Reclaimation

I visited the same coal.mac mine operation 2 years ago with my REACT group and Ken Oconner.  I could already tell the growth of the reclaimation process since my last visit.  This trip has opened my eyes to the positive side of coal mining.  At dinner this evening we talked with Brent who is the plant manager at the Mt Laurel coal processing plant we visited and discussed how the media only puts negative information oit about coal moning.  I shared my disgust for the COAL tv show on Spike TV and oir table discused how the show has only set us back in our efforts to ge away from the uneducated hillbilly, drug using West Virginian who mines coal.  Brent also shared with us how when he goes to the capitol to advocate for Arch Coal and many reporters do mot approach him as one to be in the coal industry because of the way he is dressed and when they do start asking him questions and he doesnt tell them what thry want to hear they stop writing and walk away.  It has made me want to educate my students on a fair veiw and how they need to find information out for themselves and not rely on the media to form their opinions.

Our visit to the coal processing plant inspired me to create a lesson or lessons on the cleaning and separating process of coal and thr physics behind it.  I also have great professional contacts to help in my planning process.

MADE IN WEST BY GOD

We also visited the Caterpillar high wall mining macufacturer in Beckley.  These machines cut into the mountain and cut out the coal woith out any men going underground.  It is ran by 3-4 men and the operator controls it  by a computer.  The best thing about this machine which costs about 8 million dollars and could on the high end produce 200,000 tons of coal a month is that it is manufactured and sold right here in WVa.  The picture of the one being constructed below was purchased by India.

Baseball truly is America's pastime. . .

At the beckley coal mine exhibition there was a museum upstairs about the coal camp life.  Baseball was a pastime used to bond coal companies together.  Coal companies would form teams miners who were good ball players were paid to play and given easier jobs in the mine.  Good players were recruited from other companies. 
My baseball coach hubby will appreciate this fun fact       :-)

Oh how times have changed

Today we visited the Beckley mine exhibit.  Our tour guide in the mine, Marvin, was great its always refreshing when you see a person who loves their job.  It interesting to see the equipment and hear stories of how dangerous the job was especially before modern machines.  What hit home with me were the coal camp houses that were still set in the early 1900'S and it resembled my families farm house which our family has kept in the times.
The other part that hit home were the rules of the teachers of the times (see pic below).

Holy Bridge Batman!

If you have never been to the New River Gorge Bridge, schedule it.  I have been when i was younger but forgot how awesome its size is.  It was also fun to be with someone, like William, who had never experienced the area or seen the bridge or rocks the size that are in and around the river.  I also was able to use the panoramic setting on my samsung galaxy tab.

Nuttleburg

After lunch the rain clewred and we headed to Nuttleburg which an abandoned coal camp in Fayette county Wva.  This was interesting for our van because it was near and dear to Josh and Danielle so we discussed the area and how they experieneced or veiwed it growing up around the area.  We tested water of runoff stream at Nuttleburg and with a great pH of 6.5 it had an overall quality of 72 which was the best we have tested thus far.  The dissolved solids count was high but the water was clear comprable to that of tap water, so we came to a conclusion that it was a result of the rain that had just passed and was from the minerals of the soil.  It would be nice to test the water again with out the effect of rain.

Below is a picture of some of the steps left from the coal camp's company store.

Joe knob

Joe knob was our first destination of the day.  The weather was rain and alot of it but it gave us a chance to see how water runs off the mine site.  Mike little was in the infamous van 3 and served as our tour guide for the treacherous 4 wheeling van ride.  We observed the bio diversity or lack there of on parts of the mountain which had been reclaimed.  We also discussed how important poop is for spreading plant life.