Coal seams of currently active operations at the Virginia Mine Complex include the Jawbone, Jawbone Rider, Upper Banner, Lower Banner, Big Fork, Kennedy, Aily, Raven splits and Tiller. These seams are all historically utilized as coking coal. Due to the high value of these coking coals, these mineable seams have been extensively mined in the past.
Strata on the Property are of the Pennsylvanian-age Wise and Norton Formations. The base of the Wise formation is the Dorchester coal bed. The Gladeville Sandstone exists between the formations. The rock formations between the coal seams are characterized by sandstone and shale units.
Mineralization
The generalized stratigraphic columnar section demonstrates the vertical relationship of the principal coal seams and rock formations on the Property.
Deposits
The Virginia complex currently produces both High-Volatile-A bituminous coal, and a Mid-Volatile bituminous coal as primary products.
Due to the long history of mining in the region and the high value of these coking coals, all the seams have been extensively mined in the past. The coal seams reach the highest structural elevations along the southeastern margin of the Property, generally dipping toward the northwest. The seams of interest are generally situated above drainage or near and are therefore accessible via outcrop or through short slopes. The rock formations between the coal seams are characterized mainly by sandstone ........