Mine Index 0863 Old Ben Coal Corporation, Old Ben No. 21 Mine

Mine Index Number: 0863

Company Name:	Old Ben Coal Corporation
Mine Name:	Old Ben No. 21 Mine
Start Date:	1960	End Date:	October 26, 1991
Type of Mine:	Underground
Total acres shown:	8,696
Acres after map date:		General Area of mining acres shown:

Shaft, Slope, Drift or Tipple Location(s)

Type	County	Township-Range	Section	Part Section

Main shaft

Franklin

5S 2E

8

NE NE NE

Air shaft

Franklin

5S 2E

8

NW NE NE

D and E shafts

Franklin

5S 2E

17

NW SW NE

F and G shafts

Franklin

5S 1E

14

SW NE SE

Geology

		Thickness (ft)
Seam	Depth (ft)	Min	Max	Ave	Mining Method

Herrin

656-660

5.8-8.42

HER, LW, RPP,RPThe mine operated in RPP pattern from 1978-1986, and began some longwall panels in 1985 (the only longwall mine in the state at that time). The mine was idled from May to October 1990, and reopened with only the continuous miners working RP method. Plans were underway for longwall expansion in 1991, but the mine was idled instead and never reopened.

Geological Problems Reported

Several types of structural features are common here: large, high-angle faults apparently of tectonic origin (Rend Lake Fault System) with 1 to 6 feet of displacement, steep high-angle fractures or slips in coal or roof (tectonic origin), minor slips in roof shale (soft-sediment compaction features), and “X” pattern faults (usually two faults intersecting at the top of the coal). The roof was medium gray shale, finely silty and micaceous, finely laminated, firm, with fine sideritic laminations and nodules. The northwestern corner of the property had split coal, where the blue band thickened from its normal 2 to 3 inches up to 24 inches. (This area is adjacent to the Walshville channel.) At least one large roll was present, plus a series of small rolls. About 12 inches of top coal was left to support the roof throughout the mine.

Production

Company

Mine Name

Date

Production (tons)

Old Ben Coal Corporation Listed in the Coal Reports as Old Ben Coal Corporation, but bought by Zeigler Coal Holding Company on May 28, 1990. (add)	Old Ben No. 21 (add)	1960-1991	53,797,836

Total Production: 53,797,836

Production Notes

Coal Report production (if available)

Sources of Data

Source Map

Map Date

Original Scale

Digitized Scale

Map Type

Company map

12-1993

1:12000

1:12000

Final

Company map

12-31-1996

1:4800

1:4800

Final

Annotated Bibliography (Data source - brief description of information)

Coal Reports - Production, ownership, years of operation, depth, thickness.

Directory of Illinois Coal Mines (Franklin County) - Mine names, mine index, ownership, years of operation.

Mine notes (Franklin County) - Mine type, shaft location, seam, thickness, geologic problems.

Company map, ISGS Coal Section files - Mine outline, mining method.

Company map, ISGS Coal Section files (digital) - Shaft locations.