Coal seams are at various elevations in the mountains.  Some coal seams need to be accessed by a shaft which is very deep and some coal seams are easily accessed by stripping the mountain side to expose the coal seam.
 
 

This picture shows stripping of the mountain side to expose a coal seam.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The coal seam has been exposed and the mining process is ready to begin.
 
 
 
 

This is a mine in operation which shows the supply track and conveyor belt.  The track is used for hauling supplies and workers underground.  The conveyor belt transports the coal from the working area underground to the outside stockpile.
 
 
 
 
 

Underground view of the track and conveyor belt heading.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Power distribution center - Most mining equipment underground uses electricity to operate.  A high voltage cable runs from outside the mine to the underground distribution center, and from there individual cables go to various pieces of mining equipment.
 

This conventional way of mining drills holes in the coal.  Explosives are placed in the holes and ignited in order to break up the coal.
 
 
 
 

This continuous mining machine is a more productive way to remove coal from an underground coal mine.  A continuous miner cuts and loads the coal into haulage equipment which transports the coal to a loading point at the conveyor belt.
 
 

This shuttle car is one type of coal haulage machinery presently used.
 
 
 
 
 
 

After the coal is removed from a heading, this roof bolting machine installs roof supports by drilling the rock and inserting either conventional or resin roof bolts.  These bolts tie the roof strata together to control roof falls.  This is considered the most dangerous job in the coal mines.
 
 
 

  This operator is drilling a hole in the roof for the roof bolt.
 

This operator is installing a roof bolt into a previously drilled hole.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

After coal has been cut and the roof supported, the utility man cleans up loose coal and applies rock dust to the coal wall to limit coal dust explosion hazards.  He then hangs curtain to ventilate the working area.
 
 
 
 

This scoop is used to pick-up loose coal from the mine floor after the mining process.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

All mining equipment uses hydraulics and electrical motors to operate.  A mechanic is always available for repairs.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

This mechanic is dreaming of working on the #24 car!
 
 

After the coal mine has advanced to the mine limit - pillars, or blocks of coal that support the top, are extracted as the mining process retreats.  Temporary wood supports, timbers, are used while removing the pillars.  This is probably the most dangerous part of the underground mining process.  The timbers are used to support loose rock and as warning signals as the main top settles.  This area is never entered again.
 

  Lunch time in an underground coal mine.
      NO MCDONALDS IN SIGHT!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Coal mining is governed by state and federal laws that involve much paperwork.  All aspects of the mining process are recorded daily (ex. methane checks, oxygen content, air velocity readings).