Colorado Mines

Elk Creek Mine

Owner

Oxbow Mining, LLC

Rail Loading Point

Somerset, Colorado

Background on Mine

Developed in 2003, the Elk Creek Mine, located near Somerset in Gunnison County, Colorado, annually produces approximately 6,000,000 tons of high-quality steam coal. This underground longwall mine uses two continuous miners for development. It operates in the "D" Seam in Gunnison County, North Fork Valley. From the mining face, the coal is conveyed directly to one of two stack tubes, then into a reclaim system, and finally into the batch-weigh bin loading facility. Prior to shipping, all coal is screened and crushed to a nominal size of 2"x0".

Coal from the Elk Creek Mine can also be supplied as stoker coal, which is processed and loaded from Oxbow Carbon & Minerals LLC's Terror Creek Processing and Loadout facility located in Paonia, Co.

Oxbow Mining LLC operated the Sanborn Creek Mine from 1991-2003.

Mine Type

Underground/Longwall

Recoverable Reserves

+65,000,000 tons

Current Annual Production Capacity

6,000,000 tons

Loadout Description and/or Configuration

Direct train loading using batch-weigh bin system.

Weighing System

Kanawa scales with batch-weigh bin loading.

Loading Rate per Hour

+6,000 tons

Load Track Configuration and Capacity

Double ended empty/load track paralleling main track, 58 cars between silo and east clearance point. Loading trains occupy main line.

Loading Mode

Up grade with locomotive power.

Maximum Cars Per Train

115 cars

Washing Capability

Coal Specifications

12,000+ Btu/lb., 0.43% Sulphur