Washington, 25 March (Argus) — A Rhino Resource Partners coal mine in Utah is temporarily idle after a roof fall late last week that killed one worker and injured another.
The roof fall at the Castle Valley Mine No. 4 in Emery County occurred at 3:05pm local time (5:05pm ET) on 22 March. The company is working with state officials and the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) to determine the cause of the accident.
The underground mine, which produced 997,288 short tons (904,733 metric tonnes) of coal last year, will be idle during the investigation. The operation produces a high-heat 11,800 Btu/lb specification that is low in sulfur.
Rhino told Argus today it expects production to resume in a “relatively short period of time” but could not provide further information because the investigation is still taking place. The company estimates Castle Valley will produce 1mn st in 2013.
MSHA said the roof fall occurred in a retreating mining section after a rock fell that measured 10ft by 10ft and 22 inches thick.
Castle Valley Mine No. 4 employee Elam Derk Jones was killed in the roof fall. He was operating a continuous miner when the accident occurred. Another worker was injured and taken to the hospital, where he was treated and released.
The roof fall comes amid other production setbacks in the western bituminous coal-producing region.
Oxbow Mining's 3mn st/yr Elk Creek operation in Colorado had to seal in its longwall after high levels of carbon monoxide were detected early this year, although the company is thought to have bought enough replacement coal from other producers to meet commitments to its clients until late August. Elk Creek also produces higher-heat coal with about 12,000 Btu/lb and is currently producing a limited amount using continuous miners. A new longwall is not expected in service at Elk Creek until at least the middle of this year.
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