After several decades without an operating undereground mine, a new underground coal mine began operations in Blacklick Township in August 2000. This sign is located at the intersection of Twin Rocks-Vintondale road and the haulage road leading to the mining operation near the former village of Bracken, locally know as "Backen Dip" because of the dip in the road as it crosses over the stream in this location.
Rosebud Mining Company's Twin Rocks Mine is located approximately 3 miles west of Rt. 271 in Blacklick Township, Cambria County. The mine is ventilated by one exhaust fan with drifts for main intakes in the Lower Freeport (D) coal seam. As of June 2001 employment is provided for 13 underground employees and 2 surface employees. The mine is developed approximately 3,000 feet from the highwall face-up area. The Twin Rocks Mine is classified as a non-gassy mine.
There is currently one active continuous miner section operating
in this mine. This section is a 3-entry panel with a Fairchild
F330 auger-type continuous miner, LongAirdox continuous haulage,
2 Long-Airdox RB15 single-boom roof bolters with ATRS, and 3 S&S
scoop tractors. The development of the blocks in this section
is 50 feet by 50 feet (center-to-center). The average overburden
is approximately 300 feet, and the average coal seam height is
3.3 feet.
The coal is transported via conveyor belts to the surface where
the coal is screened. It is then transported by truck from the
surface to the power plants.