PHOTO LIBRARY

	Photo Library: Remining

Remining abandoned surface coal mines

Coal mines abandoned before the Surface Mining Law was passed in 1977, such as this one in Pennsylvania, are sometimes remined to extract the remaining coal. Efficient modern equipment and mining methods make mining this resource more economical than it was in the 1940's and -50's when mining first took place. Remining a previously mined and abandoned coal mine entails extending the mine further into the hillside then reclaiming the previously mined land along with the active mine areas. Enlarged Photo (27 KB file)

Remining an underground coal

This area around the portals of a 1940's abandoned underground mine has been left completely unreclaimed. Remining or "daylighting" an abandoned underground mine requires removal of the overburden that remains above the former underground workings. Remining at this Western Kentucky operation reduced acid mine drainage into a nearby creek and provided almost 100 percent recovery of the coal resource. Enlarged Photo (26 KB file)

Reclaimed remining site

Following the remining of the site show in the above photo, the area was reclaimed. Although the land around the abandoned mine openings was severely damaged the operator was able to save the topsoil over the underground workings before remining. This topsoil was spread during reclamation of the entire mine site. Today the reclaimed site has excellent vegetation that prevents erosion and it's location next to a highway interchange provides excellent land use opportunities for the land owner. This is a dramatic difference from the site condition before remining. Enlarged Photo (27 KB file)

Remining coal left in a slurry pond

This 1950's slurry pond contains fine coal that was transported to this refuse site during the coal washing process. Due to the high content of coal in the slurry pond, solid material is being remined with a dredge and transported to a newly constructed coal cleaning plant through a large pipe. This unusual remining is regulated under the Surface Mining Law just as a traditional mine. The operator must prevent adverse environmental impacts during mining and the site will be reclaimed when the dredging operation is complete. Enlarged Photo (27 KB file)

Coal mining operation that remined and reclaimed a "mountain" of anthracite refuse that filled the valley next to a small Pennsylvania town.

A small power plant turns the coal waste into electricity

Beginning in 1918, underground mining near a small Pennsylvania town filled the adjacent valley with anthracite coal refuse...or material that was separated from the coal during the cleaning process. Because of the quantity of usable coal in the refuse this operator constructed an on-site coal processing plant to separate the burnable material from the rock and used the coal in a small power plant (shown here) to burn the coal and generate electricity. This power plant uses a circulating fluid bed combustion technique that produces alkaline ash. The alkaline ash was used to reclaim the refuse pile and was important in counteracting the acid producing potential of the unused refuse. Enlarged Photo (36 KB file)

Water flowing off the reclaimed site is no longer polluted

Before remining this small stream ran through the abandoned mine refuse and water leaving the site was acidic (<4pH) and polluting the Nesquehoning Creek. During the remining operation the operator constructed thousands of feet of diversion channels to intercept runoff and divert it directly in the nearby creek. This minimizes water infiltration into the reclaimed coal waste and prevents acid drainage in the future. Preventing acidic seeps from forming on the site is a positive step in assuring the reclaimed land will not pollute downstream creeks in the future. Enlarged Photo (35KB file)

Vegetation is growing on the site for the first time in over 70 years
Because there was not any topsoil on the site a special seed bed material was constructed that included two parts of waste materials (ash and fine refuse) to one part native clay. This successful seedbed now supports excellent vegetation, including the tree seedlings that were planted after the initial seeding had become established. What used to be a blight to the community is now a green spot in the environment. Enlarged Photo (20 KB file)

Remining and reclamation at an anthracite coal waste site. Coal mining in an urban setting

Located about 3 miles north of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, this aerial photo shows the mining operation surrounded by the community of Pittston. Residents lived along three sides of this abandoned mine site and were within 300 feet of the eroding waste piles. At this site the mountains of coal waste covered 117 acres. The very large volume of waste material makes reclamation difficult, thus when the material can be remined and the site reclaimed it is a benefit to everyone.
Because of its urban nature special mining practices were need at this site. Sound deflection berms were built to minimize noise from the mining and processing plant. Backup alarms on mobile equipment were changed to strobe lights to eliminate noise, and special care was given to the control of dust from haul roads and other activities. Enlarged Photo (31 KB file) Photo Credit: Northhampton Fuel Supply Company

Anthracite coal refuse

Coal waste from an 1930's and 40's mine was left in 80 to 100 foot high piles. Typical of many early coal mines in this region, the waste was deposited in giant piles that remain to this day. The waste causes air and water pollution problems, danger from waste pile fires, and is an aesthetic blight on the landscape. Although this material was considered waste when it was originally mined, today with modern cleaning and processing equipment a large amount of usable coal can be remined and used to produce electricity. Enlarged Photo (70 KB file)

Mobile fuel handling facility

A key to the efficient separation of the coal and waste was the mobile processing plant that was set up on the site. The facility separates the anthracite coal from the rock and clay waste. The waste rock was used during reclamation to fill underground mine voids and prevent future subsidence of the land surface.
Immediately following completion of the remining this mobile facility was disassembled and moved to a new site about three miles away where it was re-erected and used to separate additional coal and waste material. It took 42 days to disassemble, move, and restart the equipment on the next site. The cost effectiveness of this mobile facility makes this remining feasible. One plant can be used at multiple locations and it reduces local truck traffic by eliminating the need to transport raw material to a central location (the processing plant comes to the site). Enlarged Photo (30KB file) Photo Credit: Northhampton Fuel Supply Company

Reclaimed site

With mining and reclamation complete the site has been transformed form a blighted wasteland with its towering black mountains into a gently sloped green grassland. New housing is being constructed adjacent to the reclaimed site and it now has potential opportunities for developing a combination of residential, recreational, and commercial activities. The benefits to the community are dramatic and include: significant improvement to the aesthetics of the area, improved environment (both air and water quality), and a safer neighborhood. Enlarged Photo (35KB file)

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Office of Surface Mining
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