the Tongue River or northeastward, then it
would appear to compete, at least temporarily, with agricultural
-------
50
Section 5-6
activities in the alluvial valley. It is not certain what lasting
impact the mining may have on downstream water resources. The possi-
bilities for increases in dissolved solids has not been assessed.
Encroachment upon the river is in evidence along the northeast
edge of the mine at the time of collection of this photography.
In portions of the area currently mined and to the north of the
area shown in Plate 10, extensive underground mining has been conducted.
Subsidence features exist over hundreds of acres. Various areas of that
coal are presently burning. Impressive columns of smoke are sometimes
evident for short periods when portions of the old underground mines
collapse up to the land surface.
-------
51
DESCRIPTION OF MINE
1 . Mine: Big Horn tl
2. Location: State: Wyoming County: Sheridan Township: 57N
(all acreage on which present
corporate owners have conducted
or are conducting operations) Range: SAW Sec: 15.22
3. Mine Operators: Big Horn Coal Company (Subsidiary of Peter Kiewlt Sons,
Company)
4. Production Rates: For Year 1974: 444.545 tons per year
Estimated or Projected for Year 1974: 997.274 tpy
Monthly Average for 1974: 83.000 tons per month
5. Destination of Coal: (A) Estimated tons per year ( 884.274 ) to
Kansas City, MO; Havana, IL; Acme. WY; Marshalltown.
City, State
IA; Mitchell. SD; Sioux Falls. SD; Aberdeen. SD (EGS)
City, StateUse
(B) Estimated tons per year ( 113.000 ) to
Nebraska. Montana. Minnesota-Sugar & other industries
StateDse
(to include cement)
6. Description of Long-Haul Transportation (reference 5 above):
(A) None (e.g., unit train), Ownership:
, # Cars per train
(B) Yes (e.g., unit train), Ownership: Kansas City - Burling-
ton Northern , I Cars per train
Approximate rate of car loading m1n. per car (100 ton)
Storage Capacity for Loading tons
7. Stratigraphic Data:
(A) Average Overburden Thickness 100 feet; range 15 to 200 feet
(0.5% dip)
(B) Name of Coal Seams Mined and Average Thickness in feet: (youngest to oldest)
Dletz Number 2 11'
Dietz Number 3 19'
Monarch 22'
(C) Average Thickness of Partings Between Seams (feet): (youngest to oldest)
Deeper Seams 15' 80'
50 , 20 , thickness and approximate separation from
mined seams.
(D) Depth of Active Pit: (feet) Average ISO' , Maximum: 240'
Minimum: 40'
(E) Bulking Factor for Spoils: % (measured; estimated)
-------
52
8. Major Operating Equipment:
12 (cu.yd), 200 (ft),
(kw)
Draglines:
Shovels:
Trucks:
Scrapers: _
Drills:
Front End
Loaders
Water
Trucks:
B-E mJUW
model
B-E 54B
model
B-E 88B
capacity boom
4.5 (cuyd), _
capacity max.
9 (cuyd),
model capacily max.
6 , Euclid 105-W. Bottom dump hauler
"number
8 >
"number
l ,
number
2 ,
number
3 ,
"number
1 ,
""number
4
number
2
number
: » _
number
1
number
model /power dp gas)
651 Cat
mode I/ power
Euclid TTS-14
model /power
Cat D8H with ripper
model /power
Cat 12F road grader
model /power
Koehring 1066 backhoe
model /power
Cat D96 tractors
length power rqmts
lft.\. Diesel
radius power rqmts
(ft), Diesel
radius power reqmts
50 (tons)
capacity
32 (cuyd)
capacity
28 (cuyd)
capacity
(cuyd)
capacity
(cuyd)
capaci ty
(cuyd)
capacity
(cuyd)
model /power capacity
Hardscog Drills BE 1-40R 0/B Drill, (cuyd)
model /power
model /power
Southwest
model /power
capacity
(cuyd)
capacity
, 8000 (gal))
capacity
9. Employment:
(A) Number of full-time employees at the site: Average for 1973: 40
in July, 1974
69
one shift, five days (80 employees work
six months, then to construction activies)
(B) Number of other full-time employees employed off-site, but who are
working essentially full-time for this mine: (Average for 1973)
In local area:
_, In Headquarters:
% of year worked %
(C) Contract Labor: Average for 1973:
Type of Work:
(D) Places of Residence of Full-Time Employees (and approximate number
residing there):
Town
Acme
Number
Sheridan
Town
Ranchester
Number
Town
Number
-------
53
10. Coal Ownership: As of July 1974, currently covered by Mining and Reclamation
Plan and by Permit:
Federal: %. State: %, Private: 100 %
11. Coal Lease and "Permit" Numbers: (as of July 1974)
Federal Lease: , State Permit:
(if any)
12. Disposition Of Surface in July 1974: Estimated from Photography.
(A) Active Pit and "Active" Spoils: 360 acres
(including areas leveled for
dragline or shovel)
(B) Spoils Regraded or Being Regraded: 593 acres
(includes 23 acres of miscellaneous)
(C) Revegetated (Seeded and for Growing): 530 acres (part of part B)
(D) "Orphan Spoils" and Open Water: 50 (orphan); 100 (ponded) acres
(E) Support Facilities, Transportation Routes: 190 acres
TOTAL Disturbed (A+B+D+E) - 1293 acres.
13. Average Analyses of Coal:
Name of Coal Seam Dletz #2 , Moisture 23.3 %. Ash (wet) 6 %
Na20(Ash) 1.49 %.Sulfur (wet) .84 %, Btu (wet) 9300 per Ib.
Name of Coal Seam Dietz //3 , Moisture 19 %, Ash (wet) 4.4 %
Na?0(Ash)4.25 %.Sulfur (wet) .5 %, Btu (wet) 9700 per Ib.
Name of Coal Seam Monarch , Moisture 21 %. Ash (wet) 5.8 %
Na90(ash) 3.4 %,Sulfur (wet) .6 %, Btu (wet) 9550 per Ib.
Name of Coal Seam Average , Moisture _2A%, Ash (wet) 5.3 %
Na20(ash) %, Sulfur (wet) 0.61 %. Btu (wet) 9300 per Ib.
14. Other Items of Interest such as previous (historical) methods of mining
including underground, water-bearing strata encountered, amount of water
removed from workings, water quality data.
Considerable old underground mining in this area (see attachment); also,
underground mine fire and subsidence north of the Tongue River (Northern
half of section 15); old mining normally removed no more than 10 feet of
coal leaving rest, as roof; water is pumped from workings especially
portion in Section 15.
Blasting AN-FO & dynamite 9' spacing coal, 25' spacing overburden 0.3
-------
PAGE NOT
AVAILABLE
DIGITALLY
-------
56
Section 5-7
Decker No. 1 Mine - Plates 12 and 13
Both true color and color infrared photography are provided for
this mine. The true color was collected on 28 July 1974 from low
altitude and is a mosaic. The color infrared was collected on 23 June
1975 from 17,300 meters (56,700 feet) and is a portion of a single
frame. The large body of water to the east of the mine is the Tongue
River Reservoir. A significant amount of infiltration enters the
mine from that reservoir.
The thick coal bed (about 16 meters or 52 feet) has permitted
mining at a rate approaching 6 to 7 million tons per year without much
change in the mine plan from July 1974 to June of 1975. Reclamation
activities are represented by the plot work centered on the test pit
at the lower center of the photographs, and by the grading and emergence
of seedlings shown at the north (upper) end of the pit beyond the mining
operation. Spoils to the east of the exposed coal bed are not yet graded
to any great degree since the mining plan also incorporates eastward
mining of the same coal bed. The results of initial grading and re-
seeding of the spoils are evident in the color infrared 1975 photography
by the strip of magenta paralleling the pit in the west and north.
Drainage diversion ditches produce the white or brown paths along
the western side of the mine. These lead drainage away from the mine
into drainages not affected by the mine. The 1974 color mosaic shows
the sedimentation pond at the extreme southeast corner of the mine. One
can see coal haul trucks in the 1974 photography, but only the dragline
is as clearly shown in the 1975 imagery.
The 1975 IR imagery vividly portrays strong vegetative growth in
the valley of the Tongue River. Comparison of the two Plates shows
the differences between a full (1975) and a drained (1974) reservoir.
Additional mining is planned for the east and northwest side of
the reservoir.
-------
57
DESCRIPTION OF MINE
1 . Mine: Decker Number 1
2. Location: State: Montana County: Big Horn Township: 9s
(all acreage on which present
corporate owners have conducted
or are conducting operations) Range: APE Sec: 15,16
3. Mine Operators: Decker Coal Company ('?Wytana, Inc?) Peter Kiewit and
Pacific Power & Light
4. Production Rates: For Year 1974: 4,159,287 tons per year
Estimated or Projected for Year 1974: 7,000,000 tpy
Monthly Average for 1974: tons per month
5. Destination of Coal: (A) Estimated tons per year ( ) to
Havanna, IL Steam Electric
City, StateUse
(B) Commonwealth Edison
Transfer to B«rge
(B) Estimated tons per year ( 6 X 106 ) to
City, State Use
Detroit Edison
(C) Estimated tons per year ( 1.25 x 1Q6 ) to
City, StateUse
6. Description of Long-Haul Transportation (reference 5 above): via rail spur (19
miles) to Burlington Northern main line near Ucross, Wyoming.
(A) Unit Train (e.g., unit train), Ownership: Burlington
Northern , # Cars 100 per train 13 to 21/week
~lw/siaVe unit)
Approximate rate of car loading «1.2 m1n. per car (100 ton)
Storage Capacity for loading 27,000 tons 2 silos, 700-ton truck
bin, primary crushers
to 8", secondary crushers
to 2"
7. Strati graphic Data:
(A) Average Overburden Thickness 70 feet; range to 150 feet
0/B - Sandstone & Shale, Faulted on South by Burn Line
(B) Name of Coal Seams Mined and Average Thickness In feet: (youngest to oldest)
Dletz //I 52
(C) Average Thickness of Partings Between Seams (feet): (youngest to oldest)
Deeper Seams Dietz 91 15
70-75. , thickness and approximate separation from
(20+30) mined seams.
(D) Depth of Active Pit: (feet) Average , Maximum: iso
Minimum: 30
(E) Bulking Factor for Spoils: % (measured; estimated)
-------
8. Major Operating Equipment:
Draglines: B-E i3QQ-w
model
BE 1570
58
_*1 _ r(cuyd), 285 (ft). 1750 (hp)
capacity boom length power rqmts
model
Shovels:2 ea BE 195B
(cuyd), under construction
model
capacity
16 (cuyd). >49
^ (ft), 600/1500(hp)
capacity max. radius power rqmts
(extended range)
Trucks:
model
9 , Cat PW 660
16 (cuyd). (ft), (kw)
capacity max.radius power rqmts
65-70
mode1/power
Euclid
number
1
number model/power
(150-ton WABCO on order)
capacity
120
capacity
Jtons)
(tons)
Scrapers:
Dozers:
Drills:
Front End
Loaders
Water
Trucks:
3
number
3
number
l
number
1
number
l
number
: l
number
a
number
Cat 637
model /power
D-9
model/power
Cat 988
model/power
B-E 60-R Overburden Drill
model /power
Gardner-Denver Coal Drill
model/power
Dart
model/power
model /power
»
capacity
*
capacity
»
capacity
, 480 hp
capacity
*
capacity
23
capacity
»
capacity
(cuyd)
(cuyd)
(cuyd)
(cuyd)
(cuyd)
(cuyd)
9. Employment:
(A) Number of full-time employees at the site: Average for 1973: 120
220
(180 mining)
in July, 1974
Three shifts - seven days for dragline
Two shifts - six days for loading
One shift - five days for shooting
(B) Number of other full-time employees employed off-site, but who are
working essentially full-time for this mine: (Average for 1973)
In local area:
, In Headquarters:
(C) Contract Labor: Average for 1973:
Type of Work:
% of year worked
(D) Places of Residence of Full-Time Employees (and approximate number
residing there):
Town
Number
10. Coal Ownership: As of July 1974, currently covered by Mining and Reclamation
Plan and by Permit:
Federal:
55, State:
%, Private:
-------
59
11. Coal Lease and "Permit" Numbers: (as of July 1974) Lease Area: 16,000 acres
Federal Lease: , State Permit:
(1f any)
12. Disposition of Surface in 1975:
(A) Active Pit and "Active" Spoils: 680 acres
(including areas leveled for (Pit: 3100 acres)
dragline or shovel)
(B) Spoils Regraded or Being Regraded: 268
(C) Revegetated (Seeded and for Growing):
(D) "Orphan Spoils" and Open Water: acres ^ 2185
(E) Support Facilities, Transportation Routes: acres
13. Average Analyses of Coal:
Name of Coal Seam Dletz //I , Moisture 23 %, Ash (wet) 3.7 %
Sulfur (wet) O.A %. Btu (wet) 9650 per Ib.
14. Other Items of Interest such as previous (historical) methods of mining
including underground, water-bearing strata encountered, amount of water
removed from workings, water quality data.
Reserves Estimated at 1,000,000,000 tons.
Blasting AN-FO 15' spacing to 150' deep, overburden and coal - methane
coal shot in two benches. encountered in
coal
Pit Width: 120-150'.
Coal mined in two benches.
Plan irrigation.
Research areas for Montana State; USDA-Forest Service.
-------
PAGE NOT
AVAILABLE
DIGITALLY
-------
62
Section 5-8
Sarpy Creek (Absaloka) Mine - Plate 14
This mine is one of the newest in the Northern Great Plains.
It is represented in this report by low-level aerial photography flown
on 21 July 1974 presented in Plate 14 in true color. The area is
characteristic of biological ecosystems at the moderate altitudes
of eastern Montana as evidenced by the higher density of evergreen
trees and shrubs.
The mine has more recently been called "Absaloka." It is located
on Ceded lands adjacent to the Crow Indian Reservation.
A sediment pond dam is visible at the upper right (northwest)
corner of the disturbed area, just east of the rail line embankment.
Some grading had taken place at the time of this photograph. Those
areas are located principally along the southwestern boundary of the
mine. One seeded stockpile of topsoil is visible immediately south of
the upper sedimentation pond.
The mine borders agricultural land on the east and northeast.
Also visible is reddish baked shale at the southeast edge of the mine
and along the northwestern side of the disturbed area.
-------
63
DESCRIPTION OF MINE
1 . Mine: Sarpy Creek (Absaloka)
2. Location: State: Montana County: Big Horn Township: IN
(all acreage on which present
corporate owners have conducted
or are conducting operations) Range: 37E Sec: 23. 25. 26
3. Mine Operators: Westmoreland Coal Company - Morrl8on-Knudsen(Operators)-
Kewanee Oil Company - Penn Virginia Corporation
4. Production Rates: For Year 1974: New tons per year
Estimated or Projected for Year 1974: 1.500.000 tpy
Monthly Average for 1974: tons per month
5. Destination of Coal: (A) Estimated tons per year ( ) to
^ Steam Electric
City, StateDse
Northern States Fwr (Minn)
Interstate Pwr (Minn)
Dairyland Coop (Wis)
Wisconsin Fwr & Light
Total
(B) Estimated tons per year (4.048 x 106 ) to
Peroria. Ill (1 X 106 tpy) Steam Electric
City, StateDse
Central Illinois Lghtg
Northern States Pwr (Minn.
- Major)
6. Description of Long-Haul Transportation (reference 5 above): via 37-nlle spur
to Burlington Northern near Hysham, Montana.
(A) (e.g., unit train), Ownership: Burlington
Northern f # Cars HO per train U/wk
Approximate rate of car loading: mln. pr car (100 ton)
Storage Capacity for Loading tons
7. Stratlgraphlc Data:
(A) Average Overburden Thickness 80 feet; range 20 to 200 feet
(B) Name of Coal Seams Mined and Average Thickness In feet: (youngest to oldest)
Stray #1 i!
Roaebud-McKay 30'
Stray #2 $1
Robinson 20'
Average total thickness - 58'
(C) Average Thickness of Partings Between Seams (feet): (youngest to oldest)
Deeper Seams
30 . s . 60 thickness and approximate separation from
mined seams.
(D) Depth of Active Pit: (feet) Average 183 . Maximum:
Minimum:
-------
64
(E) Bulking Factor for Spoils: 30
8. Major Operating Equipment:
Draglines: Marlon 8200-iiR
_% (measured; estimated)
75 (cuyd), 325 (ft).
(kw)
Shovels:
Trucks:
Scrapers:
Dozers :
Drills:
Front End:
model
model
4
number
4
number
3
number
1
number
1
number
l
number
2
capacity boom
(cuyd),
capacity boom
Mack
model /power
(Haul 3200' + 500' each year)
Terex T24
model /power
D-9 Cat
model/power
C-8 Cat
model /power
BE45R O/B Drill (11")
model/power
Gard-Den 16B Coal Drill (6")
model/power
Michigan 475
length power rqmts
(ft), (kw)
length power rqmts
, 100 (115) tons
capacity
(cuyd)
capacity
(cuyd)
capacity
(cuyd)
capacity
{cuyd)
capacity
(cuyd)
capacity
18 (cuyd)
model/power
Water
model/power
capacity
capacity
Trucks: number
9. Employment:
(A) Number of full-time employees at the site: Average for 1973: 70
1n July, 1974 Two Shifts
(B) Number of other full-time employees employed off-site, but who are
working essentially full-time for this mine: (Average for 1973)
(cuyd)
In local area:
_, In Headquarters:
(C) Contract Labor: Average for 1973:
Type of Work:
% of year worked
(D) Places of Residence of Full-Time Employees (and approximate number
residing there):
Town
Number
10. Coal Ownership: As of July 1974, currently covered by Mining and Reclamation
Plan and by Permit:
100% Crow Indian
Federal: %, State: X, Private: *
11, Coal Lease and "Permit" Numbers: (as of July 1974)
Federal Lease:
, State Permit:
" (1fany)
Lease Area: 14,746 Acres
12. Disposition of Surface in January 1976:
(A) Active Pit and "Active" Spoils:
(including areas leveled for
dragline or shovel)
(B) Spoils Regraded or Being Regraded:
acres
acres
157
-------
65
(C) Revegetated (Seeded and for Growing): acres "|
(D) "Orphan Spoils" and Open Water: acres \ 187
(E) Support Facilities, Transportation Routes: acres I
13. Average Analyses of Coal:
Name of Coal Seam Rosebud-McKay Moisture 23.75%, Ash (wet) 9-22 %
Sulfur (wet) 0-61 %. Btu (wet) 8573 per it.
Name of Coal Seam stray #2 , Moisture 23.59%, Ash (wet) 12-84 %
Sulfur (wet) 1.53 %, Btu (wet) 8223 per lb>
Name of Coal Seam Robinson , Moisture 23-85%, Ash (wet) 7-79 %
Sulfur (wet) Q.52 %, Btu (wet) 8594 per 1b-
Name of Coal Seam Average t Moisture _££__%, Ash (wet) 9 %
Sulfur (wet) 0-7 %, Btu (wet) 8450 per 1b<
14. Other Items of Interest such as previous (historical) methods of mining
including underground, water-bearing strata encountered, amount of water
removed from workings, water quality data.
Reserves Estimated at 800,000,000 tons; 625,000,000 "minable" tons
Projected Production: 4 X 10° tpy 1975; 5 X 106 tpy 1976; 15 X 106 tpy 3* 1988
Overburden Pattern: -J»30' X 30' AHFO used
-------
PLATE 14
ABSALOKA MINE
(SARPY CREEK)
Westmoreland Coal Company
Big Horn County, Montana
21Jul74 1130-1132 hrs
MILES
3
-------
67
Section 5-9
Big Sky Mine - Plates 15 and 16
This mine was missed during the 1974 data gathering exercise and
is therefore represented by color infrared imagery collected on 23
June 1975 from an altitude of 17,450 meters (57,300 feet) (Plate 16)
and by color infrared imagery collected on 11 July 1975 from an
altitude of 1,830 meters (6,000 feet) (Plate 15). The mine is relatively
small in comparison to the nearby Rosebud Mine and is located south of
Col strip, Montana and west-southwest of the lower portion of the
Rosebud Mine (See Section 5-10). The railroad loop is evident on the
right-hand (east) side of the upper pit. The magenta tones of the
color infrared photograph trace the principal drainages of the area while
contrasting with the whites of the gravel roads and mined areas, and
with the black of the exposed coal (along the left side of the upper
pit) and coal in the coal preparation area. The color infrared imagery
has not identified much vegetation grovfth over the disturbed areas except
at the right bottom of the lower disturbed area in Plate 15 where some
extremely vigorous vegetation is mixed in with more barren material. A
portion of this is also,represented in the 1975 photography of Plate 16.
The light blue areas show accumulation of water. Greyish spoil and some
less vigorous vegetative growth also appear across the disturbed areas.
This mine is located, as was the previously discussed one, in
some evergreen areas representative of upland drainage areas.
-------
68
DESCRIPTION OF MINE
1. Mine: Big sky
2. Location: State: Montana County: Rosebud Township: IN
(all acreage on which present
corporate owners have conducted
or are conducting operations) Range: 41E Sec: 13.14.15.22,23.26.27
3. Mine Operators: Peabody Coal Company
4. Production Rates: For Year 1974: 1.971.643 tons per year
Estimated or Projected for Year 1974: 2.700.000 tpy
Monthly Average for 1974: tons per month
5. Destination of Coal: (A) Estimated tons per year ( 1,560.000 ) to
Cphaaset & Aurora, Minn Steam Electric
City, StateUse
(Minnesota Pwr & Light)
6. Description of Long-Haul Transportation (reference 5 above):
(A) Unit Train (e.g., unit train), Ownership: Burlington
Northern , # Cars 100 per train 3 trains per week
Approximate rate of car loading 1.2 min. per car (100 ton)
Storage Capacity for loading 25.000 tons
7. Stratigraphic Data:
(A) Average Overburden Thickness feet; range 50 to 90 feet
(B) Name of Coal Seams Mined and Average Thickness in feet: (youngest to oldest)
Rosebud 26
McKay 10
(C) Average Thickness of Partings Between Seams (feet): (youngest to oldest)
Deeper Seams
8-35', shale thickness and approximate separation from
mined seams.
(D) Depth of Active Pit: (feet) Average , Maximum:
Minimum:
(E) Bulking Factor for Spoils: % (measured; estimated)
8. Major Operating Equipment:
Draglines:
Shovels:
Trucks:
Marlon 7800
model
Marion 7400
model
Marion 191
model
4 , KW Dart
, 30 (cuyd),
capacity
. 14 (cuyd),
capacity
16 (cuyd),
capacity
(ft), North Pit
boom length
175 (ft). South Pit
boom length
(ft), (kw)
max. radius power rqmts
120 (tons)
number model/power capacity
(Changing to Euclid) «* 3 D-9 Cats
1 Ford 5000 Tractor
-------
69
Scrapers:
Dozers:
Drills:
Front End
Loaders
Water
Trucks:
i
number
2
number
i
number
1
number
i
number
number
WABCO ,
model /power
Cat D-8
model/power
BE 50-R Overburden Drill 10 5/8",
model/power
BE 40-R Coal Drill 6"
model /power
»
model /power
>
model /power
capacity
capacity
capacity
capacity
capacity
capacity
(cuyd)
(cuyd)
(cuyd)
(cuyd)
(cuyd)
(cuyd)
9. Employment:
(A) Number of full-time employees at the site: Average for 1973: 25
in 1974
(B) Number of other full-time employees employed off-site, but who are
working essentially full-time for this mine: (Average for 1973)
In local area: , In Headquarters:
(C) Contract Labor: Average for 1973: , % of year worked
Type of Work:
(D) Places of Residence of Full-Time Employees (and approximate number
residing there):
Town Number
10. Coal Ownership: As of July 1974, currently covered by Mining and Reclamation
Plan and by Permit:
Federal: %, State: X. Private: X
11. Coal Lease and "Permit" Numbers: (as of July 1974)
Federal Lease: , State Permit:
(1f any)
12. Disposition of Surface in 1974:
(A) Active Pit and "Active" Spoils: 226 acres
(including areas leveled for
dragline or shovel)
(B) Spoils Regraded or Being Regraded: acres
(C) Revegetated (Seeded and for Growing): acres
(D) "Orphan Spoils" and Open Water: acres
>
397
(E) Support Facilities, Transportation Routes: acres
1 3. Average Analyses of Coal:
Name of Coal Seam Rosebud , Moisture 24.9 %, Ash (wet) 8.5
Sulfur (wet) 0.74 X. Btu (wet) 8600 per Ib.
-------
70
Name of Coal Seam McKay , Moisture %, Ash (wet)
Sulfur (wet) %, Btu (wet) per Ib.
Name of Coal Seam Average , Moisture 20-25%, Ash (wet) 8.A
Sulfur (wet) 0.8 %, Btu (wet) 8750 per Ib.
14. Other Items of Interest such as previous (historical) methods of mining
including underground, water-bearing strata encountered, amount of water
removed from workings, water quality data.
Blasting AN-FO -S* 20-30' spacing.
Interburden shale is aquifer.
-------
PAGE NOT
AVAILABLE
DIGITALLY
-------
73
Section 5-10
Rosebud Mine - Plates 17, 18, and 19
This mine was photographed in July 1974 and again in June 1975.
Imagery from the first flight, on 21 July 1974, is presented in true
color (see Plate 17). The imagery for 23 June 1975 is color infrared.
The true color is a mosaic of low altitude photography while the color
infrared was obtained at an altitude of 17,450 meters (57,330 feet).
We are afforded then the opportunity to again compare types of imagery
and changes in time. Plate 19 provides an oblique view of the oper-
ation which includes the power plant, also collected on 28 July 1974.
Examination of the plowed fields show the alternating stubble and
emerging June growth. Very healthy growth is evidenced in the irregular
plots intersected by the roads by the green-brown and deep magenta hues.
The southeast portion of the disturbed area (lower right) shows this
quite well. The less vigorous growth immediately south of the coal
train loading facilities is apparent in the June 1975 photography.
Note also the completion of mining along the west edge of this same
southern portion of the mine. The 1975 imagery shows the expansion
of mining to the west, plus the additional construction associated
with the town of Colstrip and the two units of the power plant (located
just east of the town). Expanded trailer court facilities in Colstrip
are also evident.
Vegetative growth at the bottom of the old Burlington Northern
spoils is evidenced in both photographs (east of the town and plant
site).
Most assuredly this site offers a full spectrum of examples of
energy development activities. Note also the new activities being con-
ducted in the creek valley to the west of Colstrip (Plate 18).
This mine is the site of numerous experimental activities regarding
hydrology of spoils and revegetation.
-------
74
DESCRIPTION OF MINE
1. Mine: Rosebud
2. Location: State: Montana County: Rosebud Township: IN
(all acreage on which present
corporate owners have conducted
or are conducting operations) Range: 41E Sec: 1.2.11,12
3. Mine Operators: Western Energy Company - Montana Power (Long Construction
Company Operators)
4. Production Rates: For Year 1974: 4,253,781 tons per year
Estimated or Projected for Year 1974: 2,837,000 tpy
Monthly Average for 1974: tons per month
5. Destination of Coal: (A) Estimated tons per year ( 780,000 ) to
Billings, MT Steam Electric
City, State Use
(Montana Power & E., Corvette Sta)
(B) Estimated tons per year ( 1,456,OOP ) to
St. Paul, Minn Steam Electric
City, State [Jii
(Northern States Pwr)
(C) Estimated tons per year ( 2,600,000 ) to
Chicago, 111 Steam Electric
City, State Use
(Commonwealth Edison)
(Total: 4,836,000)
6. Description of Long-Haul Transportation (reference 5 above): via 35-mile rail
spur North to Burlington-Northern main line.
(A) Unit Train (e.g., unit train), Ownership:
# Cars 50 per train 3 trains per week
(B) Unit Train (e.g., unit train), Ownership:
, # Cars 70 per train 4 trains per week
(C) Unit Train (e.g., unit train), Ownership:
_, # Cars 100 per train 3-7 trains per week
Approximate rate of car loading min. per car (100 ton)
Storage Capacity for loading tons
Stratigraphlc Data:
(A) Average Overburden Thickness 90 feet; range 30 to 160 feet
Clay Sandstone, 30' in new pit
(B) Name of Coal Seams Mined and Average Thickness in feet: (youngest to oldest)
Rosebud 27
(C) Average Thickness of Partings Between Seams (feet): (youngest to oldest)
Deeper Seams McKay
, , thickness and approximate separation from
mined seams.
-------
75
(D) Depth of Active Pit: (feet) Average , Maximum:
Minimum:
(E) Bulking Factor for Spoils: % (measured; estimated)
Major Operating Equipment:
Draglines: Marlon 360 , 60 (cuyd),
(f t), under
Shovels:
Trucks:
Scrapers:
Dozers:
Drills:
model
model
BE 1050-B
model
BE 550-B
model
BE 280-B
model
3
number
10 ,
number
3
number
l
number
2
number
1
number
l
number
1
capacity
8 (cuyd)
capacity
24 (cuyd),
capacity
, 17 (cuyd)
capacity
17 (cuyd),
capacity
model /power
100 HP Loco
model/power
631C
model/power
D84
model /power
D96
model /power
HD41
model /power
BE45-R 0/B Drill
model /power
CP 650 0/B Drill
Ebom length construction
(ft), 700/1750 h»"old"
boom length power rqmts
150 (ft), stripping
boom length
(ft), (kw)
max. radius power rqmts
54 (ft), (kw)
max. radius power rqmts
, 100 (tons)
capacity
, 120 (tons)
capacity
(cuyd)
capacity
(cuyd)
capacity
(cuyd)
capacity
, (cuyd)
capacity
, 320 ho
capacity
(cuyd)
number
Front End: l ,
Loaders number
Water
Trucks:
model/power
1 overburden drill, 2 coal drills
Hough 120-C
model/power
mode1/power
capacity
capacity
capacity
.(cuyd)
Jcuyd)
number
Employment:
(A) Number of full-time employees at the site: Average for 1973:
120
150
(80 mining)
in July, 1974
Two shifts, five days
(B) Number of other full-time employees employed off-site, but who are
working essentially full-time for this mine: (Average for 1973)
In local area:
_, In Headquarters:
(C) Contract Labor: Average for 1973:
Type of Work:
5! of year worked
-------
76
(D) Places of Residence of Full-Time Employees (and approximate number
residing there):
Town Number
10. Coal Ownership: As of July 1974, currently covered by Mining and Reclamation
Plan and by Permit:
Federal: %, State: %, Private: X
11. Coal Lease and "Permit" Numbers: (as of July 1974)
Federal Lease: 7.175 acres State Permit:
(if any)
12. Disposition of Surface in July 1974:
(A) Active Pit and "Active" Spoils: acres
(including areas leveled for
dragline or shovel)
(B) Spoils Regraded or Being Regraded: acres
(C) Revegetated (Seeded and for Growing): acres
(D) "Orphan Spoils" and Open Water: acres
(E) Support Facilities, Transportation Routes: acres
13. Average Analyses of Coal:
Name of Coal Seam Rosebud , Moisture 24.3%, Ash (wet) 8.1 %
Sulfur (wet) 0.75 t. Btu (wet) 8628 per Ib.
Name of Coal Seam Rosebud , Moisture 28 %. Ash (wet) 6.0 %
Sulfur (wet) 0.7 %, Btu (wet) 8750* per Ib.
*TJange 8600-9000
Name of Coal Seam McKay , Moisture 26.2 %, Ash (wet) 6.87 %
Sulfur (wet) 1.28 %, Btu (wet) 8514 per Ib.
Name of Coal Seam McKay , Moisture 22 j, Ash (wet) 9.0 %
Sulfur (wet) 1.2 %. Btu (wet) 8300 per Ib.
Name of Coal Seam Average , Moisture 25.5%, Ash (wet) 8.45 %
Sulfur (wet) 0.8 %, Btu (wet) 8800 per Ib.
14. Other Items of Interest such as previous (historical) methods of mining
including underground, water-bearing strata encountered, amount of water
removed from workings, water quality data.
Reserves Estimated at 850,000,000 tons.
Blasting AN-FO & Dynamite coal and overburden.
Pit Width 120' to 160'.
First Year plant rye, oats; then replace with wheat grasses.
4" of coal left on-floor as cushion over gray underclay; wedge 3' wide at
base left to retain spoil.
Some revegetation efforts irrigated.
26" water pipeline front Yellowstone River.
Two 330 MW units under construction.
Annual precipitation 15".
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81
Section 5-11
Savage Mine - Plates 20 and 21
This mine is represented by low altitude, true color photography
mosaicked for Plate 20 as well as by two enlargements of the true color
and of concurrently collected color infrared imagery presented in Plate
20. All information was collected on 22 July 1974.
The mine is a relatively small export operation and provides an
example of grading and emergent vegetation over mined lands in agri-
cultural areas. Mining is progressing westward. Grading has been
accomplished over the southern pit. That southern area is again
represented in the two enlargements of Plate 20. The magenta hues
of the emergent vegetation in Plate 21b are noteworthy. The pit
area to the north on Plate 20 also shows vegetative growth. A number
of impoundments are visible. The false color (color infrared) print
of Plate 21b defines the natural drainage channels and a rapidly
greening area just southwest of the coal loading facilities which
appears as a green area on Plate 21a.
New mining activity is apparent to the south of the older mined
areas.
Some reclamation-related experiments are being carried out at
this site.
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82
DESCRIPTION OF MINE
Mine:
Savage
Location: State: Montana
(all acreage on which present
County: Richland
corporate owners have conducted
or are conducting operations) Range: 57E
Mine Operators:
Knife River Coal Company
Production Rates: For Year 1974:
312,785
Estimated or Projected for Year 1974:
Monthly Average for 1974:
tons per year
320.000 tpy
tons per month
5. Destination of Coal: (A) Estimated tons per year ( 320,000 ) to
Sidney, MT Steam Electric
City, State
Use
(50MW Lewis & Clark Station)
6. Description of Long-Haul Transportation (reference 5 above): Cecil spur
(A) .(e.g., unit train), Ownership: Burlington
Northern , # Cars per train
mln. per car
tons
Approximate rate of car loading:
Storage capacity for loading
7. Stratigraphic Data:
(A) Average Overburden Thickness
feet; range
to
feet
(B) Name of Coal Seams Mined and Average Thickness 1n feet: (youngest to oldest)
Fust 9-20'
Total
20'
(C) Average Thickness of Partings Between Seams (feet): (youngest to oldest)
Deeper Seams
, , thickness and approximate separation from
mined seams.
, Maximum: 90
(D) Depth of Active Pit: (feet) Average
Minimum:
(E) Bulking Factor for Spoils: % (measured; estimated)
Major Operating Equipment:
model
P&H 655
model
number
Draglines: 7W
Shovels:
Trucks:
Scrapers:
Dozers:
number
Eront End: l
Loaders number
(cuyd),
capacity
3 (cuyd),
(ft),
capacity
model/power
oom length power rqmts
(ft), (kw)
max. radius power rqmts
20 (tons)
capac'1 ty
(cuyd)
number
l
model/power
capacity
(cuyd)
model/power
capacity
model/power
capacity
Jcuyd)
-------
83
Water . , (cuyd)
Trucks: numbermodel/powercapacity
Employment:
(A) Number of full-time employees at the site: Average for 1973: 18
in July, 1974 one shift
(B) Number of other full-time employees employed off-site, but who are
working essentially full-time for this mine: (Average for 1973)
In local area: , In Headquarters:
(C) Contract Labor: Average for 1973: , % of year worked %
Type of Work:
(D) Places of Residence of Full-Time Employees (and approximate number
residing there):
Town Number
10. Coal Ownership: As of July 1974, currently covered by Mining and Reclamation
Plan and by Permit:
Federal: %, State: %, Private: %
11. Coal Lease and "Permit" Numbers: (as of July 1974)
Federal Lease: , State Permit:
(if any)
12. Disposition of Surface in 1976:
(A) Active Pit and "Active" Spoils: 170 acres
(including areas leveled for
dragline or shovel)
(B) Spoils Regraded or Being Regraded: acres
(C) Revegetated (Seeded and for Growing): acres
152
(D) "Orphan Spoils" and Open Water: acres
(E) Support Facilities, Transportation Routes: acres
13. Average Analyses of Coal:
Name of Coal Seam Average , Moisture 38 %. Ash (wet) 7-7.5 %
Sulfur (wet) 0.5 %. Btu (wet) 6500 per Ib.
14. Other Items of Interest such as previous (historical) methods of mining
including underground, water-bearing strata encountered, amount of water
removed from workings, water quality data.
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87
Section 5-12
Peerless (Gascoyne) Mine - Plate 22
This mine is represented in true color photography flown on
23 July 1974. The mine has recently expanded and construction
activities associated with that expansion are in evidence on the
mosaic. The mine is, as are many North Dakota mines, located in
farmed (cultivated) areas. Reclamation activity has increased and
the graded spoils to the east as well as areas immediately north of
the mine facilities show evidence of successful seeding and of
invasion of volunteer growth.
Substantial water appears to be present in the open, non-working
pits and the entire area presents the impression of a relatively shallow
ground water table.
This mine is a site of a detailed hydrologic investigation of
the effects of mining and reclamation.
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88
DESCRIPTION OF MINE
1 . Mine: Gascoyne (Peerless)
2. Location: State: North Dakota County: Bowman Township:131N
(all acreage on which present
corporate owners have conducted
or are conducting operations) Range: 99W Sec: 32,33,34,35,27.28.29
3, Mine Operators: Knife River Coal Mining Company
4. Production Rates: For Year 1973; 185,011 tons per year
Estimated or Projected for Year 1974: 223.039 tpy
Monthly Average for 1974: 18,500 tons per month
5. Destination of Coal: (A) Estimated tons per year ( 114,000 ) to
Ortonville, MN Otter Tail Power Co.
City, State Use
(B) Estimated tons per year ( 29,000 ) to
Mobridge, SD Montana-Dakota Utilities
City, State Use
(C) Estimated tons per year ( 37,500 ) to
Gascoyne, HP American Colloid Co.
City. StateUse
6. Description of Long-Haul Transportation (reference 5 above):
(A) Rail Road Cars (e.g., unit train), Ownership: Milwaukee
Railroad , # Cars Varies per train
(B) Rail Road Cars (e.g., unit train), Ownership: Milwaukee
Railroad , # Cars Varies per train
Approximate rate of car loading 30 min. per car (100 ton)
Storage capacity for loading None tons
7. Strati graphic Data:
(A) Average Overburden Thickness 20 feet; range 10 to 30 feet
(B) Name of Coal Seams Mined and Average Thickness in feet: (youngest to oldest)
Not Named 8,12,8
(C) Average Thickness of Partings Between Seams (feet): (youngest to oldest)
Deeper Seams
6 . 6 , thickness and approximate separation from
mined seams.
(D) Depth of Active Pit: (feet) Average 20 , Maximum: 30
Minimum: 10
(E) Bulking Factor for Spoils: 20 % (measured; estimated)
-------
89
8. Major Operating Equipment:
Draglines: 7620
32
(cuyd), 235 (ft). 2500 hp Under cor-
Shovels:
Trucks:
Scrapers:
Dozers:
Dri 11s:
Front End:
Loaders
Water
Trucks:
model
955
model
BE 195-B
model
51-B
model
*
number
2
number
1
number
None ,
number
None ,
number
: 1
number
1
number
capacity boom length power rqmts sti
, 3 (cuyd), 95 (ft), Diesel (kw)
capacity boom length power rqmts
(cuyd), 59 (ft), 600/1500 (kw)
capacity max.
, 3 (cuyd),
capacity max.
DM-831SX
model /power
637
model /power
MRS
model /power
mode I/ power
model /power
Hough
model /power
B-835X
model /power
radius power
(ft), Diesel
rqmts
(kw)
radius pwr rqmts
20 (tons)
capacity
»
capacity
15
capacity
>
capacity
,
capacity
»
capacity
9
capacity
{cuyd)
(cuyd)
(cuyd)
(cuyd)
(cuyd)
(cuyd)
Employment:
(A) Number of full-time employees at the site: Average for 1973: 22
26 in July, 1974
(B) Number of other full-time employees employed off-site, but who are
working essentially full-time for this mine: (Average for 1973)
In local area:
None
_, In Headquarters:
None
(C) Contract Labor: Average for 1973:
Type of Work:
% of year worked
(D) Places of Residence of Full-Time Employees (and approximate number
residing there):
Reeder
11
Town
Scranton
Number
10
Town
Bowman
Number
1
Town
Not in named town:
Number
10. Coal Ownership: As of July 1974, currently covered by Mining and Reclamation
Plan and by Permit:
Federal: 12.6
%, State: None %. Private:
87.4
11. Coal Lease and "Permit" Numbers: (as of July 1974)
Federal Lease:
019127
, State Permit:
(1f any)
-------
90
12. Disposition of Surface in July 1974:
(A) Active Pit and "Active" Spoils: 35 acres
(including areas leveled for
dragline or shovel)
(B) Spoils Regraded or Being Regraded: 140 acres
(C) Revegetated (Seeded and for Growing): 42 acres
(D) "Orphan Spoils" and Open Water: None acres
(E) Support Facilities, Transportation Routes: 65 acres
(F) "Inactive" : 39 acres
13. Average Analyses of Coal:
Name of Coal Seam 2nd , Moisture 41 %, Ash (wet) 7.6 %
Sodium (wet)!^. Sulfur (wet) .75 __%, Btu (wet) 6034 per Ib.
Name of Coal Seam Average , Moisture 40 %. Ash (wet) 8 %
Sulfur (wet) 1-1.5 %, Btu (wet) 6100 per Ib.
14. Other Items of Interest such as previous (historical) methods of mining
including underground, water-bearing strata encountered, amount of water
removed from workings, water quality data.
During 1974, this mine was expanding - the actual mining operation had no
contract labor. All contract labor was for expansion purposes.
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92
Section 5-13
Lehigh (Husky) Mine - Plate 23
This mine is represented by true color aerial photography
collected on 23 July 1974. The mine is a relatively small one
supplying a briquette and chemical plant. Reclamation has been
and is taking place along south and east portions of the mine and
grading is suggested at the northwest corner of the mosaic. The
limit of seeding along the north appears to follow a fence line.
Note the subsidence features along the west side of the mine
pit and plant caused by collapse of older underground drifts and haulage
ways mined into the same coals now being mined from the surface.
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93
DESCRIPTION OF MINE
1 . Mine: Lehigh (Husky) Mine
2. Location: State: North Dakota County: Stark Township: 139N
(al1 acreage on which present
corporate owners have conducted
or are conducting operations) Range: 95W Sec: 7.8. 17
3. Mine Operators: Husky Industries
4. Production Rates: For Year 1974: 160,657 tons per year
Estimated or Projected for Year 1974: 160.000 tpy
Monthly Average for 1974: 13.300 tons per month
5. Destination of Coal: (A) Estimated tons per year ( 160.000 ) to
North Dakota Husky Industries Inc.
City, StateUse
6. Description of Long-Haul Transportation (reference 5 above): Not applicable.
For own use.
(A) (e.g., unit train), Ownership:
, # Cars per train
Approximate rate of car loading min. per car (100 ton)
Storage Capacity for Loading tons
7. Stratigraphic Data:
(A) Average Overburden Thickness 67 feet; range 50 to 75 feet
(B) Name of Coal Seams Mined and Average Thickness in feet: (youngest to oldest
9 feet
(C) Average Thickness of Partings Between Seams (feet): (youngest to oldest)
Deeper Seams
, , thickness and approximate separation from
mined seams.
(D) Depth of Active Pit: (feet) Average 67 , Maximum: 75
Minimum: 50
(E) Bulking Factor for Spoils: % (measured; estimated)
8. Major Operating Equipment:
Draglines:
Shovels:
Bucyrus
model
Bucyrus
model
P&H
6 (cuyd),
capacity
. 3 1/2 (cuyd),
capacity
2 (cuyd),
100 (ft),
boom length
(ft),
mx. radius
(ft).
(kw)
power rqmts
(kw)
power rqmts
(kw)
modelcapacity max. radius power rqmts
Trucks: 2 91FDB Euclid , 13 (tons)
number model/powercapacity
1 . LRUSW Mack , 26 (tons)
number model/powercapacity
-------
94
Scrapers: None , , , (cuyd)
number
Dozers: None .
number
Drills: None .
number
Front End: None ,
Loaders number
Water i .
Trucks: number model/powercapacity
9. Employment:
(A) Number of full-time employees at the site: Average for 1973: 8_
__8 in 1974
(B) Number of other full-time employees employed off-site, but who are
working essentially full-time for this mine: (Average for 1973)
In local area: , In Headquarters:
mo del /power
model /power
model /power
model /power
International
capacity
capacity
capacity
capacity
(cuyd)
(cuyd)
(cuyd)
(cuyd)
(C) Contract Labor: Average for 1973: 5 , % of year worked 75 %
Type of Work:
(D) Places of Residence of Full-Time Employees (and approximate number
residing there):
Dickinson §_
Town Number
10. Coal Ownership: As of July 1974, currently covered by Mining and Reclamation
Plan and by Permit:
Federal: X, State: %, Private: 100 %
11. Coal Lease and "Permit" Numbers: (as of July 1974)
Federal Lease: , State Permit: #20
(if any) (Expires 1/1/76) (14 acres)
12. Disposition of Surface in July 1974:
(A) Active Pit and "Active" Spoils: 16 acres
(including areas leveled for
dragline or shovel)
(B) Spoils Regraded or Being Regraded: 11 acres
(C) Revegetated (Seeded and for Growing): 18 acres
(D) "Orphan Spoils" and Open Water: acres
(E) Support Facilities, Transportation Routes: 5 acres
(F) "Inactive": 37 acres
13. Average Analyses of Coal:
Name of Coal Seam , Moisture _32_J>, Ash (wet) 7 %
Sulfur (wet) i %, Btu (wet) 6400 per Ib.
14. Other Items of Interest such as previous (historical) methods of mining
Including underground, water-bearing strata encountered, amount of water
removed from workings, water quality data.
Underground mining PRE 1948.
No water-bearing strata encountered.
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96
Section 5-14
Center Mine - Plate 24
This mine is portrayed in a true color photography flown on 27
July 1974 and mosaicked. The mine provides coal to the Milton R.
Young plant of Minnkota Power. The large lake is Nelson Lake, which
provides cooling water for the plant.
A portion of the mine extends off to the left (west) of the
mosaic. Older, ungraded spoils are evident along the south part of
the mine while grading and seeding efforts are visible along the
southeast (nearer the plant) and northern mined areas.
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97
DESCRIPTION OF MINE
Mine:
Center
Location: State: North Dakota
(all acreage on which present
corporate owners have conducted
or are conducting operations)
County: Oliver
Township: 142N
Range: 84W Sec: 23.24.25.35.36
County: Oliver Township: 14 2N
Range: 83W Sec:
Mine Operators:
83W
County: Oliver
Range:
Baukol Noonan Inc.
31.30
84W
Township: 141N
Sec: l
Production Rates: For Year 1974:
1.563.446
Estimated or Projected for Year 1974:
Monthly Average for 1974: 130,287
tons per year
1.500.000 tpy
tons per month
5. Destination of Coal: (A) Estimated tons per year ( 1.563.446 ) to
Center, HP
City, State
EGS (Mine-Mouth oper)
Use
(Minnkota Power Co.)
6. Description of Long-Haul Transportation (reference 5 above):
(A) (Short Haul) RR (e.g., unit train), Ownership:
, # Cars per train
(B) 120 ton coal haulers (e.g., truck), Ownership: Baukol Noonan
, I Cars per train
mln. per car (100 ton)
Approximate rate of car loading
Storage capacity for loading
Stratigraphic Data:
(A) Average Overburden Thickness
tons
_feet; range 30
to 75
feet
(clay shale w/boulders)
(B) Name of Coal Seams Mined and Average Thickness 1n feet: (youngest to oldest)
(Top seam has been encountered, a minimal amount of our production is from
top seam.)
Hagel 11
(C) Average Thickness of Partings Between Seams (feet): (youngest to oldest)
variable Deeper Seams
, , thickness and approximate separation from
mined seams.
(D) Depth of Active Pit: (feet) Average , Maximum:
Minimum:
(E) Bulking Factor for Spoils: 25 % (measured; estimated)
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98
8. Major Operating Equipment:
Draglines: Page
21 (cuyd), 190 (ft). (kw)
Shovels:
Trucks:
Scrapers:
Dozers:
Drills:
Front End:
Loaders
Mater
Trucks:
model
P&IJL1500
mode"
4
number
1
number
2
number
number
1
number
1 .
number
capacity boom length power rqmts
, 10 (cuyd), (ft). (kw)
capacity max.. rauiui (jwr r 4111 us
KW Dart . 120 (tons)
model /power
Cat 637
model /power
Graders
model /power
model /power
Michigan 475
model /power
Caterpillar
model /power
capacity
30 (cuyd)
capacity
(cuyd)
capacity
(cuyd)
capacity
14 (cuyd)
capacity
(cuyd)
capacity
30
Employment:
(A) Number of full-time employees at the site: Average for 1973:
30 1n July, 1974
(B) Number of other full-time employees employed off-site, but who are
working essentially full-time for this mine: (Average for 1973)
In local area:
, In Headquarters:
(C) Contract Labor: Average for 1973: None
Type of Work:
% of year worked %
(D) Places of Residence of Full-T1me Employees (and approximate number
residing there):
Center. HP
33
Town
Hazen, ND
Number
Town
Number
10. Coal Ownership: As of July 1974, currently covered by Mining and Reclamation
Plan and by Permit:
Federal:
, State:
15
X, Private:
85
11. Coal Lease and "Permit" Numbers: (as of July 1974)
Federal Lease:
24
, State Permit: ^^
(If any) Expires 1/1/77
(375 acres)
12. Disposition of Surface In July 1974:
(A) Active Pit and "Active" Spoils: g»100
(Including areas leveled for
dragline or shovel)
acres
(B) Spoils Regraded or Being Regraded: » 220 acres
205 acres
(C) Revegetated (Seeded and for Growing):
(D) "Orphan Spoils" and Open Water: None
acres
(E) Support Facilities, Transportation Routes: 25
(F) "Inactive"; 507 acres
acres
-------
99
13. Average Analyses of Coal:
Name of Coal Seam Hagel , Moisture36-40 %, Ash (wet) 8-11 %
Sodium 1 Si. Sulfur (wet) 0.7 I, Btu (wet) 6200-6800per Ib.
14. Other Items of Interest such as previous (historical) methods of mining
including underground, water-bearing strata encountered, amount of water
removed from workings, water quality data.
Blasting - coal only 8-10' spacing.
Haul roads on 1500 to 1200 centers.
Pit width - 120'.
Ash is returned to pits and covered with>25' of overburden.
New MW unit under construction.
One area planted with grain rye; another treated with leonardlte.
-------
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101
Section 5-15
Glenharold Mine - Plates 25 and 26
The Glenharold Mine, a mine of moderate size supplying a nearby
power plant, is represented by low-level true color imagery collected
on 27 July 1974. Color oblique photography collected at the same time
is presented in Plate 25. The Missouri River is visible at the upper
right corner of the mosaic as are two power plants. The unit on
the right is supplied from this mine; the unit on the left is the
United Power Association Stanton Plant and is supplied with coal from
the Indian Head mine near Beulah, North Dakota, using unit trains
(see Plate 27 in the Indian Head Mine).
The mine provides examples of many stages of reclamation. At the
bottom right (southeast) little grading and only sparse vegetation is
evident. Progressing northwestward across the mine, grading activities
are more extensive. The area is dissected by natural drainages which
have subsequently been interrupted by the rows of spoils. Test area
revegetation efforts are represented by the darker green areas near the
southwest corner of the mined area.
A more advanced (by virtue of relatively concurrent grading) mining
sequence is shown in the northern part of the mine where the coal bed
is shown exposed. Soil spreading on the light gray spoils is represented
by the striated browner hues. Some vegetative growth is also evident
in an area in the lower middle of the northern mined area.
This mine, as are the remainder of the North Dakota coal mines
addressed here, lies in the glaciated region of North Dakota.
-------
102
DESCRIPTION OF MINE
1 . Mine: Glenharold
2. Location: State: North Dakota County: Oliver Township: 143N
(all acreage on which present
corporate owners have conducted
or are conducting operations) Range: 84w sec: 5. 6
County: Mercer Township: 144N
Range: 84N $ec: 3-5,8-10 13-15,18-20,
"23,24,28-32
3. Mine Operators: Consolidation Coal Company
4. Production Rates: For Year 1974: 1,292,921 tons per year
Estimated or Projected for Year 1974: 1,300,000 tpy
Monthly Average for 1974: tons per month
5. Destination of Coal: (A) Estimated tons per year ( ) to
Stanton, North Dakota Steam Electric
City, StateUse
(Basin Elec Corp)
6. Description of Long-Haul Transportation (reference 5 above):
(A) Truck (e.g., unit train), Ownership:
, # Cars per train
(B) Conveyor (e.g., unit train), Ownership:
, # Cars per train
(C) Rail (e.g., unit train), Ownership: Burlington
Northern , # Cars per train
Approximate rate of car loading nrin. per car (100 ton)
Storage Capacity for loading tons
7. Stratigraphic Data:
(A) Average Overburden Thickness SO feet; range to 80 feet
(B) Name of Coal Seams Mined and Average Thickness in feet: (youngest to oldest)
(Clay with mud-slltstone boulders)
Lignite #3 2
Lignite #2 4
Lignite #3 8
(C) Average Thickness of Partings Between Seams (feet): (youngest to oldest)
Deeper Seams
30-35, 7-25 . thickness and approximate separation from
mined seams.
(D) Depth of Active Pit: (feet) Average 80 . Maximum:
Minimum:
(E) Bulking Factor for Spoils: % (measured; estimated)
-------
Major Operating Equipment:
Draglines: B-E 1250B
103
32
(cuyd}, 200 (ft). 1450 hp (kw)
model capacity
(scheduled) , 45 (cuyd)
Shovels:
Trucks:
Scrapers:
Dozers:
Drills:
Front End:
Loaders
Water
Trucks:
model capacity
Marion 181-M , 17 (cuyd)
model
B-E 85B
model
4
number
10
number
1
number
i
number
1
number
2
number
2
number
1
number
i ,
number
>
number
capacity
, 5.5 (cuyd)
capacity
Euclid 24TDT
model /power
Cat DW 20
model /power
Unit Rig
model /power
model /power
HD-41 Tractor
model /power
D-9 Tractor
model /power
D-8 Tractor
model /power
Paris MfR. Company
model /power
Cat 988
model /power
model /power
boom length power rqmts
(ft), (kw)
boom length power rqmts
(ft), (kw)
max. radius power
(ft),
max. radius power
60
capacity
45
capacity
196
capacity
capacity
524 hp
capacity
,
capacity
,
capacity
2 1/4" , Coal Drill
capacity
6.5
capacity
i
capacity
rqmts
(kw)
rqmts
(tons)
(tons)
(tons)
(cuyd)
(cuyd)
(cuyd)
(cuyd)
(cuyd)
(cuyd)
(cuyd)
78
Employment:
(A) Number of full-time employees at the site: Average for 1973:
73 1n July, 1974 l shift
(B) Number of other full-time employees employed off-site, but who are
working essentially full-time for this mine: (Average for 1973)
In local area:
_, In Headquarters:
(C) Contract Labor: Average for 1973:
Type of Work:
% of year worked %
(D) Places of Residence of Full-Time Employees (and approximate number
residing there):
Town
Number
10. Coal Ownership: As of July 1974, currently covered by Mining and Reclamation
Plan and by Permit:
Federal:
%, State:
%, Private:
-------
104
11. Coal Lease and "Permit" Numbers: (as of July 1974)
Federal Lease: , State Permit: y/3VL/l/76. #19"l/l/76
(1f any) #26-10/1/77. #28-11/19/77
#29-6/1/78
12. Disposition of Surface in July 1974:
(A) Active Pit and "Active" Spoils: 1975 acres
(including areas leveled for
dragline or shovel)
(B) Spoils Regraded or Being Regraded: acres
(C) Revegetated (Seeded and for Growing): acres
(D) "Orphan Spoils" and Open Water: acres
(E) Support Facilities, Transportation Routes: acres
13. Average Analyses of Coal:
Name of Coal Seam Average , Moisture 38 %. Ash (wet) 6.8 %
Sulfur (wet) o.65 %. Btu (wet) 6950 per Ib.
14. Other Items of Interest such as previous (historical) methods of mining
including underground, water-bearing strata encountered, amount of water
removed from workings, water quality data.
Blasting Coal only, AN-FO and dynamite, 10' spacing.
Pit width, 120' + 50' access on bench.
Two 220MW units under construction.
Located on South-sloping Missouri River flood plain.
Bucket-wheel excavator used initially.
Trees planted during 1973.
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107
Section 5-16
Beulah (North and South) Mine - Plates 27 a & b
The southern portion of this mine is also represented by true
color photography collected on 23 July 1974 at low altitude. Plate
27a, a mosaic, presents this imagery and shows a relatively regular
mining pattern which is generally followed rather closely by grading
and it would appear, "top-soiling". There are some signs of emerging
vegetation on the graded and "top-soiled" areas along the south strip of
the mine. A few areas along the edges of the mined strips are not graded.
The northern portion of this mine is represented on true color
collected on 23 July 1974 at low altitude and mosaicked. Plate 27b
presents not only the visible remnants of surface mining, at the left
top (north) and right (east), but also, the perhaps more impressive
remnants of underground mining of the shallow coals. Note throughout
the area west of the Beulah North Mine, the regular pattern of depressions
caused by subsdience into the drifts extending perpendicular from the main
underground haulage ways. In the case of the subsidence shown in the
north-central part of the mosaic, even the main haulage ways appear to
have collapsed.
Extensive grading has been accomplished along the southern border
of the northern mined area. Vegetative growth is also apparent there.
Vegetative growth is similarly apparent on the north and east, (and
northwest) facing spoil slopes. Trees and shrubs occur principally
at the bottom of the spoil rows. Grading is also apparent in the
northern section of this north mine but vegetative growth is not.
-------
108
DESCRIPTION OF MINE
1 . Mine: Beulah Mine North and South
2. Location: State: North Dakota County: Mercer Township: 143.144M
(all acreage on which present
corporate owners have conducted
or are conducting operations) Range: 87, 88W Sec: i. 2. 11. 12. 13.
14. 5. 8. 9. 16. 17
County: Oliver Township: 143
Range: 87 Sec: 6.7
3. Mine Operators: Knife River Coal Mining Company
4. Production Rates: For Year 1974: 1,726,349 tons per year
Estimated or Projected for Year 1974: 1.500.OOP . tpy
Monthly Average for 1974: 143.000 tons per month
5. Destination of Coal: (A) Estimated tons per year ( 750,000 ) to
Fergus Falls, MN Otter Tall Pwr Company
City, StateUse
(B) Estimated tons per year ( 500.000 ) to
Mandan, ND Montana-Dakota Utilities Co.
City, StateDie
(C)Estimated tons per year ( 250.000 ) to
Numerous small power plants
City, State Use
6. Description of Long-Haul Transportation (reference 5 above):
(A) Unit Train (e.g.. unit train), Ownership: Burlington
Northern , # Cars 60 per train
(B) Rait Road Cars (e.g.. unit train), Ownership: Burlington
Northern , # Cars 15 per train
(C) Rail Road Cars (e.g.. unit train), Ownership: Burlington
Northern , # Cars Varies per train
Approximate rate of car loading 6 min. per car (100 ton)
Storage capacity for loading none tons
7. Stratlgraphic Data:
(A) Average Overburden Thickness *° feet; range 10 to 90 feet
(B) Name of Coal Seams Mined and Average Thickness in feet: (youngest to oldest)
Beulah-Zap bed 6'. 12', 4'
(C) Average Thickness of Partings Between Seams (feet): (youngest to oldest)
Deeper Seams
5 . , thickness and approximate separation from
mined seams.
-------
109
90
(D) Depth of Active Pit: (feet) Average 40 , Maximum:
Minimum: 10
(E) Bulking Factor for Spoils: 20 % (measured; estimated)
Major Operating Equipment:
Draglines: BE 480-w 16 (cuyd). 175 (ft). 1000 (kw)
Shovels:
Trucks:
Scrapers:
Dozers:
Drills:
Front End
Loaders
Water
Trucks:
model
BE 500-W
model
BE 110-B
model
P&H 1400
model
BE 71-B
model
9 ,
number
2 ,
number
1 ,
number
2 ,
number
»
number
: 2 ,
number
i
number
capacity
12 (cuyd) ,
capacity
8 (cuyd),
capacity
, 6 (cuyd) ,
capacity
3 (cuyd),
capacity
Euclid 35 Ldt
model/power
637 Cat
model/power
M-R-S I-80S
model /power
Dozers D-9
model /power
model /power
Hough
model /power
model /power
boom length power rqmts
195 (ft), 900 (kw)
boom length power rqmts
41 (ft). 250 elec (kw)
max. radius power rqmts
(ft), 75 elec (kw)
max. radius power rqmts
(ft). 250 (kw)
max. radius power rqmts
, 65 (tons)
capacity
30 (cuyd)
capacity
10 (cuyd)
capacity
, (cuyd)
capacity
, (cuyd)
capacity
(cuyd)
capacity
, (cuyd)
capacity
9. Employment:
(A) Number of full-time employees at the site: Average for 1973:
72 in july, 1974 Total two shifts
(B) Number of other full-time employees employed off-site, but who are
working essentially full-time for this mine: (Average for 1973)
59
In local area: None
None
, In Headquarters:
(C) Contract Labor: Average for 1973: Hone . * of year worked
Type of Work:
(D) Places of Residence of Full-Time Employees (and approximate number
residing there):
Beulah
62
Town
Out- of- Town
Number
10
Town
Number
10. Coal Ownership: As of July 1974, currently covered by Mining and Reclamation
Plan and by Permit:
North
Federal: _Jf %, State: -o- X. Private: 88 %
South
Federal:
8.2
_%, State: ".3
pr1vate: 78.5
-------
no
11. Coal Lease and "Permit" Numbers: (as of July 1974)
North: Federal Lease: USCS021807 , State Permit: KR-57B
(if any)
South: Federal Lease: USCS041765 , State Permit:
(if any)
12. Disposition of Surface in July 1974:
(A) Active Pit and "Active" Spoils: 168 acres
(including areas leveled for
dragline or shovel)
(B) Spoils Regraded or Being Regraded: 406 acres
(C) Revegetated (Seeded and for Growing): 355 acres
(D) "Orphan Spoils" and Open Water: 500* acres See #14 below
(E) Support Facilities, Transportation Routes: 165 acres
(F) "Inactive" 352 acres
13. Average Analyses of Coal:
Name of Coal Seam 2nd , Moisture 35.17%. Ash (wet) 7.21 %
Sodium (wet)3J_56%Sulfur (wet) .78 %, Btu (wet) 7000 per Ib.
Name of Coal Seam Average , Moisture 36 %, Ash (wet) _§ %
Sulfur (wet) 1-1.5 %, Btu (wet) 6900 per Ib.
14. Other Items of Interest such as previous (historical) methods of mining
including underground, water-bearing strata encountered, amount of water
removed from workings, water quality data.
*Knife River and the North Dakota Game and Fish Department have a lease
agreement covering this area. We are developing the area for wildlife
habitat and fishing. Two ponds are under development presently, one
of which is stocked with trout.
The unleveled spoil bank areas are serving as habitat for pheasant, deer,
rabbits, etc.
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113
Section 5-17
Indian Head Mine - Plate 28
This mine is represented by a mosaic of true color, low altitude,
photography flown on 23 July 1974. As do most of the established
mines in North Dakota, the Indian Head Mine shows extensive grading
and seeding, "bevelled" spoil piles and "no-grading" topography,
somewhat a function of the accepted mining practices of the past and
present.
Grading and seeding is most extensive in the areas surrounding
the two major elongated impoundments in the southern portion of the
mine and in the more recently-mined area to the north. Emergence of
vegetation is shown by the green tinges in the southern areas. The
brownish area straddling the road bordering the north edge of the
southern mined area has also received varied reclamation treatments
with some success.
This mine is now also the site of extensive experiments relating
to hydrology and reclamation activities.
-------
114
DESCRIPTION OF MINE
1 . Mine: Indian Head
2. Location: State: North Dakota County: Mercer Township: 14AN
(all acreage on which present
corporate owners have conducted
or are conducting operations) Range: 88W Sec: 28-33. 19
County: Mercer Township: 14 3N
Range: 88W Sec: 6
County: Mercer Township: 144N
Range: 89W Sec: 24-26. 36
County: Mercer Township: 143N
Range: 89W Sec: l
3. Mine Operators: North Amercian Coal Corporation
4. Production Rates: For Year 1974: 1.090,144 tons per year
Estimated or Projected for Year 1974: 1.270.259 tpy
Monthly Average for 1974: 105,854 tons per month
5. Destination of Coal: (A) Estimated tons per year ( 1.040.000 ) to
Stan ton. ND Steam Electric
City, StateUse
(United Power Assoc)
6. Description of Long-Haul Transportation (reference 5 above):
(A) Unit Train (e.g., unit train), Ownership: Burlington
Northern , # Cars 40 per train 30-mile, 1 per day
Approximate rate of car loading 10 min. per car (100 ton)
Storage Capacity for loading 250 tons.
7. Stratigraphic Data:
(A) Average Overburden Thickness 45 feet; range 20 to 65 feet
(B) Name of Coal Seams Mined and Average Thickness in feet: (youngest to oldest)
(Clay,- Sftaddtone)
Beulah-Zap 10
(C) Average Thickness of Partings Between Seams (feet): (youngest to oldest)
Deeper Seams Spaer Bed 4*20'
, , thickness and approximate separation from
mined seams, (below mined bed,** 3' thick)
(D) Depth of Active Pit: (feet) Average 45 , Maximum: 65
Minimum: 20
(E) Bulking Factor for Spoils: 20 % (estimated)
-------
Major Operating Equipment:
Draglines: B-E soow
115
28
(cuyd), 200 (ft). 965/1240 (hp)
Shovels:
Trucks:
Scrapers:
Dozers:
Drills:
Front End:
Loaders
Water
Trucks:
model
B-E 150B
model
2
number
4
number
2
number
1 ,
number
2
number
2
number
1
number
1
number
l
number
t
number
capacity boom
10 (cuyd), 43
capacity max.
KW Dart D4651
model /power
Mack-Dart
mode I/ power
Cat #637
model /power
Cat #12 Grader
model /power
Cat 824B Dozer
model /power
Let-West 777 Grader
model /power
Cat D9G Dozer
model /power
Twin-Arm Pannanco Coal Drill
model /power
model/power
model /power
length power rqmts
(ft), 350/875 (hp)
radius power
120
capacity
60
capacity
24
capacity
*
capacity
»
capacity
capacity
>
capacity
»
capacity
6
capacity
»
capacity
rqmts
(tons)
(tons)
(cuyd)
(cuyd)
(cuyd)
(cuyd)
(cuyd)
(cuyd)
(cuyd)
(cuyd)
9. Employment:
(A) Number of full-time employees at the site: Average for 1973: 43
2 shifts, 5 days dragline
50 in July, 1974 1 shift, load
(B) Number of other full-time employees employed off-site, but who are
working essentially full-time for this mine: (Average for 1973)
In local area:
43
, In Headquarters:
(C) Contract Labor: Average for 1973:
Type of Work:
% of year worked
(D)
Places of Residence of Full-Time Employees (and approximate number
residing there):
Hazen. North Dakota
Town
Number
Benlah, North Dakota
23
Town
Number
Zap. North Dakota
23
Town
Not in named town:
Number
10. Coal Ownership: As of July 1974, currently covered by Mining and Reclamation
Plan and by Permit:
Federal:
48
X, State: 32
Private:
20
-------
116
11. Coal Lease and "Permit" Numbers: (as of July 1974)
Federal Lease: #020273 (Bismarck) state Permit. No. 25 (p.s.c. »)
(if any)
12. Disposition of Surface in July 1974:
(A) Active Pit and "Active" Spoils: 250 acres
(including areas leveled for (including inventory areas)
dragline or shovel)
(B) Spoils Regraded or Being Regraded: 675 acres
(C) Revegetated (Seeded and for Growing): 575 acres
(D) "Orphan Spoils" and Open Water: 600 acres
(E) Support Facilities, Transportation Routes: 50 acres
13. Average Analyses of Coal:
Name of Coal Seam Beulah-Zap , Moisture 30-35%. Ash (wet) 6-7
Sulfur (wet) 2-7 %, Btu (wet) 6800-7200per Ib.
14. Other Items of Interest such as previous (historical) methods of mining
including underground, water-bearing strata encountered, amount of water
removed from workings, water quality data.
Reserves estimated 200,000,000 tons.
Blasting Coal AN-FO and 60% dynamite, 10' spacing.
Pit Width: 100' to 120'
Minor water Inflow to pit requiring periodic pumping.
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118
Section 5-18
Underwood Mine - Plate 29
This mine, in the past a relatively small operation and closed
in 1973, is represented in true color, low altitude photography
collected on 27 July 1974. Extensive reclamation is not apparent,
but vegetative growth has migrated into the disturbed lands, especially
where the spoil piles are somewhat leveled. The area shows signs of
a relatively shallow ground water table and water is standing in
the open pit areas.
A new mine is now planned for this Underwood area and is to be
called Falkirk. This new activity is not represented in aerial photo-
graphy in this report, but extends east from the existing mine.
No data are available for the previous operation.
-------
PLATE 29
UNDERWOOD MINE
Underwood Coal Company
McClain County, North Dakota
27Jul74 1230-1232 hrs
0.5
MILES
-
-------
120
Section 5-19
Velva Mine - Plate 30
This mine has been a relatively extensive one as is shown by the
low altitude photography presented as a mosaic in Plate 30. The imagery
was collected on 22 July 1974. The northeastern area of the mined land
shows vegetative growth on the north and east sides of spoil ridges.
The southern portion of the mined area shows the effect of leveling the
top of larger spoil ridges. There, vegetation occurs in a relatively
even pattern over much of the area. Along the extreme western area of
the disturbed lands, the vegetation shown in the imagery appears to
simulate the vegetation and biological ecosystem south of the mined
area.
Mining is progressing southwestward in the center of the mine. A
number of impoundments are visible. Again, this is in a region of
glaciation.
-------
121
DESCRIPTION OF MINE
1. Mine: yeiva
2. Location: State: North Dakota County: Ward (MeHenrv) Township: 152N
(all acreage on which present
corporate owners have conducted
or are conducting operations) Range: siw Sec: 35r36r 28. 34
County: Ward (McHenrv) Township: 151N
Range: siw Sec: i, 2
3. Mine Operators: Consolidation Coal Company
4. Production Rates: For Year 1974: 428.163 tons per year
Estimated or Projected for Year 1974: 548.000 tpy
Monthly Average for 1974: tons per month
5. Destination of Coal: (A) Estimated tons per year ( 70.000 ) to
East Grand Forks. Minnesota Sugar Beet Plant
City, StateUse
(B) Estimated tons per year ( 24.000 ) to
Voltaire, North Dakota Private Homes
City, StateUse
(C) Estimated tons per year ( 330,000 ) to
Voltaire, North Dakota Steam Electric
City, StateOTi
6. Description of Long-Haul Transportation (reference 5 above): Seven Mile Rail Spur
(A) Rail Road Cars (e.g., unit train), Ownership: Soo Line
, # Cars 20 per train
(B) Rail Road Cats (e.g., unit train), Ownership: Consolidation
Coal Company , # Cars per train
(C) Rail Road Cars (e.g., unit train), Ownership: Basin Electric
Power Company , # Cars 16 per train
Approximate rate of car loading 10 m1n. per car (100 ton)
Storage Capacity for Loading 2.000 tons
7. Stratigraphic Data:
(A) Average Overburden Thickness 68 feet; range 60 to 80 feet
(B) Name of Coal Seams Mined and Average Thickness In feet: (youngest to oldest)
Coteau 12
(C) Average Thickness of Partings Between Seams (feet): (youngest to oldest)
Deeper Seams
, , thickness and approximate separation from
mined seams.
(D) Depth of Active Pit: (feet) Average , Maximum:
Minimum:
(E) Bulking Factor for Spoils: 20 % (measured; estimated)
-------
122
8. Major Operating Equipment:
Draglines: 7400-M
12 (cuyd), 178 (ft).
(kw)
Shovels:
Trucks:
Scrapers :
Dozers:
Drills:
model
P§H 1400
model
5 ,
number
number
2
number
number
Front End: 1 ,
Loaders
Water
Trucks:
Employment:
(A) Number
number
number
1 .
number
of full-time
capacity boom
, 6 (cuyd),
capacity boom
DN-20
model /power
mode I/ power
D-8 Cat
model /power
model /power
988
model /power
model /power
Euclid
model /power
employees at the site: Average
length power
(ft),
length power
40
capacity
capacity
capacity
capacity
6
capacity
capacity
2500
capacity
for 1973: 33
rqmts
(kw)
rgmts
(tons)
(cuyd)
(cuyd)
(cuyd)
(cuyd)
(gal)
9.
(A) Number
3_3 in July, 1974 one shift
(B) Number of other full-time employees employed off-site, but who are
working essentially full-time for this mine: (Average for 1973)
In local area:
None
, In Headquarters: None
(C) Contract Labor: Average for 1973: None
Type of Work:
% of year worked
(D) Places of Residence of Full -Time Employees (and approximate number
residing there):
Velva
Town
Sawyer
X
Numb'
er
4
Town
Minot
Number
3
Town
Not in named town
Number
8
Number
10. Coal Ownership: As of July 1974, currently covered by Mining and Reclamation
Plan and by Permit:
Federal:
%, State:
%, Private: IQQ
11. Coal Lease and "Permit" Numbers: (as of July 1974)
Federal Lease: , State Permit: »19 f 80
, State Permit:
(1f any)
State Permit:
(Expires l/T/76)
*27 f!24 acres)
(Expires 10/16/77)
-------
123
12. Disposition of Surface 1n July 1974:
(A) Active Pit and "Active" Spoils: 319 acres
(including areas leveled for
dragline or shovel)
(B) Spoils Regraded or Being Regraded: acres
(C) Revegetated (Seeded and for Growing): 10 acres
(D) "Orphan Spoils" and Open Water: acres
(E) Support Facilities, Transportation Routes: acres
13. Average Analyses of Coal:
Name of Coal Seam , Moisture %, Ash (wet) %
Sulfur (wet) %t Btu (wet) per Ib.
14. Other Items of Interest such as previous (historical) methods of mining
including underground, water-bearing strata encountered, amount of water
removed from workings, water quality data.
Highwall instability has resulted in slides.
No blasting.
Pit width 100 - 110'.
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125
Section 5-20
Noonan Mine - Plate 31
This mine, which has extended over a very large area, is repre-
sented on Plate 31. This true color photography was collected at low
altitude on 22 July 1974. The area shows numerous areas of standing
water and the imagery suggests a shallow water table. This is a region
of thick glacial deposits.
Coal loading facilities are located at the north-central edge of
the mined area. Other dark gray areas bordering the mined areas show
where coal has been piled. New mining activities appear at the end
of the road extending southeast from the central coal loading facilities,
The total area represented in the mosaic extends a little over eighteen
kilometers or eleven miles.
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126
DESCRIPTION OF MINE
1. Mine: Noonan Mine (Larson)
2. Location: State: North Dakota County: Burke Township: 162N ,
(all acreage on which present
corporate owners have conducted
or are conducting operations) Range: 94W Sec: 3.A.5.8.9.10.11.14.15.16
3. Mine Operators: Baukol-Noonan, Inc.
4. Production Rates: For Year 1973: 482.299 tons per year
Estimated or Projected for Year 1974: 400.000 tpy
Monthly Average for 1974: 40.192 tons per month
5. Destination of Coal: (A) Estimated tons per year ( ) to
Larson. ND
City, StateUse
(B) Estimated tons per year ( 300.000 ) to
Drayton, ND, Moorhead & Crookston. UN Process Sugar
City, StateUse
(C) Estimated tons per year ( 20.000 ) to
Grand Forks. ND EGS
City, StateDse
6. Description of Long-Haul Transportation (reference 5 above):
(A) Rail Road Cars (e.g., unit train), Ownership: Burlington
Northern & Soo Line . # Cars 35 per train
Approximate rate of car loading 12 min. per car (100 ton)
Storage capacity for loading minimal tons
7. Stratigraphlc Data:
(A) Average Overburden Thickness 40 feet; range 25 to 60 feet
(B) Name of Coal Seams Mined and Average Thickness in feet: (youngest to oldest)
Noonan 6
(C) Average Thickness of Partings Between Seams (feet): (youngest to oldest)
Deeper Seams
, , thickness and approximate separation from
mined seams.
(D) Depth of Active Pit: (feet) Average , Maximum:
Minimum:
(E) Bulking Factor for Spoils: % (measured; estimated)
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127
8. Major Operating Equipment:
Draglines: B-E 9W
11 (cuyd), 150 (ft). (kw)
Shovels:
Trucks:
Scrapers:
Dozers:
Drills:
Front End
Loaders
Water
Trucks:
model
None
model
7
number
1 ,
number
2 ,
number
>
number
: 1
number
1 ,
number
capacity
(cuyd),
capacity
Euclid
model /power
Cat
mode I/ power
Graders
model /power
model /power
Caterpillar 988
model /power
mode I/ power
boom length power rqmts
(ft), (kw)
max. radius pwr rqmts
, 20 (tons)
capacity
21 (cuyd)
capacity
, (cuyd)
capacity
(cuyd)
capacity
8 (cuyd)
capacity
, (cuyd)
capacity
Employment:
(A) Number of full-time employees at the site: Average for 1973: 41
49 in July, 1974 3 shifts - 7 day dragline; 1 shift - 5 day loadli
(B) Number of other full-time employees employed off-site, but who are
working essentially full-time for this mine: (Average for 1973)
In local area: l , In Headquarters:
(C) Contract Labor: Average for 1973: None . % of year worked
Type of Work:
(D) Places of Residence of Full-Time Employees (and approximate number
residing there):
Hoonan, ND
15
Town
Columbus, ND
Number
10
Town
Flaxton, ND
Number
2
Town
Not in named town:
mrniber
14
10. Coal Ownership: As of July 1974, currently covered by Mining and Reclamation
Plan and by Permit:
Federal:
%, State:
Private:
100
11. Coal Lease and "Permit" Numbers: (as of July 1974)
Federal Lease: , State Permit: 24
, State Permit: ^^_
(1f any) Expires 1/1/77
(210 acrea)
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128
12. Disposition of Surface in July 1974:
(A) Active Pit and "Active" Spoils: «* 75 arres
(including areas leveled for
dragline or shovel)
(B) Spoils Regraded or Being Regraded: & 145 acres
(C) Revpgetated (Seeded and for Growing):
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131
Section 5-21
Highland Uranium Mill and Mine - Plates 32 and 33
This uranium mine, located north of Douglas and Glenrock, Wyoming
is represented here in low altitude true color photography collected
on 19 and 24 July 1974. The middle "strip" of the mosaic (includes
the miTTand the tailings pond) was flown first and shows natural
drainage channels in a darker brown hue since the remainder of the
imagery was collected after some additional seepage and evapotrans-
piration of the springtime precipitation had taken place.
Vertical aerial imagery makes it somewhat difficult to "see" the
open pit of this uranium mine located along the southern boundary of
the mosaic. Therefore, we have provided an aerial oblique view of
the mine area (Plate 33) and a ground-level view of the mine
for perspective. The aerial oblique was collected on 19 July 1974
while the ground-level view was photographed in early June 1974.
"Statistical information" is not provided for this operation.
Exploratory drilling is evident along the left (west) side of the
mosaic. A north-south fracture pattern is also shown by striations
in the area east of the mill. The area to the northeast of the mine
pit is an overburden dump and shows vegetative growth. Diversion
dams and ditches are located along the northern border of the tailings
pond area. Seepage is evident downstream of the tailings pond dam.
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CHAPTER 6
SATELLITE IMAGERY
During 1974, the EPA's National Field Investigations Center in
Denver studied LANDSAT (or ERTS for Earth Resource Technology
Satellite) imagery to determine its potential for showing the
location, configuration, size, and condition of various "classes"
of land at a surface coal mine site. These "classes" or conditions
of land were defined as follows:
1. Area in which mining was active;
2. Area in which spoils have been deposited, but not yet
regraded;
3. Area of spoils recontoured or graded;
4. Area of regraded spoils seeded, planted, or revegetated;
5. Areas on which vegetation is growing and the condition of
the vegetation.
The results of this study are discussed in more detail in a report
published by the EPA.* The following discussion represents a summary of
the essential findings of the study.
The study utilized computer classification to identify various
coal mine related land use activities in four spectral wave length
bands (green, red, near infrared, and far infrared). The computer-
assisted program was an adaptation of a routine developed by Purdue
University designed to classify agricultural lands. The program operates
by reading the optical intensity of a small area of the imagery, a
function of reflectance of sunlight, and determining, based upon
readings made in areas of known land uses, whether new areas correlate
with "training" areas. The program examines each increment of the
computer tape of the satellite imagery where an increment is determined
by the scanning capacity of the satellite equipment and equals a ground
area of 4,860 square meters for the imagery used. This increment is
characterized by a single optical intensity which is equal to the
average reflectance obtained by the sensor as it scanned that 4,860
square meter area on the ground. The single data point or value is
often termed a "pixel". The larger the size of the pixel, the less
definition or resolution contained in the imagery.
The classification program is "trained" by having it examine pixels
on all four wave length bands collected over an area of known land use
*EPA National Field Investigation Center, "An Application of ERTS Tech-
nology to the Evaluation of Coal Strip Mining and Reclamation in the
Northern Great Plains," Feb., 1975.
134
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135
or an area where the optical intensities of the pixels are equal on
any one wave length band (i.e., a "training area"). The program then
examines a different area and statistically determines the confidence
within which each new pixel matches previously-examined "training"
areas. Obviously, the program lends itself to improving classifications
as an analyst compares the statistical confidences with ground truth
data.
The ERTS imagery study attempted land classifications according
to the degree of disturbance (e.g., active mine, spoil piles, graded,
revegetated, undisturbed). It was found that the program could dis-
tinguish between land uses which had high contrast in terms of re-
flectance such as water and open pits delineated by abrupt topographic
breaks (highwalls and low walls) as compared to natural or regraded
terrain. However, the boundaries of vegetated areas were less accurately
defined. Areas from which vegetation had been leveled or soil had
been removed could not be easily distinguished from spoils or graded
lands.
It is concluded that satellite imagery requires detailed ground
truth data that can also be obtained to a large degree through the use
of lower altitude photography. Thus, it is felt that the satellite
imagery does not have the same potential for use as a planning and
regulatory tool for surface coal mining as does imagery obtained from
altitudes of 2,000 to 20,000 meters.
A representative analysis of the Dave Johnston Mine, located north
of Glenrock, Wyoming, using satellite imagery is provided in Figures 1
through 4. Figure 1 is a map provided by the operating companies
showing the revegetated areas as of 1973. Figure 2 shows the satellite
image of the mine site obtained on 18 August 1973. Figure 3 is the
classification map prepared after use of the 1973 map and low altitude
photography. Figure 4 compares the classifications with the mine.
Table 3 summarizes the land areas affected by the mining activities
at the Dave Johnston Mine in Wyoming as of 1973.
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136
TABLE 3
Aerial Distribution of Land Use
Dave Johnston Mine
Area
Land Use Pixels Hectares Acres
Highwall and Spoils and Active Pit 508 247 610
Northwest Portion of Mine
Spring 1973 Revegetation 26 13 31
Topsoil Borrow 7 38
Spring 1972 Planting 67 33 80
Spring 1971 Planting 17 8 20
Fall 1970 Planting 33 16 40
Fall 1969 Planting 46 22: 55_
196 95 234
Southeast Portion of the Mine
Spring 1972 Planting 30 15 36
Fall 1972 Planting " 36 18 43
Fall 1972 Planting and Topsoil
Borrow in Southwesternmost
Corner 368 179 442
434 212 521
Total Mine Area 1,138 554 1,365
As shown in Figure 1 about 55 percent of the disturbed areas of
the mine has been replanted. The computer classification defined the
disturbed areas but difficulty was encountered in separating older re-
vegetated areas from undisturbed native vegetation. This separation
was achieved using Figure 1. Difficulty was also encountered in
defining the highwall location in the northwestern area of the mine
during the initial classification. The highwall was then defined by
preparing a ratio image of the green band to the infrared 1 band.
The composite map (Figure 3)* of the classifications of various mine
areas was prepared using both the ratio image and the multi-spectral
classification.
*Some scale distortion is inherent in producing an overlay map (on
the computer line printer) which can be avoided only by additional pro-
cessing. In scaling overlay maps to USGS topographic maps, the longi-
tudinal axis of the former must be reduced to 80% of its normal value.
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138
I I
N
MINE
RED 16AUG73 E12
S N43-08/W105-31 HDG 191
5424
2.81 DEGREES. ASPECT =
1389 17181-L-5
(N.G.P.)
CN43 11/W105-43
SUN EL52 AZ133
APPLIED SKEW
1.393861
"STRIP MINE NO. 4 **
INSERT
ASTRTCH2
STRETCH 65-132
JDA AUG 19, 1974 124052 JPL/IPL
FIGURE 2. SATELLITE IMAGE OF DAVE JOHNSTON MINE
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139
FIGURE 3. CLASSIFICATION MAP OF DAVE JOHNSTON MINE
GLENROCK, WYOMING
PACIFIC POWER AND LIGHT COMPANY
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r.
c
3
m
fr
n
o
V
Aerial Fhoto Mop of Mini 4 (1974|
Sol.llil« Mop ol Mini 4 11973}
O
>
I
5
O
LEGEND
A. ACTIVt MINE
I.- IIVtCITATID
C. TOPSOIL IOHO
0. EXPOSfD SOIL
I - IOADS
-I
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141
In the northwestern corner of the mine, land revegetated in
Spring 1973 was discernible from grass in an adjacent area planted
one year earlier. A topsoil borrow area on the west side was also
identified. Proceeding to the southeast, revegetated areas planted
in 1969, 1970, and 1971 as designated on the map produced spectral
signatures the same as undisturbed native vegetation thus indicating
that a comparable density of vegetation had been achieved.
The southeastern portion of the mine contains much revegetated
land and many topsoil borrow areas. In the borrow areas, a scraper
has removed strips of topsoil leaving native vegetation in alternate
strips. Some natural revegetation has taken place in the disturbed
strips. The revegetated land and the borrow areas were spectrally
indistinguishable from one another as both consist of areas of vege-
tation mingled with bare soil.
The land north of the highwall in the southeastern part of the
mine had a signature characteristic of revegetation or topsoil borrow.
No activity in this area was indicated in Figure 1. Lower altitude
aerial photography verified that this was a topsoil borrow area.
By counting pixels, the computer keeps track of the area in each
classification. The area of each classification for the Dave Johnston
Mine is presented in Table 3. Of the 554 hectares (1,365 acres) of
disturbed area, about 55 percent has been revegetated, a figure which
agrees with the information given on Figure 1.
This technique has been applied to eastern areas on which surface
clay mining has been practiced and vegetation has encroached back into
the disturbed areas.*
*Garofalo, Donald and Frank J. Wobber, 1973, "Remote Sensing For Envir-
onmental Studies in Mined Areas", pp 32-48, in Photographic Applications
in Science, Technology, and Medicine, Sept. 1973.
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CHAPTER 7
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We are indebted to Mr. Gary Glass, Staff Coal Geologist of the
Wyoming Geological Survey for his assistance, guidance and interest in
preparing this report. We are similarly indebted to Dr. A. William
Johnson of North Dakota's Regional Environmental Assessment Program
(REAP) and to Mr. John Smith of the North Dakota Lignite Council,
for their efforts in tracking pertinent data for North Dakota operations.
We wish to thank Mr. Doss White, Bureau of Mines, Department of Interior,
for his invaluable assistance and Mr. C. C. McCall, Director of
Reclamation, Montana Department of Lands, for his staff's reviews.
We are also pleased to have this opportunity to publicly acknow-
ledge the assistance afforded us over the past four years by coal mine
operators who have graciously allowed us to view the details of their
mining operations and have been most responsive in answering our
questions.
Messrs. Ed Arthur and Al Pressman of FPA's Remote Sensing Laboratory
in Las Vegas, Nevada, are to be commended for their assistance in
acquiring and processing all of the photography and for their advice
in preparing the report.
The report is published with the support of Region VIII and the
Office of Energy, Minerals and Industry, Office of Research and Develop-
ment, of the Environmental Protection Agency.
Mr. Edward Mangold and Mr. Arthur Dybdahl of the EPA organized and
conducted the evaluation of mined lands using satellite imagery and
thus provided the information used to prepare Chapter 5.
The author retains responsibility for any errors contained in
this report and apologizes, in advance, for them.
142
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APPENDIX I
MINERAL RESOURCE TERMINOLOGY ADOPTED BY INTERIOR DEPARTMENT
DEFINITIONS:
Resource - A concentration of naturally occurring solid, liquid, or
gaseous materials in or on the earth's crust in such form that
economic extraction of a commodity is currently or potentially
feasible.
Identified Resources - Specific bodies of mineral-bearing material
whose location, quality, and quantity are known from geologic
evidence supported by engineering measurements with respect to
the demonstrated category.
TOTAL RESOURCES
IDENTIFIED
Economic
1 Submar- Paramar-
1 ainal ainal
Demonstrated
Measured
Indicated
Inferred
RESERVES
RESOURCES
HYPOTEHTICAL
(in known
districts)
*
SPECULATIVE
(in undis-
covered
districts)
h
; of economic feasibi
0>
i.
O)
Ol
TD
C
CO
to
01
c
H- 1
Increasing degree of geological assurance
Undiscovered Resources - Unspecified bodies of mineral-bearing material
surmised to exist on the basis of broad geologic knowledge and
theory.
Reserve - That portion of the identified resource from which a usable
mineral and energy commodity can be economically and legally
extracted at the time of determination. The term ore is also used
for reserves of some minerals.
143
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APPENDIX I
(cont'd)
The following definitions for measured, indicated, and inferred are
applicable to both the Reserve and Identified-Subeconomic resource
components (see chart).
Measured - Material for which estimates of the quality and quantity
have been computed, within a margin of error of less than 20
percent, from analyses and measurements from closely spaced and
geologically well-known sample sites.
Indicated - Material for which estimates of the quality and quantity have
been computed partly from sample analyses and measurements and
partly from reasonable geologic projections.
Demonstrated - A collective term for the sum of materials in both measured
and indicated resources.
Inferred - Material in unexplored but identified deposits for which
estimates of the quality and size are based on geologic evidence
and projection.
Identified-Subeconomic Resources - Known deposits not now minable econ-
omically.
Paramargj'nal - The portion of subeconomic resources that (a) borders on
being economically producible or (b) is not commercially available
solely because of legal or political circumstances.
Submarginal - The portion of subeconomic resources which would require
a substantially higher price (more than 1.5 times the price at the
time of determination) or a major cost-reducing advance in technology.
Hypothetical Resources - Undiscovered materials that may reasonably be
expected to exist in a known mining district under known geologic
conditions. Exploration that confirms their existence and reveals
quantity and quality will permit their reclassification as a Reserve
or identified-subeconomic resource.
Speculative Resources - Undiscovered materials that may occur either in
known types of deposits in a favorable geologic setting where no
discoveries have been made, or in as yet unknown types of deposits
that remain to be recognized. Exploration that confirms their
existence and reveals quantity and quality will permit their re-
classification as reserves of identified-subeconomic resources.
144
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TECHNICAL REPORT DATA
(Please read Instructions on the reverse before completing/
1. REPORT NO.
OEA 76-1
2.
3. RECIPIENT'S ACCESSION-NO.
4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE
Surface Coal Mining In the Northern Great Plains
of the Western United States
5. REPORT DATE
June 1976
6. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION CODE
7. AUTHOR(S)
John E. Hardaway
8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NO.
OEA 76-1
9. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME AND ADDRESS
EPA, Office of Energy Activities
1860 Lincoln Street, Suite 103
Denver, Colorado 80203
10. PROGRAM ELEMENT NO.
11. CONTRACT/GRANT NO.
None
12. SPONSORING AGENCY NAME AND ADDRESS
EPA, Office of Energy Activities
1860 Lincoln Street, Suite 103
Denver, Colorado 80203
13. TYPE OF REPORT AND PERIOD COVERED
Information* 1973-5
14. SP6NS6RiNG"AGENCY CODE
EPA - Region VIII
15. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES
16. ABSTRACT
This report deals with the information portrayal of twenty-one surface
coal mines and one surface uranium mine within the Northern Great Plains
Coal Province of Montana, North Dakota and Wyoming. The aid of color aerial
photography enables not only the diagrammatic layout of the mine to be
presented, but also provides for the analysis, discussion, and conveyence
of other interesting data. These other data include pertinent geologic,
hydraulic, engineering, and operational information.
With the aid of a brief description of surface coal mining operational
procedures, the uses of aerial photography, both color and infrared, are
introduced to the readers as a tool for the environmentally oriented
regulation and planning of surface coal mining facilities. Environmental-
ly oriented regulation deals not only with the present physical disturbance
of a natural area, but also with its sound management and eventual reclamation
for further beneficial uses.
See attached sheet for continuation.--
17.
KEY WORDS AND DOCUMENT ANALYSIS
DESCRIPTORS
b.lDENTIFIERS/OPEN ENDED TERMS C. COSATI Field/Group
Coal
Geologic Strata
Remote Sensing
Surface Ecosystem
Revegetation
Surface Mining
Exploration
Spoil
Reclamation
Photography
Aerial Imagery
atellite Imagery
)olor Infrared
Ranking Categories
BTU
ERTS
Land sat
18. DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT
Release to Public
19. SECURITY CLASS (ThisReport)
Unclassified
21. NO. OF PAGES
151
20. SECURITY CLASS (Thispage)
Unclassified
22. PRICE
EPA Form 2220-1 (9-73)
145
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16 con't
The close of this report includes a brief synopsis and example of related
efforts involving the utilization of satellite imagery. A basis for the
future planning, regulation and environmental assessment of surface
mineral mininq in the interior western states has been proposed within and
by this report.
146
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