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 50 miners and 20 contractors working at Creek Paum to produce 600,000 tons annually.

The workhorses of the operation are six Caterpillar D-11 Carrydozers. Coal is recovered from the Murphysboro seam. The coal burns at 11,800 BTUs and contains 1.3 percent sulfur and 5.5 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 2.5 million tons of coal reserves here. The 300-tons-per-hour wash plant opened in 2000 and utilizes heavy-media cyclones. It has stoker coal capacities.