A REPORT ON ANTHRACITE OPEN PIT MINING - A FEASIBILITY STUDY - PART I SUMMARY REPORT

Special Research Report SR-103 The study is concerned with the application of open-pit mining methods as these have been developed by the metal mining industries to a specific land site located in the Western Middle Field. Figure 1 shows the location and scope of mining required to meet market demands while at the same time to clean up land damages and mine drainage as a result of past deep and strip mining practice. Since this calls for c0mplete removal of the coal basin to sea level elevations two alterna- tives will be investigated. These include (a) cost of mining using normal land prices; and (b) cost of mining with additional charges for relocating surface land uses. This involves the cost of relocating power transmission lines; highways; stream beds and railroads; and dwellings and other buildings located in the study site.