It was once a quietly operated surface operation, like many of its contemporaries in southern West Virginia. Today, under the ownership of Coal-Mac and Mitch Potter, it is in its prime and exemplifies a safe, efficient, well-organized operation that others look to as an example of how to do things well. By Donna Schmidt Coal-Mac was once the only purely…
Read MoreAfter laying off 19 employees in November, Black Butte Coal Co. has allegedly started a second round of layoffs at its surface mine in Sweetwater County, Wyo., reported Wyoming Public Radio citing a SweetwaterNOW article. In this latest round, 30 employees are likely to be laid off – about a third of the company’s current payroll. “Some of these people…
Read MoreWest Virginia Governor Jim Justice has issued a Proclamation declaring the week of March 25-29, 2024 as “Coal Days of West Virginia” to honor and recognize coal mining, which has been a foundational industry in West Virginia, providing countless high-paying industrial jobs and contributing immensely to West Virginia’s overall economic health. It further acknowledges the West Virginia Coal Association, which…
Read MoreThis editor is known for her collection of T-shirts emblazoned with sayings, my favorite being, “I am silently correcting your grammar.” Fitting, amiright? I have another, though, given to me some time ago from a coal company that has their name on the front, and the back reading, “My blood runs black.” I’ve often used that in my personal and…
Read MoreVirginia governor Glenn Youngkin recently made several appointments to his key board, including eight in coal mining. The first is for the Virginia Coal Mine Safety Board; the five selected are Christopher Lester, retired electrician, Murray Energy; Harless Mullins, retired plant operator, Alpha Natural Resources; Michael Gary Prater, United Coal; Victoria Ratliff, University of Virginia; and Joshua West, United Mine…
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Ramaco Resources said its Board of Directors has approved the commencement of initial mine development in the fourth quarter at its Brook mine in Sheridan, Wyo. – the first new rare earth elements (REE) mine in the United States since 1952. The operation will target mining unconventional REE deposits found in coal and adjacent clays and carbonaceous material. Ramaco said…
Read MoreI am a staunch advocate for the mining industry, there is no denying that, though I do have a soft spot in my heart for coal. In my nearly two decades covering the varied commodities that make up our mineral circle, several were spent reporting on the ebbs and flows of one of the most misunderstood by the public: coal…
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In last issue’s column, I talked about spring being a time of rebirth. As we’ve long come to know of this industry, it is full of surprises – and this time around is no different. Since the latter half of 2008, the coal mining sector has left some of us panicked, others shocked and yet even more dumbfounded. What had…
Read MoreAs this magazine is being completed, spring in the northern hemisphere is just days old. Spring always signals rebirth, another start and ongoing growth – and we’ve got that in spades both here at North American Mining and in the industry. First, as this edition is being examined by our growing number of readers, NAM is celebrating its first birthday.…
Read MoreIn July, the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality awarded its 2021 Excellence in Mining Reclamation award to Antelope Coal for its reclamation work to reconstruct Spring Creek, which neighbors the mine site near Douglas. The Antelope team, the agency said, reconstructed over 18,000 linear feet of Spring Creek, a tributary of Antelope Creek, to reconnect the two creeks. The work…
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