Feature Stories
How to Restore a Million Acres of Strip-Mined Land? Bring in the Elk
April 15, 2019
Central Appalachia reintroduced the species to restore wildlife habitat — and help devastated economies. Here’s what happened next. The camera wasn’t where it was supposed to be. Clad in chest waders and camouflage, Kyle Hill stepped into the pond, reached
Victaulic Celebrates 100 Years
April 11, 2019
Today Victaulic celebrates a century of innovation — 100 years since it was granted its first industry patent for mechanical pipe joining solutions. On its Centennial “Innoversary,” the company continues to develop and patent groundbreaking technologies, with a current portfolio
The $1.1 Billion Battle in Queensland Over Coal Mine that Never Happened
April 9, 2019
What started with a handshake between two coal barons has now become one of the largest legal battles to pass through the Queensland court system. The damages claim is $1.1 billion, and 398 files have been lodged with the Queensland
Payson Arizona’s Long History Included a Thriving Mining Center
April 8, 2019
The town of Payson, established in the early 1880s, has contributed to Arizona history in multiple ways, including being located near the well-known Pleasant Valley War waged from 1887 to 1892. It also contributed to Arizona’s economy with a robust
Demand for Lithium Could Revive North Carolina Mines
April 8, 2019
A region west of Charlotte that was once a mother lode of lithium, the increasingly vital metal that powers cellphones, Teslas and cordless tools, may soon be one again. A recently formed company, Piedmont Lithium Limited, is applying for permits
Research Into Alternative Uses for Wyoming Coal Continues with $5.2 Million Grant
April 2, 2019
If the cost of producing carbon fiber — a lightweight and durable material that can be used in construction, car parts and airplanes — drops below $5 per pound, the profitability for that burgeoning industry could skyrocket. That means lighter-weight
Mine Reclamation Under the Eyes of Congress
April 2, 2019
According to the United States Department of Interior’s Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, some $600 million of abandoned mine land (AML) reclamation projects have taken place in West Virginia to date. While that figure is massive, it is
Montana Tech Mining Team Brings Home Top Titles at Intercollegiate Mining Games
April 1, 2019
Fill a 2-ton ore cart and run it down a track. Find lead shots in a dirt-filled gold pan. Build a section of rail tracks, then tear them down in as little time as possible. These are a few of
Russian Control of U.S. Uranium Supply is a Huge National Security Problem
March 28, 2019
The Trump administration is to be commended for its “energy dominance” policy with respect to oil and natural gas production, but on domestic uranium mining, used for nuclear power generation and national defense purposes, it is the United States that
Abandoned Mine in Kanawha State Forest Now Habitat for Threatened Bats
March 25, 2019
More than a century after the last shift of miners and final load of coal exited a hillside portal overlooking Middlelick Branch in what is now Kanawha State Forest, work has resumed at the entrance to the long-abandoned mine. On
