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Development of mining methods in Gulf Coast lignites

Journal Article · · Min. Eng. (Littleton, Colo.); (United States)
OSTI ID:5573869
;
Costs to open new mines in the Gulf Coast region will be high and lead times long (average seven years). The capital investment for overburden removal equipment, the size under consideration for the region, is projected to be a third to one half the total mine project investment. Therefore, the analysis of the most efficient system or combination of systems must be evaluated in these future Gulf Coast lignite mines. Figure 4 shows the projected direct stripping cost per ton of a typical Gulf Coast lignite mine with an annual production of 4.5 Mt (5 million st). For a 63 m (200 ft) deep pit, the dragline method seems to be the cheapest approach. Stripping costs are higher for a bucket wheel excavator system, but the bucket wheel excavator system is less expensive than the truck-shovel or scraper system. Thus, in deeper lignite mines, as much overburden as possible should be allocated to the dragline--based on operational limitations, prospective geological and geotechnical conditions, and the draglines' projected rehandle quantities. To minimize cost, remove overburden at greater depths, and provide successful reclamation, a combination mining method may be the optimum materials handling approach.
Research Organization:
Phillips Coal Co., 2929 North Central Expressway, Richardson, TX 75080
OSTI ID:
5573869
Journal Information:
Min. Eng. (Littleton, Colo.); (United States), Journal Name: Min. Eng. (Littleton, Colo.); (United States) Vol. 35:8; ISSN MIENA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
012000* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Mining
BROWN COAL
BUCKET WHEEL EXCAVATORS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
COAL
COAL MINES
COAL MINING
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS
CUTTINGS REMOVAL
DRAGLINES
EARTHMOVING EQUIPMENT
ENERGY SOURCES
EQUIPMENT
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GULF COAST
INVESTMENT
LIGNITE
MATERIALS
MATERIALS HANDLING
MATERIALS HANDLING EQUIPMENT
MINE HAULAGE
MINES
MINING
MINING EQUIPMENT
NORTH AMERICA
PRODUCTION
REMOVAL
SURFACE MINING
SYSTEMS ANALYSIS
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
USA