The UK has abandoned coal mining as a source of energy, but the industry regulator has four planning issues before it for licence to mine or closure. The Whitehaven prospect is well known but the other 3 are below the radar nationally. Lochinvar, Aberpergwm, and an opencast operation, Bradley. Dan-y-Graig underground project sadly closed due to poor health and safety in the small workings where a miner was severely injured.
Lockinvar.
The description below is quoted from the New Age Exploration Ltd. of Australia.
‘The project consists of three adjacent exploration and conditional underground mining licences known as Lochinvar, Lochinvar North and Lochinvar south. All three licences are 100% owned by NAE.
Historic exploration at Lochinvar was commenced in the 1950’s by the National Coal Board, which sank an initial four boreholes. This work proved the existence of the same sequence of thick coals of the Middle Coal Measures, which had been previously mined at Rowanburn colliery, within the Lochinvar North licence.
From 1979 to 1983 the NCB drilled a further nine boreholes and shot 55 kilometres of seismic lines, proving the existence of a large, concealed coking coalfield (the Coalfield), now known as the Lochinvar Coking Coal project.
NAE acquired the Lochinvar licence in 2012 and drilled an initial 4 cored drill holes at Lochinvar in 2013 and a further 6 holes in 2014.’
[Note. The Canonbie Coalfield prospect was first planned several years ago by directors of what is now West Cumbria Mining proposing to mine at Whitehaven.]
‘Geological data collected from the two phases of NAE drilling and a re-interpretation of historic seismic data has improved the understanding of the Lochinvar structure.
Palaris completed a revised structural interpretation in August 2014, which identified an increased density of faulting compared to the previous interpretation. The Scoping Study Mine plans are based on this revised structural interpretation.
This Resource occurs between 200m and 1,000m depth, with 95 Mt of the total resource, being shallower than 800m depth. All of the Indicated Resource is shallower than 800m depth.
Average seam thickness is 2.2m for the Nine Foot Seam and 1.8m for the Six Foot Seam.’
‘A total coking coal resource of 111 Mt comprising 49 Mt Indicated Resource and 62 Mt Inferred Resource has been defined within the Lochinvar licence by Palaris for the Nine Foot and Six Foot Seams within the Lochinvar licence.
The Indicated Resource, Inferred Resource and Exploration Target have been reported in accordance with the JORC Code (2012) and have been independently estimated by Palaris Australia Pty Ltd, an internationally recognised mining consultancy specialising in coal exploration and mining. The resource estimate is based on 9 holes drilled by the National Coal Board (NCB) from 1979 through to 1983 and 10 holes drilled by NAE in 2013 and 2014.
An additional Exploration Target of 31 – 64Mt has also been identified which includes both the Lochinvar and Lochinvar South Leases.
A further Exploration Target for the Lochinvar North licence of 77-142 Mt was estimated by Palaris in April 2019.
The potential quantity and quality of the Exploration Targets is conceptual in nature. Insufficient exploration has been undertaken to estimate a Mineral Resource and it is uncertain that further exploration will result in the estimation of a Mineral Resource.’
Aberpergym.
This is a small operational mine near Neath, South Wales. Planning to extend workings is in hand.
The mine produces anthracite. Close by British Coal in 1985, it reopened a year later and has gone through challenging times with a short closure in 2015 but reopened 2018. Owned by Energybuild Mining Ltd, a carbon products company with mines in Ukraine, Russia and China. Information about the operations of the mine is quoted from the company’s web site if not stated as otherwise.
‘Aberpergwm benefits from a high tech production unit and processing facility employing a skilled workforce from the locality.
The underground mine includes a full complement of room and pillar equipment manufactured by JOY (Komatsu). The equipment includes a 12CM15 continuous miner, two 10SC32 shuttle cars, a feeder and four quad bolters.
Production is currently taking place from the 9ft seam which has an in-situ resource of 70 million tonnes of High Quality Anthracite.’
‘The mine produces high-grade anthracite, which has wide domestic and industrial use throughout the world due to its unique characteristics – high carbon content and calorific value for specialist uses.
Aberpergwm Mine is the only producer of high-grade anthracite in Western Europe. The area’s geology contributes to the unique characteristics of the anthracite we produce – clean burn, low emission, low sulphur, high efficiency.
The operation has vast in-situ resources of High-Grade Anthracite (HGA) – measured to international JORC 2012 standards. Unique characteristics, low impurities, ideal specific gravity for water filtration and other processes.’
Dan-y-Graig underground project.
The mine, a small drift mine near Neath in South Wales run by 3D’s Mining Ltd which was forced to close (November 2021) due to financial problems and an underground roof fall brought about by inadequate quality roof supports (recycled pallet timber) in summer 2021.
There are a few hobby pits in the area where mining is conducted by the owners, this though was a slightly larger operation.
There may be further action taken regarding the events at this site so no more may be said.
Bradley Opencast Site.
Bradley opencast operation run by HJ Banks, and Company has now come to the end of its workable life with the hoped-for extension failing to take place. This was the last opencast in County Durham.
Whitehaven.
Whitehaven’s proposed new mine has received huge media exposure over the last seven years. The hope for economics of the mine fluctuates with the world market for coal, the chance for the mine though is most probably to be decided by politicians with one eye on the next election and the other on global warming.
