Coal: The Choice for the Future

Our first mine, Creek Paum opened in the spring 1998 with 15 miners producing 30,000 tons per month (tpm). Today there are 60 miners and 20 contractors working at Creek Paum to produce 80,000 tpm during two, 10-hour shifts.

The workhorses of the operation are six Caterpillar D-11 Carrydozers. Coal is recovered from the Murphysboro seam. The coal burns at 11,750 BTUs and contains 1.2 percent sulfur and 6 percent ash.

As secondary seam, Mount Rorah, is also mined. It burns at 11,000 BTUs and is comprised of 4 percent sulfur and 10 percent ash.

Overall, there are 5 million tons of coal reserves here. The wash plant opened in 2000 and features 300 tons per hour heavy-media utilizing cyclones. It has stoker coal capacities and operates 24 hours a day.