How many active mines are in WV?
West Virginia has 176 records of mines listed by the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
What kind of mines is West Virginia famous for?
From the boom years of coal mining, to some of the most iconic labor movements in the nation, this black, shiny mineral has been central to West Virginia’s history.
Are there coal mines in West Virginia?
West Virginia is among the top three states in the nation in recoverable coal reserves at producing mines. Most of West Virginia’s coal production and reserves are found in underground mines.
Where are the mines in Boone County West Virginia?
On February 1, 2006, two fatal mining accidents occurred in the communities of Uneeda and Wharton in Boone County. These two deaths with the addition of January’s Sago Mine disaster and the Aracoma Alma Mine disaster caused West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin to close all of West Virginia’s mines in a “mine safety stand-down.”
How big is Boone County in West Virginia?
Boone County is a county in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 24,629. Boone County is part of the Charleston, WV Metropolitan Statistical Area.
How many coal miners are there in West Virginia?
The West Virginia Coal Industry provides about 30,000 direct jobs in WV, including miners, mine contractors, coal preparation plant employees and mine supply companies. Underground mines in 2009 produced 87 million tons with 33 million tons from longwall mining. Surface mines account for nearly 60 million tons of production each year.
Where are the coal seams in West Virginia?
Coal was first discovered in what is now West Virginia in 1742 by John Peter Salley in what is now Boone County. Coal occurs in 53 of West Virginia’s 55 Counties only Jefferson and Hardy in the eastern panhandle have no coal. Forty-three counties have reserves of minable (economic) coal. There are 117 named coal seams in West Virginia.