The mining process

There are two basic ways to mine coal: surface mining (or open pit) and underground mining. All of Rio Tinto Energy America's coal mines are open pit, or surface mine, operations. After the coal seams are found, geologists and engineers estimate the quantity, quality and depth of coal in the area. Environmental factors are evaluated, mine plans are developed, and costs are analyzed. After we obtain the necessary permits, the mining process can begin.

In Rio Tinto Energy America’s open pit operations, topsoil is first carefully removed and stored where it can be used again to restore the mine to a healthy, thriving ecosystem. The rest of the dirt, or overburden, is blasted and removed by huge machines called draglines or by trucks and large shovels. Additional blasting occurs to free the coal, which then is loaded onto haul trucks and trucked to coal handling facilities where the coal is sized, blended and loaded into trains to meet customer specifications. Finally, the coal is transported to power plants throughout the country, ranging from Washington State to Florida.

After the land is mined, the land it is reclaimed using modern, up-to-date techniques, and is restored for either grazing or open rangeland use.