Butterwell No. 2 micro mine, Northumberland, England (Reprinted from Trans. Instn Min. Metall., vol 108, 1999)

The concept of a 'micro mine' is formulated by reference to how operations at Ayle colliery, Northumberland, developed against a background of increas ing restriction on the number of persons who may be employed below ground i n a small British coal mine licensed by the National Coal BoardlBritish Coa l Corporation. Such a mine, supplying a local domestic market, could be operated at the Bu tterwell site near Morpeth, Northumberland, under a lease and licence grant ed by the Coal Authority under the Coal Industry Act 1994, An application t o Northumberland County Council for planning permission under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 is the first step. It is proposed to work the min e with intermediate mining technology, employing a single place method of w orking and nonexplosive mining equipment, access underground being by rack- and-pinion mine hoist. The surface layout will mimic farm buildings. Butter well No. 2 micro mine is a model for other thin-seam micro mines in United Kingdom coalfields affected by the recent rundown of deep-mine operations b y the British Coal Corporation and it may also attract interest from other countries that are anxious to exploit thin-seam coal reserves by the use of intermediate technology.