Effective Utilization of Horsepower in Mined Land Reclamation Efforts (Part 3)

A Search for new tools, methods and techniques to improve overall efficiency in the land reclamation effort was instituted by The Pittsburg & Midway Coal Mining Company, more than six years ago. Although early developments were encouraging, progress was rather slow and very costly. Approximately two years ago, the United States Bureau of Mines joined forces with P&M in a program designed to fully test and evaluate early P&M dirt moving concepts and other concepts as well.

The resultant Specialized Reclamation Field Test has primarily centered on the field test and evaluation of high volume lateral relocation blades designed to improve dirt handling efficiency in the short distance (less than fifty feet) relocation ranges associated with leveling area-mined spoil banks. Field tests have demonstrated the effectiveness of these tools in reducing land leveling and shaping costs by approximately fifty percent by comparison with conventional bulldozer land reclamation techniques. A total of 1,431 acres of area-mined spoil banks was reclaimed during the test program.

The prototype blades have verified the soundness of this technological approach to a serious problem confronting the mining industry and our nation. The current challenge is to improve this developing technology and transfer it to active mining areas.