• Data Access
  • Your Email  
  • Your Email  
Keep me signed in.
Forgot your password?
Close
  • Forgot Your Password?
  • Enter the email you signed up with and we'll email it to you.
  • Your Email  
Close
Back
MDO
Mining Data Solutions
  • Home
  • Database
  • Subscribe
  • Sign In
  • Sign In
United States
West Elk Mine

This page is not tailored to
devices with screen width under 750 px.
 Location:
61 km NW from Gunnison, Colorado, United States

  Address:
5174 Highway 133
P.O. Box 591
Somerset
Colorado, United States
81434
Phone(970)-929-2200
WebsiteWeb
Additional Resources for Suppliers & Investors
Drill results over 30 g/t Au
Stay on top of recent discoveries.
Search drill results by commodity and grade.
Largest mines in the Americas
Mining and mill throughput capaciites.
Full profiles of select mines and projects.
Deepest underground mines
Shaft depth and mill throughput data.
Full profiles of select mines and projects.
Heavy mobile equipment
HME type, model, size and quantity.
Full profiles of select mines and projects.
Permitting and construction projects
Projects at the permitting or construction stage. Full profiles of select projects.
Mines with remote camps
Camp size, mine location and contacts.
Full profiles of select mines and projects.
Mines & projects in United States
A list of country's mines and projects.
Full profiles of select mines and projects.
  • Overview
  • Owners
  • Geology
  • Mining
  • Processing
  • Sales
  • Reserves
  • Personnel
  • Filings & News

Thank you for browsing through mine profiles compiled by the Mining Data Online team.

Would you like to subcribe or schedule a Demo?
  • Name:
     
  • Company:
     
  • Position:
     
  • Phone:
  • Email:
  • Message:

Overview

StageProduction
Mine TypeUnderground
Commodities
  • Coal (thermal)
Mining Method
  • Longwall
  • Continuous
  • Room-and-pillar
Processing
  • Crush & Screen plant
Mine Life2024


Owners

Source: p. 60
CompanyInterestOwnership
Arch Resources, Inc. 100 % Indirect
Mountain Coal Company, LLC (operator) 100 % Direct
Mountain Coal Company, LLC is an indirect subsidiary of Arch Coal, Inc.

Deposit Type

  • Sedimentary

Source: Source

Summary:

The West Elk mining complex extracts thermal coal from the E seam. West Elk is currently working on developing the B seam at the complex.


Mining Methods

  • Longwall
  • Continuous
  • Room-and-pillar

Source: p.11, 12, 18

Summary:

West Elk is an underground mining complex located s in Gunnison County, Colorado. The West Elk mining complex extracts thermal coal from the E seam and currently working on developing the B seam at the complex.

West Elk complex currently consists of a longwall, continuous miner sections and a loadout facility. The loadout facility can load an 11,000-ton train in less than three hours.

Longwall mining involves using a mechanical shearer to extract coal from long rectangular blocks of medium to thick seams. Ultimate seam recovery using longwall mining techniques can exceed 75%. In longwall mining, continuous miners are used to develop access to these long rectangular coal blocks. Hydraulically powered supports temporarily hold up the roof of the mine while a rotating drum mechanically advances across the face of the coal seam, cutting the coal from the face. Chain conveyors then move the loosened coal to an underground mine conveyor system for delivery to the surface. Once coal is extracted from an area, the roof is allowed to collapse in a controlled fashion.

Room and pillar mining is effective for small blocks of thin coal seams. In room and pillar mining, a network of rooms is cut into the coal seam, leaving a series of pillars of coal to support the roof of the mine. Continuous miners are used to cut the coal and shuttle cars are used to transport the coal to a conveyor belt for further transportation to the surface. The pillars generated as part of this mining method can constitute up to 40% of the total coal in a seam. Higher seam recovery rates can be achieved if retreat mining is used. In retreat mining, coal is mined from the pillars as workers retreat. As retreat mining occurs, the roof is allowed to collapse in a controlled fashion.


Crushing and Grinding


Processing

  • Crush & Screen plant

Source: Source

Summary:

Raw coal from West Elk mine is shipping directly via the Union Pacific railroad. The loadout facility can load an 11,000-ton train in less than three hours.


Production:

CommodityUnits2021202020192018201720162015
Coal (thermal) M tons 3.32.54.14.84.945.1
All production numbers are expressed as ROM coal.


Reserves at December 31, 2021:

CategoryTonnage Commodity
Proven 46.9 M tons Coal (thermal)
Probable 5 M tons Coal (thermal)
Proven & Probable 51.9 M tons Coal (thermal)


Heavy Mobile Equipment:

Mine Management:

Job TitleNameProfileRef. Date
General Manager Weston Norris LinkedIn May 19, 2022

Staff:

EmployeesYear
254 2021
320 2020
348 2019
299 2018
266 2017
261 2016
367 2015
351 2014
358 2013
368 2012

Corporate Filings & Presentations:

DocumentYear
Form 10-K 2021
Other 2021
Annual Report 2020
Other 2020
Other 2020
Form 10-K 2019
Other 2019
Form 10-K 2018
Form 10-K 2017
Form 10-K 2016
Form 10-K 2015
Form 10-K 2014

Aerial view:

Terms of Use Privacy Policy © 2017-2022 MDO Data Online Inc.