The Oaktown Mining Complex is situated in the Carbondale Group (Formation) of the Pennsylvania System. Near-surface geology of this area primarily consists of the overlying Quarternary System. Coal seams mined in this region are generally classified as medium- to high-sulfur content and moderate ash thermal coal products.

The Indiana V Seam is the only coal seam of economic interest on the property. Structurally, the Indiana V Seam consists of a singular and relatively consistent horizon averaging between 4 ft to 8 ft thick containing little in-seam parting. The Indiana V globally dips in the general westerly direction and experiences localized areas where the seam elevations vary. Pronounced gradients can occur periodically in the form of rolls in the seam. Depths for the Indiana V Seam range from approximately 300 ft to 450 ft below ground surface within the Oaktown Mining Complex area.

The Indiana V Seam coal bed is characterized as high sulfur and moderate ash coal that is used for steam purposes.

Pennsylvanian sedimentary strata comprise the uppermost stratigraphic units of bedrock in and around the Oaktown Mining Complex. These units primarily include bedrock of, in descending stratigraphic order, the McLeansboro, Carbondale and Racoon Creek Group. The strata of the Pennsylvanian system are predominantly clastic and contain subordinate amounts of coal and limestone. The Indiana V (Springfield) coal seam resides within the Carbondale Grou ........

Coal is produced by the Oaktown Fuels No. 1 underground mine using the Room-and-pillar mining method is a partial extraction technique that recovers a portion of a coal seam.

Access to the Oaktown Fuels No. 1 Mine is via a 90-foot-deep box cut and a 2,200-foot slope, which facilitates the egress of coals being mined in excess of 375 feet below the surface.

Oaktown Fuels No. 1 Mine typically operates as a a three to four super-section operation.

A typical R&P production section will include one or two CM units, one to three roof bolting machines, and between two and three coal haulage machines (most commonly either ram cars [RC] or shuttle cars [SC]) per CM. The main piece of equipment is the CM, which is a heavy, steel framed machine (often over 40 tons) mounted on cat tracks, that operates on AC power. Key components of a CM include:
- Electric and hydraulic motors which power the CM’s operation.
- A tram mechanism that propels the machine.
- A horizontally mounted, cylindrical cutting head used to cut the coal seam.
- A pair of gathering arms that pick-up/clear away the mined material.
- An internal conveyor system used to load the mined product into a haulage vehicle.

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