It was then stockpiled and revegetated in designated areas on the permit. Overburden was then removed by use of a dragline and bulldozers. In the process of removing the overburden, an acid-producing sandstone was encountered. It was very important to deal with this material as it was encountered to prevent it from making contact with the floor of the pit. If these two materials had not been moved, contamination might have occurred.
Photograph shows what the pit floor looks like.
In order to maximize the amount of coal recovered, an augering operation was conducted. This consisted of drilling holes in the remaining coal reserve. Once the coal had been extracted, the holes were sealed with clay material from the overburden. Lastly, the pit was lined with non-acidic overburden and covered with a layer of agricultural limestone. It was then backfilled and regraded.