Gold Mining with Cyanide

Repeal of the Ban on Cyanide Heap Leaching in Gold Mining
 

WHAT IS CYANIDE AND WHAT DOES IT DO IN THE ENVIRONMENT
Cyanide is a general term, referring to various specific cyanide compounds. Cyanide (CN) itself is a simple, organic anion (negatively charged ion) consisting of carbon and nitrogen. Despite often-heard references to “pure cyanide,” it actually exists only as an anion, so is only a component of other compounds.

Even though cyanide is a poison, trace amounts of cyanide compounds occur naturally in our bodies and in many foods. Even over a lifetime of exposure, trace amounts pose no threat to human health. Cyanide does not build up in the body. The liver removes it. As one might expect, cyanide compounds are used in certain herbicides. But some common drugs—including the pain reliever ibuprofen and the anti-inflammatory agent naproxen—also contain cyanide compounds, or are derived directly from them.

Today, U.S. chemical manufacturing industries consume more than 10 times the amount of cyanide compounds than are used in domestic gold mining to manufacture products like nylon and other polyamides, acrylics and certain plastics. Cyanide compounds are also used to harden steel and to electroplate copper and precious metals.

Cyanide heap leach solutions are very alkaline because at a ph of 8 or below CN vaporizes into the air. In the air, the poison is quickly dispersed and would only be dangerous in a very small area close to the vaporizing solution. Therefore if these solutions do escape into surface water, they will be diluted by the lower ph surface water and soon dissipate into the air, becoming harmless.

Other natural elements including sunlight also degrade cyanide into harmless compounds:
“Various species of bacteria, fungi, algae, yeasts and plants, along with their associated enzymes and amino acids, are known to oxidize cyanide naturally.”

HOW DOES CYANIDE LEACHING WORK
A weak solution containing a quantity of sodium cyanide (0.015 percent average) is percolated over crushed ore to dissolve the gold. The leach solutions are carefully buffered with an alkali (usually lime) to prevent the possible generation of hazardous hydrogen cyanide gas. The gold bearing solution is collected and the gold removed. The leaching solution is then reused. The whole process takes place on top of an impermeable, double or triple layered liner to collect all of the valuable gold and prevent the escape of dangerous CN.

POLITICAL HISTORY OF CYANIDE LEACHING
In 1996, environmental groups headed by MEIC from Missoula launched an attack on mining through the initiative process. Miners defended their industry and I-122 was defeated. A great deal of out of state money was spent on this campaign by both sides. There was another ballot issue that year: I-125, sponsored by MontPIRG which is a Nader group that percolated up from the Univerity of Montana campus at Missoula. I-125 prevented businesses spending ANY money to defend themselves against ballot issues. In the heated battle over I-122, this seemingly innocuous ballot issue was overlooked by business and the public. I-125 did not put any limitations on spending by non-profit groups on Montana ballot issues. I-125 passed in 1996.

After the passage of the business spending ban, I-125, MEIC decided that they had a good chance to pass an anti-mining bill in the next election because the miners could not fight back. They said as much on their website. This time they sensationalized the issue by concentrating on cyanide. Just two weeks before the election the Montana Supreme Court ruled that the ban on business spending in ballot issue elections was unconstitutional but it was too late for the miners to mount an effective defense. I-137 passed in 1998. No other state in America bans the use of cyanide in mining.

BENEFITS
Mining in Montana has rapidly declined in recent years due to the regulatory climate in the state. Since cyanide leaching is the only economic means of recovering many of Montana’s most important gold and silver deposits, repealing the cyanide ban will go a long way towards improving that climate thus helping to diversify our economy. Canyon Resources lists the economic losses to Montana from the passage of the cyanide ban just related for their projects alone.

“The imposition of I-137, with its total ban on the use of the only economically viable technology to recover gold and silver from the McDonald and Seven-Up Pete deposits, has deprived the citizens of Montana, local communities and their workers, and the State of Montana of the following otherwise available assets:
a. Royalty payments of more than $89 million ($6,357,142 annually for 14 years) to the State School Trust System, primarily designated for Montana Tech
b. Long-term jobs at wages approximately twice the current average income in Montana
c. Severance and local taxes of at least $56 million
d. More than $1 billion (average of $75 million/year) in purchases of goods and services during operations
e. More than $40 million in site construction work at startup”

With the lifting of the ban Canyon and other companies would resume exploration in Montana and new projects as well as old ones that have been put on hold will strengthen our economy with royalties, taxes, jobs and sales for related businesses. The $ 89 million royalty from the Seven Up Pete project alone spread over 14 years will amount to 10% of the total current yearly income for Montana schools from state trust lands

DRAWBACKS
There are no drawbacks - only risks that can be managed. Like bleach and gasoline, Cyanide (CN) is a deadly poison when a toxic amount is present in the blood of mammals and fish. Therefore extra care must be taken in the handling and containment of cyanide solutions. I-147 mandates a high level of environmental protection.

Since cyanide degrades into non-toxic substances fairly easily and is quickly dispersed and diluted in the natural environment the damage from escaped cyanide though it can be significant is thankfully short term. Humans who ingest a non-fatal dose of cyanide quickly recover and there is no evidence of long-term consequences or buildup of cyanide in the body. There has never been a human fatality in Montana caused by cyanide used in mining.

There have been fish kills due to accidental releases of cyanide from mining. Most of these incidents have been minor and none of them have long lasting effects. Our research found no major fish kills in Montana. The fish stocks are repopulated from unaffected downstream fisheries. The mining industry and the agencies that regulate them have learned from these incidents and are better equipped to prevent them.

Gold Mining with Cyanide

Repeal of the Ban on Cyanide Heap Leaching in Gold Mining
 

WHAT IS CYANIDE AND WHAT DOES IT DO IN THE ENVIRONMENT
Cyanide is a general term, referring to various specific cyanide compounds. Cyanide (CN) itself is a simple, organic anion (negatively charged ion) consisting of carbon and nitrogen. Despite often-heard references to “pure cyanide,” it actually exists only as an anion, so is only a component of other compounds.

Even though cyanide is a poison, trace amounts of cyanide compounds occur naturally in our bodies and in many foods. Even over a lifetime of exposure, trace amounts pose no threat to human health. Cyanide does not build up in the body. The liver removes it. As one might expect, cyanide compounds are used in certain herbicides. But some common drugs—including the pain reliever ibuprofen and the anti-inflammatory agent naproxen—also contain cyanide compounds, or are derived directly from them.

Today, U.S. chemical manufacturing industries consume more than 10 times the amount of cyanide compounds than are used in domestic gold mining to manufacture products like nylon and other polyamides, acrylics and certain plastics. Cyanide compounds are also used to harden steel and to electroplate copper and precious metals.

Cyanide heap leach solutions are very alkaline because at a ph of 8 or below CN vaporizes into the air. In the air, the poison is quickly dispersed and would only be dangerous in a very small area close to the vaporizing solution. Therefore if these solutions do escape into surface water, they will be diluted by the lower ph surface water and soon dissipate into the air, becoming harmless.

Other natural elements including sunlight also degrade cyanide into harmless compounds:
“Various species of bacteria, fungi, algae, yeasts and plants, along with their associated enzymes and amino acids, are known to oxidize cyanide naturally.”

HOW DOES CYANIDE LEACHING WORK
A weak solution containing a quantity of sodium cyanide (0.015 percent average) is percolated over crushed ore to dissolve the gold. The leach solutions are carefully buffered with an alkali (usually lime) to prevent the possible generation of hazardous hydrogen cyanide gas. The gold bearing solution is collected and the gold removed. The leaching solution is then reused. The whole process takes place on top of an impermeable, double or triple layered liner to collect all of the valuable gold and prevent the escape of dangerous CN.

POLITICAL HISTORY OF CYANIDE LEACHING
In 1996, environmental groups headed by MEIC from Missoula launched an attack on mining through the initiative process. Miners defended their industry and I-122 was defeated. A great deal of out of state money was spent on this campaign by both sides. There was another ballot issue that year: I-125, sponsored by MontPIRG which is a Nader group that percolated up from the Univerity of Montana campus at Missoula. I-125 prevented businesses spending ANY money to defend themselves against ballot issues. In the heated battle over I-122, this seemingly innocuous ballot issue was overlooked by business and the public. I-125 did not put any limitations on spending by non-profit groups on Montana ballot issues. I-125 passed in 1996.

After the passage of the business spending ban, I-125, MEIC decided that they had a good chance to pass an anti-mining bill in the next election because the miners could not fight back. They said as much on their website. This time they sensationalized the issue by concentrating on cyanide. Just two weeks before the election the Montana Supreme Court ruled that the ban on business spending in ballot issue elections was unconstitutional but it was too late for the miners to mount an effective defense. I-137 passed in 1998. No other state in America bans the use of cyanide in mining.

BENEFITS
Mining in Montana has rapidly declined in recent years due to the regulatory climate in the state. Since cyanide leaching is the only economic means of recovering many of Montana’s most important gold and silver deposits, repealing the cyanide ban will go a long way towards improving that climate thus helping to diversify our economy. Canyon Resources lists the economic losses to Montana from the passage of the cyanide ban just related for their projects alone.

“The imposition of I-137, with its total ban on the use of the only economically viable technology to recover gold and silver from the McDonald and Seven-Up Pete deposits, has deprived the citizens of Montana, local communities and their workers, and the State of Montana of the following otherwise available assets:
a. Royalty payments of more than $89 million ($6,357,142 annually for 14 years) to the State School Trust System, primarily designated for Montana Tech
b. Long-term jobs at wages approximately twice the current average income in Montana
c. Severance and local taxes of at least $56 million
d. More than $1 billion (average of $75 million/year) in purchases of goods and services during operations
e. More than $40 million in site construction work at startup”

With the lifting of the ban Canyon and other companies would resume exploration in Montana and new projects as well as old ones that have been put on hold will strengthen our economy with royalties, taxes, jobs and sales for related businesses. The $ 89 million royalty from the Seven Up Pete project alone spread over 14 years will amount to 10% of the total current yearly income for Montana schools from state trust lands

DRAWBACKS
There are no drawbacks - only risks that can be managed. Like bleach and gasoline, Cyanide (CN) is a deadly poison when a toxic amount is present in the blood of mammals and fish. Therefore extra care must be taken in the handling and containment of cyanide solutions. I-147 mandates a high level of environmental protection.

Since cyanide degrades into non-toxic substances fairly easily and is quickly dispersed and diluted in the natural environment the damage from escaped cyanide though it can be significant is thankfully short term. Humans who ingest a non-fatal dose of cyanide quickly recover and there is no evidence of long-term consequences or buildup of cyanide in the body. There has never been a human fatality in Montana caused by cyanide used in mining.

There have been fish kills due to accidental releases of cyanide from mining. Most of these incidents have been minor and none of them have long lasting effects. Our research found no major fish kills in Montana. The fish stocks are repopulated from unaffected downstream fisheries. The mining industry and the agencies that regulate them have learned from these incidents and are better equipped to prevent them.

Gold Mining with Cyanide

Repeal of the Ban on Cyanide Heap Leaching in Gold Mining
 

WHAT IS CYANIDE AND WHAT DOES IT DO IN THE ENVIRONMENT
Cyanide is a general term, referring to various specific cyanide compounds. Cyanide (CN) itself is a simple, organic anion (negatively charged ion) consisting of carbon and nitrogen. Despite often-heard references to “pure cyanide,” it actually exists only as an anion, so is only a component of other compounds.

Even though cyanide is a poison, trace amounts of cyanide compounds occur naturally in our bodies and in many foods. Even over a lifetime of exposure, trace amounts pose no threat to human health. Cyanide does not build up in the body. The liver removes it. As one might expect, cyanide compounds are used in certain herbicides. But some common drugs—including the pain reliever ibuprofen and the anti-inflammatory agent naproxen—also contain cyanide compounds, or are derived directly from them.

Today, U.S. chemical manufacturing industries consume more than 10 times the amount of cyanide compounds than are used in domestic gold mining to manufacture products like nylon and other polyamides, acrylics and certain plastics. Cyanide compounds are also used to harden steel and to electroplate copper and precious metals.

Cyanide heap leach solutions are very alkaline because at a ph of 8 or below CN vaporizes into the air. In the air, the poison is quickly dispersed and would only be dangerous in a very small area close to the vaporizing solution. Therefore if these solutions do escape into surface water, they will be diluted by the lower ph surface water and soon dissipate into the air, becoming harmless.

Other natural elements including sunlight also degrade cyanide into harmless compounds:
“Various species of bacteria, fungi, algae, yeasts and plants, along with their associated enzymes and amino acids, are known to oxidize cyanide naturally.”

HOW DOES CYANIDE LEACHING WORK
A weak solution containing a quantity of sodium cyanide (0.015 percent average) is percolated over crushed ore to dissolve the gold. The leach solutions are carefully buffered with an alkali (usually lime) to prevent the possible generation of hazardous hydrogen cyanide gas. The gold bearing solution is collected and the gold removed. The leaching solution is then reused. The whole process takes place on top of an impermeable, double or triple layered liner to collect all of the valuable gold and prevent the escape of dangerous CN.

POLITICAL HISTORY OF CYANIDE LEACHING
In 1996, environmental groups headed by MEIC from Missoula launched an attack on mining through the initiative process. Miners defended their industry and I-122 was defeated. A great deal of out of state money was spent on this campaign by both sides. There was another ballot issue that year: I-125, sponsored by MontPIRG which is a Nader group that percolated up from the Univerity of Montana campus at Missoula. I-125 prevented businesses spending ANY money to defend themselves against ballot issues. In the heated battle over I-122, this seemingly innocuous ballot issue was overlooked by business and the public. I-125 did not put any limitations on spending by non-profit groups on Montana ballot issues. I-125 passed in 1996.

After the passage of the business spending ban, I-125, MEIC decided that they had a good chance to pass an anti-mining bill in the next election because the miners could not fight back. They said as much on their website. This time they sensationalized the issue by concentrating on cyanide. Just two weeks before the election the Montana Supreme Court ruled that the ban on business spending in ballot issue elections was unconstitutional but it was too late for the miners to mount an effective defense. I-137 passed in 1998. No other state in America bans the use of cyanide in mining.

BENEFITS
Mining in Montana has rapidly declined in recent years due to the regulatory climate in the state. Since cyanide leaching is the only economic means of recovering many of Montana’s most important gold and silver deposits, repealing the cyanide ban will go a long way towards improving that climate thus helping to diversify our economy. Canyon Resources lists the economic losses to Montana from the passage of the cyanide ban just related for their projects alone.

“The imposition of I-137, with its total ban on the use of the only economically viable technology to recover gold and silver from the McDonald and Seven-Up Pete deposits, has deprived the citizens of Montana, local communities and their workers, and the State of Montana of the following otherwise available assets:
a. Royalty payments of more than $89 million ($6,357,142 annually for 14 years) to the State School Trust System, primarily designated for Montana Tech
b. Long-term jobs at wages approximately twice the current average income in Montana
c. Severance and local taxes of at least $56 million
d. More than $1 billion (average of $75 million/year) in purchases of goods and services during operations
e. More than $40 million in site construction work at startup”

With the lifting of the ban Canyon and other companies would resume exploration in Montana and new projects as well as old ones that have been put on hold will strengthen our economy with royalties, taxes, jobs and sales for related businesses. The $ 89 million royalty from the Seven Up Pete project alone spread over 14 years will amount to 10% of the total current yearly income for Montana schools from state trust lands

DRAWBACKS
There are no drawbacks - only risks that can be managed. Like bleach and gasoline, Cyanide (CN) is a deadly poison when a toxic amount is present in the blood of mammals and fish. Therefore extra care must be taken in the handling and containment of cyanide solutions. I-147 mandates a high level of environmental protection.

Since cyanide degrades into non-toxic substances fairly easily and is quickly dispersed and diluted in the natural environment the damage from escaped cyanide though it can be significant is thankfully short term. Humans who ingest a non-fatal dose of cyanide quickly recover and there is no evidence of long-term consequences or buildup of cyanide in the body. There has never been a human fatality in Montana caused by cyanide used in mining.

There have been fish kills due to accidental releases of cyanide from mining. Most of these incidents have been minor and none of them have long lasting effects. Our research found no major fish kills in Montana. The fish stocks are repopulated from unaffected downstream fisheries. The mining industry and the agencies that regulate them have learned from these incidents and are better equipped to prevent them.

Gold Mining with Cyanide

Repeal of the Ban on Cyanide Heap Leaching in Gold Mining
 

WHAT IS CYANIDE AND WHAT DOES IT DO IN THE ENVIRONMENT
Cyanide is a general term, referring to various specific cyanide compounds. Cyanide (CN) itself is a simple, organic anion (negatively charged ion) consisting of carbon and nitrogen. Despite often-heard references to “pure cyanide,” it actually exists only as an anion, so is only a component of other compounds.

Even though cyanide is a poison, trace amounts of cyanide compounds occur naturally in our bodies and in many foods. Even over a lifetime of exposure, trace amounts pose no threat to human health. Cyanide does not build up in the body. The liver removes it. As one might expect, cyanide compounds are used in certain herbicides. But some common drugs—including the pain reliever ibuprofen and the anti-inflammatory agent naproxen—also contain cyanide compounds, or are derived directly from them.

Today, U.S. chemical manufacturing industries consume more than 10 times the amount of cyanide compounds than are used in domestic gold mining to manufacture products like nylon and other polyamides, acrylics and certain plastics. Cyanide compounds are also used to harden steel and to electroplate copper and precious metals.

Cyanide heap leach solutions are very alkaline because at a ph of 8 or below CN vaporizes into the air. In the air, the poison is quickly dispersed and would only be dangerous in a very small area close to the vaporizing solution. Therefore if these solutions do escape into surface water, they will be diluted by the lower ph surface water and soon dissipate into the air, becoming harmless.

Other natural elements including sunlight also degrade cyanide into harmless compounds:
“Various species of bacteria, fungi, algae, yeasts and plants, along with their associated enzymes and amino acids, are known to oxidize cyanide naturally.”

HOW DOES CYANIDE LEACHING WORK
A weak solution containing a quantity of sodium cyanide (0.015 percent average) is percolated over crushed ore to dissolve the gold. The leach solutions are carefully buffered with an alkali (usually lime) to prevent the possible generation of hazardous hydrogen cyanide gas. The gold bearing solution is collected and the gold removed. The leaching solution is then reused. The whole process takes place on top of an impermeable, double or triple layered liner to collect all of the valuable gold and prevent the escape of dangerous CN.

POLITICAL HISTORY OF CYANIDE LEACHING
In 1996, environmental groups headed by MEIC from Missoula launched an attack on mining through the initiative process. Miners defended their industry and I-122 was defeated. A great deal of out of state money was spent on this campaign by both sides. There was another ballot issue that year: I-125, sponsored by MontPIRG which is a Nader group that percolated up from the Univerity of Montana campus at Missoula. I-125 prevented businesses spending ANY money to defend themselves against ballot issues. In the heated battle over I-122, this seemingly innocuous ballot issue was overlooked by business and the public. I-125 did not put any limitations on spending by non-profit groups on Montana ballot issues. I-125 passed in 1996.

After the passage of the business spending ban, I-125, MEIC decided that they had a good chance to pass an anti-mining bill in the next election because the miners could not fight back. They said as much on their website. This time they sensationalized the issue by concentrating on cyanide. Just two weeks before the election the Montana Supreme Court ruled that the ban on business spending in ballot issue elections was unconstitutional but it was too late for the miners to mount an effective defense. I-137 passed in 1998. No other state in America bans the use of cyanide in mining.

BENEFITS
Mining in Montana has rapidly declined in recent years due to the regulatory climate in the state. Since cyanide leaching is the only economic means of recovering many of Montana’s most important gold and silver deposits, repealing the cyanide ban will go a long way towards improving that climate thus helping to diversify our economy. Canyon Resources lists the economic losses to Montana from the passage of the cyanide ban just related for their projects alone.

“The imposition of I-137, with its total ban on the use of the only economically viable technology to recover gold and silver from the McDonald and Seven-Up Pete deposits, has deprived the citizens of Montana, local communities and their workers, and the State of Montana of the following otherwise available assets:
a. Royalty payments of more than $89 million ($6,357,142 annually for 14 years) to the State School Trust System, primarily designated for Montana Tech
b. Long-term jobs at wages approximately twice the current average income in Montana
c. Severance and local taxes of at least $56 million
d. More than $1 billion (average of $75 million/year) in purchases of goods and services during operations
e. More than $40 million in site construction work at startup”

With the lifting of the ban Canyon and other companies would resume exploration in Montana and new projects as well as old ones that have been put on hold will strengthen our economy with royalties, taxes, jobs and sales for related businesses. The $ 89 million royalty from the Seven Up Pete project alone spread over 14 years will amount to 10% of the total current yearly income for Montana schools from state trust lands

DRAWBACKS
There are no drawbacks - only risks that can be managed. Like bleach and gasoline, Cyanide (CN) is a deadly poison when a toxic amount is present in the blood of mammals and fish. Therefore extra care must be taken in the handling and containment of cyanide solutions. I-147 mandates a high level of environmental protection.

Since cyanide degrades into non-toxic substances fairly easily and is quickly dispersed and diluted in the natural environment the damage from escaped cyanide though it can be significant is thankfully short term. Humans who ingest a non-fatal dose of cyanide quickly recover and there is no evidence of long-term consequences or buildup of cyanide in the body. There has never been a human fatality in Montana caused by cyanide used in mining.

There have been fish kills due to accidental releases of cyanide from mining. Most of these incidents have been minor and none of them have long lasting effects. Our research found no major fish kills in Montana. The fish stocks are repopulated from unaffected downstream fisheries. The mining industry and the agencies that regulate them have learned from these incidents and are better equipped to prevent them.

COAL BLASTING

Authority for regulating blasting operations at coal mines comes from the Surface Coal Mining Land Conservation and Reclamation Act (SCMLCRA), which became effective February 1, 1983. The SCMLCRA is closely patterned after the federal Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA). The SCMLCRA has established air blast, ground vibration and fly rock standards, training, examination and certification requirements for persons supervising blasting operations, requirements for pre-blast surveys and public blasting notices, requirements for the maintenance of blasting records and enforcement provisions which give the Mine Safety and Training Division the authority to suspend or revoke blasting certificates, issue notices of violation and/or cessation orders and assess civil penalties in instances of non-compliance.

In addition to blasting, the SCMLCRA contains comprehensive environmental protection requirements such as hydrologic balance protection, soil replacement and disposal of toxic materials. All aspects of the SCMLCRA, other than blasting, are administered by the Land Reclamation Division within the Office of Mines and Minerals. So why do companies employ blasting at their operations? Below you will find answers to this and other questions related to blasting at Illinois mines.

WHY DO MINING COMPANIES BLAST?
Blasting is the most cost effective way to fracture rock. Therefore, blasting reduces the costs of consumer goods such as electricity, sand, gravel, concrete, aluminum, copper and many other products manufactured from mined resources. The old statement “If it can’t be grown, it has to be mined” is still true today.

WHAT EXPLOSIVES ARE USED FOR BLASTING?
Dynamite, a nitroglycerin-based explosive, is rarely used today for blasting at surface mines in Illinois. Blasting agents account for almost 99% of the explosive materials used. ANFO, ammonium nitrate and fuel oil, is the most common explosive. ANFO, pound for pound is as powerful as dynamite and is less expensive per pound and less sensitive to initiation and therefore safer to use.

WHAT IS BLASTING?
Holes are drilled into the rock to be broken. A portion of each hole is filled with explosives. The top portion of the hole is filled with inert material called stemming. The explosive in each hole is initiated with detonators or blasting caps. The detonators are designed to create millisecond (thousandths of a second) delay periods between individual holes or charges. A blast with 25 individual holes will essentially consist of smaller individual blasts, separated by millisecond delays and the entire blast may only last ¼ - ½ of a second. When an explosive is detonated, it undergoes a very rapid decomposition which produces a large volume or expansion of gases, instantly. This expansion of gases is what causes the rock to fracture. The stemming material keeps the gases in the rock to maximize the amount of the energy utilized in the fragmentation process. The delay periods between charges ensures that each hole will only have to fragment the rock immediately in front of it, which enhances fragmentation.

HOW FAR DOES THE FRAGMENTATION EXTEND FROM THE BLASTHOLE?
Small blastholes are usually drilled from 6 to 15 feet apart and large blastholes may range up to 30 feet apart. The fact that holes have to be drilled relatively close together is a good indicator of how far the fragmentation occurs. Even micro-fractures may only extend 40 blasthole diameters away from the blasthole. There is even less fracturing below the blasthole. This is demonstrated at surface coal mines, where only a few feet of rock separates the explosive (bottom of the blasthole) from the top of the coal seam, and protects the coal, which is a relatively weak or brittle rock, from fracturing.

WHAT IS GROUND VIBRATION?
When a blast is detonated, some of the energy travels through the ground as vibration. The ground vibration travels mainly on the surface at varying speeds depending upon the density and thickness of the geology. Although perceptible, the energy level decreases rapidly with distance. To the blaster, vibration represents wasted explosive energy. Blasting accounts for a large percentage of production costs, therefore it is to the operators advantage to maximize fragmentation by minimizing vibrations.

Blasting seismographs measure ground vibrations in terms of particle velocity which is the speed at which the ground moves. Particle velocity is measured in inches per second. The peak particle velocity (PPV) which is not to be exceeded to prevent damage to homes is 1.0 inch per second. Although 1.0 inch per second sounds like a large movement of the ground, it is important to remember that this is velocity of movement and the actual displacement occurring with ground vibrations from blasting is measured in thousandths (0.001) of an inch.

Ground vibrations are mainly controlled by limiting the pounds of explosives detonated per delay interval, as discussed above. For example, a 100-hole blast can be designed to have the same vibration as a 10-hole blast with the same pounds of explosives per hole and at the same distance.

WHAT IS AIRBLAST?
Airblast is a change in air pressure caused by blasting. When a blast is detonated, some of the energy is vented into the atmosphere through the fractures in the rock or through inadequate stemming material. However, the upward or outward movement of the rock from the blast is the main source of airblast. Due to the frequency content, airblast cannot be effectively heard by the human ear. Airblast travels at the speed of sound and can be influenced by wind and temperature inversions.

Airblast is also measured with a blasting seismograph equipped with a special microphone. The most common units to measure airblast is decibels (dB) which is a logarithmic sound-pressure scale related to human hearing. A difference of 6 dB represents a doubling or halving of the airblast energy.

Airblast is controlled by properly confining explosive charges in the borehole. This is accomplished by using adequate stemming material and by not loading explosives into weak zones in the rock. Airblast also represents wasted explosive energy. If the explosive gases escape from the blasthole, there will not be adequate energy to fragment the rock.

HOW ARE HOMES PROTECTED FROM GROUND VIBRATION AND AIRBLAST?
Many scientific studies have investigated the potential of blast vibrations to damage residential-type structures. The conclusions from these studies have been incorporated into DNR’s regulations. The blasting activities at all surface mining operations are regulated to prevent threshold or cosmetic damage (hairline cracks) to the weakest of building material. This is best accomplished with performance standards which limit peak particle velocities (ground vibration) and decibels (airblast). This is not to say that blasting limits which are designed to prevent damage will not be annoying to neighbors. Blast vibrations are perceptible to humans at much lower levels; as low as 0.02 inch per second PPV. The level of annoyance resulting from ground vibrations varies from person to person, thus making annoyance limits a poor choice for regulatory programs.

Blast vibrations can be perceptible in a home at great distances from a blast. Structures respond to very low levels of ground vibration and/or airblast. It is interesting to note that the everyday environmental influences on a home, such as doors slamming, kids running in the house, running up and down stairs, pounding nails, outside temperature, wind, humidity and soil moisture changes produce strains greater than legal blasting limits. These everyday activities often go unnoticed due to the fact that they are expected whereas blast vibrations can be unexpected.

COAL BLASTING

Authority for regulating blasting operations at coal mines comes from the Surface Coal Mining Land Conservation and Reclamation Act (SCMLCRA), which became effective February 1, 1983. The SCMLCRA is closely patterned after the federal Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA). The SCMLCRA has established air blast, ground vibration and fly rock standards, training, examination and certification requirements for persons supervising blasting operations, requirements for pre-blast surveys and public blasting notices, requirements for the maintenance of blasting records and enforcement provisions which give the Mine Safety and Training Division the authority to suspend or revoke blasting certificates, issue notices of violation and/or cessation orders and assess civil penalties in instances of non-compliance.

In addition to blasting, the SCMLCRA contains comprehensive environmental protection requirements such as hydrologic balance protection, soil replacement and disposal of toxic materials. All aspects of the SCMLCRA, other than blasting, are administered by the Land Reclamation Division within the Office of Mines and Minerals. So why do companies employ blasting at their operations? Below you will find answers to this and other questions related to blasting at Illinois mines.

WHY DO MINING COMPANIES BLAST?
Blasting is the most cost effective way to fracture rock. Therefore, blasting reduces the costs of consumer goods such as electricity, sand, gravel, concrete, aluminum, copper and many other products manufactured from mined resources. The old statement “If it can’t be grown, it has to be mined” is still true today.

WHAT EXPLOSIVES ARE USED FOR BLASTING?
Dynamite, a nitroglycerin-based explosive, is rarely used today for blasting at surface mines in Illinois. Blasting agents account for almost 99% of the explosive materials used. ANFO, ammonium nitrate and fuel oil, is the most common explosive. ANFO, pound for pound is as powerful as dynamite and is less expensive per pound and less sensitive to initiation and therefore safer to use.

WHAT IS BLASTING?
Holes are drilled into the rock to be broken. A portion of each hole is filled with explosives. The top portion of the hole is filled with inert material called stemming. The explosive in each hole is initiated with detonators or blasting caps. The detonators are designed to create millisecond (thousandths of a second) delay periods between individual holes or charges. A blast with 25 individual holes will essentially consist of smaller individual blasts, separated by millisecond delays and the entire blast may only last ¼ - ½ of a second. When an explosive is detonated, it undergoes a very rapid decomposition which produces a large volume or expansion of gases, instantly. This expansion of gases is what causes the rock to fracture. The stemming material keeps the gases in the rock to maximize the amount of the energy utilized in the fragmentation process. The delay periods between charges ensures that each hole will only have to fragment the rock immediately in front of it, which enhances fragmentation.

HOW FAR DOES THE FRAGMENTATION EXTEND FROM THE BLASTHOLE?
Small blastholes are usually drilled from 6 to 15 feet apart and large blastholes may range up to 30 feet apart. The fact that holes have to be drilled relatively close together is a good indicator of how far the fragmentation occurs. Even micro-fractures may only extend 40 blasthole diameters away from the blasthole. There is even less fracturing below the blasthole. This is demonstrated at surface coal mines, where only a few feet of rock separates the explosive (bottom of the blasthole) from the top of the coal seam, and protects the coal, which is a relatively weak or brittle rock, from fracturing.

WHAT IS GROUND VIBRATION?
When a blast is detonated, some of the energy travels through the ground as vibration. The ground vibration travels mainly on the surface at varying speeds depending upon the density and thickness of the geology. Although perceptible, the energy level decreases rapidly with distance. To the blaster, vibration represents wasted explosive energy. Blasting accounts for a large percentage of production costs, therefore it is to the operators advantage to maximize fragmentation by minimizing vibrations.

Blasting seismographs measure ground vibrations in terms of particle velocity which is the speed at which the ground moves. Particle velocity is measured in inches per second. The peak particle velocity (PPV) which is not to be exceeded to prevent damage to homes is 1.0 inch per second. Although 1.0 inch per second sounds like a large movement of the ground, it is important to remember that this is velocity of movement and the actual displacement occurring with ground vibrations from blasting is measured in thousandths (0.001) of an inch.

Ground vibrations are mainly controlled by limiting the pounds of explosives detonated per delay interval, as discussed above. For example, a 100-hole blast can be designed to have the same vibration as a 10-hole blast with the same pounds of explosives per hole and at the same distance.

WHAT IS AIRBLAST?
Airblast is a change in air pressure caused by blasting. When a blast is detonated, some of the energy is vented into the atmosphere through the fractures in the rock or through inadequate stemming material. However, the upward or outward movement of the rock from the blast is the main source of airblast. Due to the frequency content, airblast cannot be effectively heard by the human ear. Airblast travels at the speed of sound and can be influenced by wind and temperature inversions.

Airblast is also measured with a blasting seismograph equipped with a special microphone. The most common units to measure airblast is decibels (dB) which is a logarithmic sound-pressure scale related to human hearing. A difference of 6 dB represents a doubling or halving of the airblast energy.

Airblast is controlled by properly confining explosive charges in the borehole. This is accomplished by using adequate stemming material and by not loading explosives into weak zones in the rock. Airblast also represents wasted explosive energy. If the explosive gases escape from the blasthole, there will not be adequate energy to fragment the rock.

HOW ARE HOMES PROTECTED FROM GROUND VIBRATION AND AIRBLAST?
Many scientific studies have investigated the potential of blast vibrations to damage residential-type structures. The conclusions from these studies have been incorporated into DNR’s regulations. The blasting activities at all surface mining operations are regulated to prevent threshold or cosmetic damage (hairline cracks) to the weakest of building material. This is best accomplished with performance standards which limit peak particle velocities (ground vibration) and decibels (airblast). This is not to say that blasting limits which are designed to prevent damage will not be annoying to neighbors. Blast vibrations are perceptible to humans at much lower levels; as low as 0.02 inch per second PPV. The level of annoyance resulting from ground vibrations varies from person to person, thus making annoyance limits a poor choice for regulatory programs.

Blast vibrations can be perceptible in a home at great distances from a blast. Structures respond to very low levels of ground vibration and/or airblast. It is interesting to note that the everyday environmental influences on a home, such as doors slamming, kids running in the house, running up and down stairs, pounding nails, outside temperature, wind, humidity and soil moisture changes produce strains greater than legal blasting limits. These everyday activities often go unnoticed due to the fact that they are expected whereas blast vibrations can be unexpected.

COAL BLASTING

Authority for regulating blasting operations at coal mines comes from the Surface Coal Mining Land Conservation and Reclamation Act (SCMLCRA), which became effective February 1, 1983. The SCMLCRA is closely patterned after the federal Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA). The SCMLCRA has established air blast, ground vibration and fly rock standards, training, examination and certification requirements for persons supervising blasting operations, requirements for pre-blast surveys and public blasting notices, requirements for the maintenance of blasting records and enforcement provisions which give the Mine Safety and Training Division the authority to suspend or revoke blasting certificates, issue notices of violation and/or cessation orders and assess civil penalties in instances of non-compliance.

In addition to blasting, the SCMLCRA contains comprehensive environmental protection requirements such as hydrologic balance protection, soil replacement and disposal of toxic materials. All aspects of the SCMLCRA, other than blasting, are administered by the Land Reclamation Division within the Office of Mines and Minerals. So why do companies employ blasting at their operations? Below you will find answers to this and other questions related to blasting at Illinois mines.

WHY DO MINING COMPANIES BLAST?
Blasting is the most cost effective way to fracture rock. Therefore, blasting reduces the costs of consumer goods such as electricity, sand, gravel, concrete, aluminum, copper and many other products manufactured from mined resources. The old statement “If it can’t be grown, it has to be mined” is still true today.

WHAT EXPLOSIVES ARE USED FOR BLASTING?
Dynamite, a nitroglycerin-based explosive, is rarely used today for blasting at surface mines in Illinois. Blasting agents account for almost 99% of the explosive materials used. ANFO, ammonium nitrate and fuel oil, is the most common explosive. ANFO, pound for pound is as powerful as dynamite and is less expensive per pound and less sensitive to initiation and therefore safer to use.

WHAT IS BLASTING?
Holes are drilled into the rock to be broken. A portion of each hole is filled with explosives. The top portion of the hole is filled with inert material called stemming. The explosive in each hole is initiated with detonators or blasting caps. The detonators are designed to create millisecond (thousandths of a second) delay periods between individual holes or charges. A blast with 25 individual holes will essentially consist of smaller individual blasts, separated by millisecond delays and the entire blast may only last ¼ - ½ of a second. When an explosive is detonated, it undergoes a very rapid decomposition which produces a large volume or expansion of gases, instantly. This expansion of gases is what causes the rock to fracture. The stemming material keeps the gases in the rock to maximize the amount of the energy utilized in the fragmentation process. The delay periods between charges ensures that each hole will only have to fragment the rock immediately in front of it, which enhances fragmentation.

HOW FAR DOES THE FRAGMENTATION EXTEND FROM THE BLASTHOLE?
Small blastholes are usually drilled from 6 to 15 feet apart and large blastholes may range up to 30 feet apart. The fact that holes have to be drilled relatively close together is a good indicator of how far the fragmentation occurs. Even micro-fractures may only extend 40 blasthole diameters away from the blasthole. There is even less fracturing below the blasthole. This is demonstrated at surface coal mines, where only a few feet of rock separates the explosive (bottom of the blasthole) from the top of the coal seam, and protects the coal, which is a relatively weak or brittle rock, from fracturing.

WHAT IS GROUND VIBRATION?
When a blast is detonated, some of the energy travels through the ground as vibration. The ground vibration travels mainly on the surface at varying speeds depending upon the density and thickness of the geology. Although perceptible, the energy level decreases rapidly with distance. To the blaster, vibration represents wasted explosive energy. Blasting accounts for a large percentage of production costs, therefore it is to the operators advantage to maximize fragmentation by minimizing vibrations.

Blasting seismographs measure ground vibrations in terms of particle velocity which is the speed at which the ground moves. Particle velocity is measured in inches per second. The peak particle velocity (PPV) which is not to be exceeded to prevent damage to homes is 1.0 inch per second. Although 1.0 inch per second sounds like a large movement of the ground, it is important to remember that this is velocity of movement and the actual displacement occurring with ground vibrations from blasting is measured in thousandths (0.001) of an inch.

Ground vibrations are mainly controlled by limiting the pounds of explosives detonated per delay interval, as discussed above. For example, a 100-hole blast can be designed to have the same vibration as a 10-hole blast with the same pounds of explosives per hole and at the same distance.

WHAT IS AIRBLAST?
Airblast is a change in air pressure caused by blasting. When a blast is detonated, some of the energy is vented into the atmosphere through the fractures in the rock or through inadequate stemming material. However, the upward or outward movement of the rock from the blast is the main source of airblast. Due to the frequency content, airblast cannot be effectively heard by the human ear. Airblast travels at the speed of sound and can be influenced by wind and temperature inversions.

Airblast is also measured with a blasting seismograph equipped with a special microphone. The most common units to measure airblast is decibels (dB) which is a logarithmic sound-pressure scale related to human hearing. A difference of 6 dB represents a doubling or halving of the airblast energy.

Airblast is controlled by properly confining explosive charges in the borehole. This is accomplished by using adequate stemming material and by not loading explosives into weak zones in the rock. Airblast also represents wasted explosive energy. If the explosive gases escape from the blasthole, there will not be adequate energy to fragment the rock.

HOW ARE HOMES PROTECTED FROM GROUND VIBRATION AND AIRBLAST?
Many scientific studies have investigated the potential of blast vibrations to damage residential-type structures. The conclusions from these studies have been incorporated into DNR’s regulations. The blasting activities at all surface mining operations are regulated to prevent threshold or cosmetic damage (hairline cracks) to the weakest of building material. This is best accomplished with performance standards which limit peak particle velocities (ground vibration) and decibels (airblast). This is not to say that blasting limits which are designed to prevent damage will not be annoying to neighbors. Blast vibrations are perceptible to humans at much lower levels; as low as 0.02 inch per second PPV. The level of annoyance resulting from ground vibrations varies from person to person, thus making annoyance limits a poor choice for regulatory programs.

Blast vibrations can be perceptible in a home at great distances from a blast. Structures respond to very low levels of ground vibration and/or airblast. It is interesting to note that the everyday environmental influences on a home, such as doors slamming, kids running in the house, running up and down stairs, pounding nails, outside temperature, wind, humidity and soil moisture changes produce strains greater than legal blasting limits. These everyday activities often go unnoticed due to the fact that they are expected whereas blast vibrations can be unexpected.

COAL BLASTING

Authority for regulating blasting operations at coal mines comes from the Surface Coal Mining Land Conservation and Reclamation Act (SCMLCRA), which became effective February 1, 1983. The SCMLCRA is closely patterned after the federal Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA). The SCMLCRA has established air blast, ground vibration and fly rock standards, training, examination and certification requirements for persons supervising blasting operations, requirements for pre-blast surveys and public blasting notices, requirements for the maintenance of blasting records and enforcement provisions which give the Mine Safety and Training Division the authority to suspend or revoke blasting certificates, issue notices of violation and/or cessation orders and assess civil penalties in instances of non-compliance.

In addition to blasting, the SCMLCRA contains comprehensive environmental protection requirements such as hydrologic balance protection, soil replacement and disposal of toxic materials. All aspects of the SCMLCRA, other than blasting, are administered by the Land Reclamation Division within the Office of Mines and Minerals. So why do companies employ blasting at their operations? Below you will find answers to this and other questions related to blasting at Illinois mines.

WHY DO MINING COMPANIES BLAST?
Blasting is the most cost effective way to fracture rock. Therefore, blasting reduces the costs of consumer goods such as electricity, sand, gravel, concrete, aluminum, copper and many other products manufactured from mined resources. The old statement “If it can’t be grown, it has to be mined” is still true today.

WHAT EXPLOSIVES ARE USED FOR BLASTING?
Dynamite, a nitroglycerin-based explosive, is rarely used today for blasting at surface mines in Illinois. Blasting agents account for almost 99% of the explosive materials used. ANFO, ammonium nitrate and fuel oil, is the most common explosive. ANFO, pound for pound is as powerful as dynamite and is less expensive per pound and less sensitive to initiation and therefore safer to use.

WHAT IS BLASTING?
Holes are drilled into the rock to be broken. A portion of each hole is filled with explosives. The top portion of the hole is filled with inert material called stemming. The explosive in each hole is initiated with detonators or blasting caps. The detonators are designed to create millisecond (thousandths of a second) delay periods between individual holes or charges. A blast with 25 individual holes will essentially consist of smaller individual blasts, separated by millisecond delays and the entire blast may only last ¼ - ½ of a second. When an explosive is detonated, it undergoes a very rapid decomposition which produces a large volume or expansion of gases, instantly. This expansion of gases is what causes the rock to fracture. The stemming material keeps the gases in the rock to maximize the amount of the energy utilized in the fragmentation process. The delay periods between charges ensures that each hole will only have to fragment the rock immediately in front of it, which enhances fragmentation.

HOW FAR DOES THE FRAGMENTATION EXTEND FROM THE BLASTHOLE?
Small blastholes are usually drilled from 6 to 15 feet apart and large blastholes may range up to 30 feet apart. The fact that holes have to be drilled relatively close together is a good indicator of how far the fragmentation occurs. Even micro-fractures may only extend 40 blasthole diameters away from the blasthole. There is even less fracturing below the blasthole. This is demonstrated at surface coal mines, where only a few feet of rock separates the explosive (bottom of the blasthole) from the top of the coal seam, and protects the coal, which is a relatively weak or brittle rock, from fracturing.

WHAT IS GROUND VIBRATION?
When a blast is detonated, some of the energy travels through the ground as vibration. The ground vibration travels mainly on the surface at varying speeds depending upon the density and thickness of the geology. Although perceptible, the energy level decreases rapidly with distance. To the blaster, vibration represents wasted explosive energy. Blasting accounts for a large percentage of production costs, therefore it is to the operators advantage to maximize fragmentation by minimizing vibrations.

Blasting seismographs measure ground vibrations in terms of particle velocity which is the speed at which the ground moves. Particle velocity is measured in inches per second. The peak particle velocity (PPV) which is not to be exceeded to prevent damage to homes is 1.0 inch per second. Although 1.0 inch per second sounds like a large movement of the ground, it is important to remember that this is velocity of movement and the actual displacement occurring with ground vibrations from blasting is measured in thousandths (0.001) of an inch.

Ground vibrations are mainly controlled by limiting the pounds of explosives detonated per delay interval, as discussed above. For example, a 100-hole blast can be designed to have the same vibration as a 10-hole blast with the same pounds of explosives per hole and at the same distance.

WHAT IS AIRBLAST?
Airblast is a change in air pressure caused by blasting. When a blast is detonated, some of the energy is vented into the atmosphere through the fractures in the rock or through inadequate stemming material. However, the upward or outward movement of the rock from the blast is the main source of airblast. Due to the frequency content, airblast cannot be effectively heard by the human ear. Airblast travels at the speed of sound and can be influenced by wind and temperature inversions.

Airblast is also measured with a blasting seismograph equipped with a special microphone. The most common units to measure airblast is decibels (dB) which is a logarithmic sound-pressure scale related to human hearing. A difference of 6 dB represents a doubling or halving of the airblast energy.

Airblast is controlled by properly confining explosive charges in the borehole. This is accomplished by using adequate stemming material and by not loading explosives into weak zones in the rock. Airblast also represents wasted explosive energy. If the explosive gases escape from the blasthole, there will not be adequate energy to fragment the rock.

HOW ARE HOMES PROTECTED FROM GROUND VIBRATION AND AIRBLAST?
Many scientific studies have investigated the potential of blast vibrations to damage residential-type structures. The conclusions from these studies have been incorporated into DNR’s regulations. The blasting activities at all surface mining operations are regulated to prevent threshold or cosmetic damage (hairline cracks) to the weakest of building material. This is best accomplished with performance standards which limit peak particle velocities (ground vibration) and decibels (airblast). This is not to say that blasting limits which are designed to prevent damage will not be annoying to neighbors. Blast vibrations are perceptible to humans at much lower levels; as low as 0.02 inch per second PPV. The level of annoyance resulting from ground vibrations varies from person to person, thus making annoyance limits a poor choice for regulatory programs.

Blast vibrations can be perceptible in a home at great distances from a blast. Structures respond to very low levels of ground vibration and/or airblast. It is interesting to note that the everyday environmental influences on a home, such as doors slamming, kids running in the house, running up and down stairs, pounding nails, outside temperature, wind, humidity and soil moisture changes produce strains greater than legal blasting limits. These everyday activities often go unnoticed due to the fact that they are expected whereas blast vibrations can be unexpected.

Underground Mining

Underground mining is used when the coal seam lies deep in the earth. In an underground mine only some of the coal is removed. The coal that remains helps support the mine roof.

Underground mines look like a system of tunnels. The tunnels are used for traveling throughout the mine, moving coal from place to place and allowing air to circulate in the mine.

This is a diagram of an underground room and pillar mine.

The coal that is mined is put on conveyor belts. The conveyor belts take the coal to the surface.

It is very dark underground.

A conveyor belt takes coal out of the mine. The pillars are covered with a white powdered limestone to prevent spontaneous combustion.

There are three types of underground mines: slope, drift, and shaft.
When the coal seam is close to the surface but too deep to use surface mining, a slope mine can be built. In a slope mine a tunnel slants down from the surface to the coal seam.

In a slope mine, the miners and materials ride in special cars to get to the coal seam.

A drift mine is built when the coal seam lies in the side of a hill or mountain. Drift mines may also be built in a surface mine that has become too deep. There are many drift mines in the eastern United States.

The most common type of mine in Illinois is the shaft mine. These mines may be 125 to 1,000 feet deep. A large hole, or shaft, is drilled down into the ground until it reaches the coal seam.

The shaft can be 30 feet in diameter.

Men and materials ride an elevator down to the coal seam at a shaft mine.

Two Types of Underground Mining
In Illinois, two types of underground mining are used: room and pillar mining and longwall mining. Room and pillar mining leaves pillars, or blocks, of coal in the mine to support the roof. In longwall mining the roof is allowed to collapse in a planned sequence. More coal is mined during longwall mining.

Continuous miner
machines are used to cut the coal in room and pillar mining.

This continuous miner is operated by remote control.

Continuous miners
have a large rotating drum that moves up and down. Strong bits on the drum cut the coal. As the coal falls, large arms under the drum gather the coal onto a conveyor chain. The conveyor chain carries the coal to the back of the machine. The coal is unloaded at the back of the machine onto ram cars. The ram cars haul the coal to a conveyor belt.

Left to right: ram car and continuous miner Below: rotating drum with bits that cut the coal.

Longwall mining removes more coal than room and pillar mining.
Large panels of coal are extracted. The panels are 750 to 1,000 feet wide. The continuous miner cuts tunnels 18 to 20 feet wide.

The longwall panel shows how much coal the longwall mining machine cuts.

The longwall machine has large shields that support the roof and protect the miners during mining.

The shields are shown in yellow in the pictures.

The shearer is shown in orange. It shears the coal away. The conveyor belt is shown in gray.

A rotating drum, called a shearer, cuts the coal. The coal drops onto a conveyor belt. As more of the coal is cut, the machine moves forward. The roof behind the machine falls in a planned order.

The shields are shown in yellow in the pictures.

In 2000, there were 12 underground mines in Illinois.
The 3,131 employed miners produced 29,700,000 tons of coal.

Corn and soybeans grow above this underground coal mine.

Underground Mining

Underground mining is used when the coal seam lies deep in the earth. In an underground mine only some of the coal is removed. The coal that remains helps support the mine roof.

Underground mines look like a system of tunnels. The tunnels are used for traveling throughout the mine, moving coal from place to place and allowing air to circulate in the mine.

This is a diagram of an underground room and pillar mine.

The coal that is mined is put on conveyor belts. The conveyor belts take the coal to the surface.

It is very dark underground.

A conveyor belt takes coal out of the mine. The pillars are covered with a white powdered limestone to prevent spontaneous combustion.

There are three types of underground mines: slope, drift, and shaft.
When the coal seam is close to the surface but too deep to use surface mining, a slope mine can be built. In a slope mine a tunnel slants down from the surface to the coal seam.

In a slope mine, the miners and materials ride in special cars to get to the coal seam.

A drift mine is built when the coal seam lies in the side of a hill or mountain. Drift mines may also be built in a surface mine that has become too deep. There are many drift mines in the eastern United States.

The most common type of mine in Illinois is the shaft mine. These mines may be 125 to 1,000 feet deep. A large hole, or shaft, is drilled down into the ground until it reaches the coal seam.

The shaft can be 30 feet in diameter.

Men and materials ride an elevator down to the coal seam at a shaft mine.

Two Types of Underground Mining
In Illinois, two types of underground mining are used: room and pillar mining and longwall mining. Room and pillar mining leaves pillars, or blocks, of coal in the mine to support the roof. In longwall mining the roof is allowed to collapse in a planned sequence. More coal is mined during longwall mining.

Continuous miner
machines are used to cut the coal in room and pillar mining.

This continuous miner is operated by remote control.

Continuous miners
have a large rotating drum that moves up and down. Strong bits on the drum cut the coal. As the coal falls, large arms under the drum gather the coal onto a conveyor chain. The conveyor chain carries the coal to the back of the machine. The coal is unloaded at the back of the machine onto ram cars. The ram cars haul the coal to a conveyor belt.

Left to right: ram car and continuous miner Below: rotating drum with bits that cut the coal.

Longwall mining removes more coal than room and pillar mining.
Large panels of coal are extracted. The panels are 750 to 1,000 feet wide. The continuous miner cuts tunnels 18 to 20 feet wide.

The longwall panel shows how much coal the longwall mining machine cuts.

The longwall machine has large shields that support the roof and protect the miners during mining.

The shields are shown in yellow in the pictures.

The shearer is shown in orange. It shears the coal away. The conveyor belt is shown in gray.

A rotating drum, called a shearer, cuts the coal. The coal drops onto a conveyor belt. As more of the coal is cut, the machine moves forward. The roof behind the machine falls in a planned order.

The shields are shown in yellow in the pictures.

In 2000, there were 12 underground mines in Illinois.
The 3,131 employed miners produced 29,700,000 tons of coal.

Corn and soybeans grow above this underground coal mine.

Underground Mining

Underground mining is used when the coal seam lies deep in the earth. In an underground mine only some of the coal is removed. The coal that remains helps support the mine roof.

Underground mines look like a system of tunnels. The tunnels are used for traveling throughout the mine, moving coal from place to place and allowing air to circulate in the mine.

This is a diagram of an underground room and pillar mine.

The coal that is mined is put on conveyor belts. The conveyor belts take the coal to the surface.

It is very dark underground.

A conveyor belt takes coal out of the mine. The pillars are covered with a white powdered limestone to prevent spontaneous combustion.

There are three types of underground mines: slope, drift, and shaft.
When the coal seam is close to the surface but too deep to use surface mining, a slope mine can be built. In a slope mine a tunnel slants down from the surface to the coal seam.

In a slope mine, the miners and materials ride in special cars to get to the coal seam.

A drift mine is built when the coal seam lies in the side of a hill or mountain. Drift mines may also be built in a surface mine that has become too deep. There are many drift mines in the eastern United States.

The most common type of mine in Illinois is the shaft mine. These mines may be 125 to 1,000 feet deep. A large hole, or shaft, is drilled down into the ground until it reaches the coal seam.

The shaft can be 30 feet in diameter.

Men and materials ride an elevator down to the coal seam at a shaft mine.

Two Types of Underground Mining
In Illinois, two types of underground mining are used: room and pillar mining and longwall mining. Room and pillar mining leaves pillars, or blocks, of coal in the mine to support the roof. In longwall mining the roof is allowed to collapse in a planned sequence. More coal is mined during longwall mining.

Continuous miner
machines are used to cut the coal in room and pillar mining.

This continuous miner is operated by remote control.

Continuous miners
have a large rotating drum that moves up and down. Strong bits on the drum cut the coal. As the coal falls, large arms under the drum gather the coal onto a conveyor chain. The conveyor chain carries the coal to the back of the machine. The coal is unloaded at the back of the machine onto ram cars. The ram cars haul the coal to a conveyor belt.

Left to right: ram car and continuous miner Below: rotating drum with bits that cut the coal.

Longwall mining removes more coal than room and pillar mining.
Large panels of coal are extracted. The panels are 750 to 1,000 feet wide. The continuous miner cuts tunnels 18 to 20 feet wide.

The longwall panel shows how much coal the longwall mining machine cuts.

The longwall machine has large shields that support the roof and protect the miners during mining.

The shields are shown in yellow in the pictures.

The shearer is shown in orange. It shears the coal away. The conveyor belt is shown in gray.

A rotating drum, called a shearer, cuts the coal. The coal drops onto a conveyor belt. As more of the coal is cut, the machine moves forward. The roof behind the machine falls in a planned order.

The shields are shown in yellow in the pictures.

In 2000, there were 12 underground mines in Illinois.
The 3,131 employed miners produced 29,700,000 tons of coal.

Corn and soybeans grow above this underground coal mine.

Underground Mining

Underground mining is used when the coal seam lies deep in the earth. In an underground mine only some of the coal is removed. The coal that remains helps support the mine roof.

Underground mines look like a system of tunnels. The tunnels are used for traveling throughout the mine, moving coal from place to place and allowing air to circulate in the mine.

This is a diagram of an underground room and pillar mine.

The coal that is mined is put on conveyor belts. The conveyor belts take the coal to the surface.

It is very dark underground.

A conveyor belt takes coal out of the mine. The pillars are covered with a white powdered limestone to prevent spontaneous combustion.

There are three types of underground mines: slope, drift, and shaft.
When the coal seam is close to the surface but too deep to use surface mining, a slope mine can be built. In a slope mine a tunnel slants down from the surface to the coal seam.

In a slope mine, the miners and materials ride in special cars to get to the coal seam.

A drift mine is built when the coal seam lies in the side of a hill or mountain. Drift mines may also be built in a surface mine that has become too deep. There are many drift mines in the eastern United States.

The most common type of mine in Illinois is the shaft mine. These mines may be 125 to 1,000 feet deep. A large hole, or shaft, is drilled down into the ground until it reaches the coal seam.

The shaft can be 30 feet in diameter.

Men and materials ride an elevator down to the coal seam at a shaft mine.

Two Types of Underground Mining
In Illinois, two types of underground mining are used: room and pillar mining and longwall mining. Room and pillar mining leaves pillars, or blocks, of coal in the mine to support the roof. In longwall mining the roof is allowed to collapse in a planned sequence. More coal is mined during longwall mining.

Continuous miner
machines are used to cut the coal in room and pillar mining.

This continuous miner is operated by remote control.

Continuous miners
have a large rotating drum that moves up and down. Strong bits on the drum cut the coal. As the coal falls, large arms under the drum gather the coal onto a conveyor chain. The conveyor chain carries the coal to the back of the machine. The coal is unloaded at the back of the machine onto ram cars. The ram cars haul the coal to a conveyor belt.

Left to right: ram car and continuous miner Below: rotating drum with bits that cut the coal.

Longwall mining removes more coal than room and pillar mining.
Large panels of coal are extracted. The panels are 750 to 1,000 feet wide. The continuous miner cuts tunnels 18 to 20 feet wide.

The longwall panel shows how much coal the longwall mining machine cuts.

The longwall machine has large shields that support the roof and protect the miners during mining.

The shields are shown in yellow in the pictures.

The shearer is shown in orange. It shears the coal away. The conveyor belt is shown in gray.

A rotating drum, called a shearer, cuts the coal. The coal drops onto a conveyor belt. As more of the coal is cut, the machine moves forward. The roof behind the machine falls in a planned order.

The shields are shown in yellow in the pictures.

In 2000, there were 12 underground mines in Illinois.
The 3,131 employed miners produced 29,700,000 tons of coal.

Corn and soybeans grow above this underground coal mine.