Overview

Mine Type	Underground
Status	Inactive / Suspended
Commodities	Coal (thermal)
Mining Method	Room-and-pillar Continuous
Production Start	...
Mine Life	...
Snapshot	Poplar Grove Mine is a part of the Buck Creek Complex. In February 2021, the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Kentucky confirmed Hartshorne’s plan of liquidation. In February 2021, the plan of liquidation became effective, and Hartshorne commenced the final stages of winding up the estates. Hartshorne executed a liquidation trust agreement and transferred its remaining assets and liabilities to a liquidation trust, as well as assigning remaining critical contracts and insurance policies. Hartshorne funded the carve-out escrow with the majority of Hartshorne’s cash-on-hand and transferred any remaining cash to the liquidation trust. The Hartshorne entities were dissolved on the effective date. The remaining assets will be liquidated by the trustee over time. There were no mining production activities during the March 2021 quarter.

Deposit type

• Sedimentary

Summary:

The WK No. 9 Seam is a well-known and highly productive seam in the Western Kentucky portion of the Illinois Basin, and, in conjunction with the WK No. 11 Seam, represents the overwhelming majority of production produced in the West Kentucky region.

In the area of the Buck Creek Complex, the rock strata above the WK No. 9 Seam generally consists of the Turner Mine Shale (“TMS”), a thin, black shale immediately above the coal which is overlain by the Canton Shale and Vermillionville Sandstone. Immediately below the WKY No. 9 Seam is claystone followed by shale and sandy shale.

Coal seam thickness of the WK No.11 seam averages 4.2 feet with clean coal quality characteristics similar to the Poplar Grove Mine’s WK No.9 seam. Mining conditions for the WK No.11 coal seam appear to be excellent with the immediate roof consisting of a thin black shale horizon overlain by limestone. The roof conditions in the WK No. 11 seam result in lower operating cost compared to the WK No. 9 because the density of roof support materials is less.

Both the WK No. 9 and No. 11 seams are relatively flat with a dip towards the northwest. The dip of the coal, because it is shallow, will not have an adverse impact on mine productivity.

Mining Methods

- subscription is required.

Comminution

Crushers and Mills

Processing

- subscription is required.

Production

Operational metrics