Coal mining has been a core industry in Southern Illinois since the 1800s. Many of the mines in the area started using wash plants to refine their products in the mid- to late- 20th century. As technology has improved over the years it is now possible to recover some of that product that was considered waste from those older wash plants. This product is generally referred to as carbon in the industry.
Through a related party, Knight Hawk is the primary customer of a carbon recovery facility at the former Mine 21 near Sesser, IL. There, carbon fines and coarse material that were left to waste are retrieved and blended with other coal we mine. In addition, the product recovered here is low in sulfur which helps us to meet lower sulfur blends some customers require.
