Achieving New Depths: West Virginia Coal Mining

By Kensie Hamilton

I think it’s fair to say that West Virginia is recognized by its coal. I think it’s also fair to say that most people have no idea what it really takes to be able to mine 160 million tons of West Virginia coal annually. As West Virginia Executive continually strives to take each issue of the magazine to new heights, or depths in this instance, we felt it was important to use the 2011 Energy Issue to introduce the realities of West Virginia coal mining to our readers. Earlier this year, we partnered with International Coal Group in Beckley to be able to go 860 feet below the Earth’s surface to create this six-page pictorial, illuminating the reality of working underground, sometimes in very small spaces, with state-of-the-art mining technology.

Jamie McClaugherty, the foreman of the ICG Beckley mine where we did our photo shoot, pointed out that “People want to focus on the negatives of the industry without understanding what goes on below the surface.” That is one reason why WVE wanted to include this pictorial in our 2011 Energy Issue. Joe Tussey, president of ICG Beckley, wants to make sure that everyone understands that “These miners are professional people who are highly skilled and highly trained. They perform their jobs safely every day.”

We hope you find the images that follow to be both educational and enlightening as we share with you a view of the coal industry that is not commonly seen.

We would like to give a special thanks to Tracy Toler for his hard work on this photo shoot.

The second shift makes their way into the mine at shift change. 

Dan Williamson checks the belt transfer, which moves the coal quickly through the mine before it is processed and cleaned in the plant. This is Williamson’s 31st year as a miner. 

Thomas Dulin, who has been a miner for three years, inserts a bolt into the 6-foot-high roof. Roof bolts are placed every four feet to ensure the safety of the mine. 

Kevin “Cornbread” Cook operates a shuttle car to move the coal from behind the continuous miner to the feeder. He moves approximately 70 to 90 loads in a 10-hour shift. Cornbread has been a miner for nine years. 

Jason Bradley, Joey Smith and Jeff Stewart stand in front of the mantrip that carries the miners to the sections they mine. By the time the seam has been completely mined, the daily trips will total 17 miles. 

Mike “Animal” Martin is a scoop operator. He helps make sure that all mined areas are cleaned of spilled coal that otherwise could become pulverized coal dust that would pose a risk of explosion. He also helps spread incombustible rock dust that helps reduce the risk of explosions. Animal has been a miner for 20 years. 

Adam Wood, a continuous mine operator, checks the position of the miner before preparing to move the miner to the seam. Wood has been a miner for more than seven years. The continuous miner is a piece of machinery that tears the coal from the seam and loads it into a shuttle car. 

Mike Underwood is dumping a load of coal from the shuttle car onto the belt that will bring the coal to the surface. Underwood has been a miner for five years. 

Eric Jenkins is a red hat miner, which means he is a new miner and has less experience. Jenkins is cleaning under the No. 1 belt drive at the end of his shift.