Historic Coal Mines.kml normal #sn_ylw-pushpin07 highlight #sh_ylw-pushpin1140 Historic Coal Mines Usibelli Coal Mine's beginning (approx) Usibelli Coal Company of today.]]> -148.797109897549 63.85728417628622 0 0.02271204141122895 0 5405.184491184124 relativeToGround #msn_ylw-pushpin160 -148.7468169522617,63.86662247298807,0 Suntrana Coal Mine Suntrana Mine was established. In 1928, this mine produced nearly half the coal consumed in Alaska.
It was purchased by Usibelli in 1961, and closed in 1962 due to serious fires.]]> -148.8565207472425 63.85615233052206 0 -0.0306274435265235 0 4324.79809519619 relativeToGround #msn_ylw-pushpin160 -148.8538488021538,63.85579975129373,0 Hecky (Coal Creek) Mine (approx) Ross S. Hecky opened the Hecky (or Coal Creek) Minein 1925, on the west side of Coal Creek opposite the mouth of the Chickaloon River. -148.4307935927028 61.78267017792746 0 -0.1909674641199318 0 3301.299413356762 #msn_ylw-pushpin160 -148.4307935927028,61.78267017792745,0 Premier Coal Mine
A flood closed the Premier Coal Mine in 1971. Since 1971, the Usibelli Coal Mine has been the only significant operating coal mine in the state.]]> -149.0983196784341 61.70445762207778 0 -0.7789320413014116 0 2032.726341649258 relativeToGround #msn_ylw-pushpin160 -149.0969733600741,61.706955,0 Yanert Coal Mine The Mount McKinley Bituminous Coal Company operated the Yanert Mine from 1923 to 1924. -148.8404272665114 63.64752613462466 0 -0.4754948281076988 0 701.0117287207088 relativeToGround #msn_ylw-pushpin160 -148.8411986012572,63.64692604668335,0 Peterson Coal Mine (approx) From 1920 to 1922 over 30,000 tons of coal were produced at the Peterson Mine by the Healy River Coal Corporation on the west bank of the Nenana River opposite the mouth of Healy Creek. -148.9669107578259 63.84977403201136 0 0.03938826379307002 0 1724.374976073822 relativeToGround #msn_ylw-pushpin160 -148.9627245413272,63.84960214986513,0 Thien (Williams) Coal Mine The Thien Mine, located 90 miles below Nulato on the Yukon River, opened in 1900. In 1902 it was renamed the Williams Mine and produced 1,700 tons of coal. St. Michael served as a coaling station for steam- ers plying the Yukon River. -159.1987638523252 63.8295626515996 0 -1.879208611113 0 14127.34622936984 relativeToGround #msn_ylw-pushpin160 -159.2224807949416,63.83325175159274,0 Pickart Coal Mine (approx) In 1898 the Pickart Mine was opened on the south bank of the Yukon River about 10 miles above Nulato -157.9804924372611 64.76313309988174 0 -0.7800207617908141 0 39767.9010508926 relativeToGround #msn_ylw-pushpin160 -157.8897423702312,64.84259474671408,0 Nation Creek Coal Mine (approx) In 1897 the Alaska Commercial Company opened a coal mine on the Nation River about 1.5 miles from the Yukon River and extracted about 2,000 tons of coal. -141.6919262266641 65.20541276345055 0 -0.1464426695194471 0 13685.33605621293 relativeToGround #msn_ylw-pushpin160 -141.7036540779908,65.20182686109217,0 Sepphagen Coal Mine (approx) In the 1860s, steamers obtained coal from the Kootznahoo Inlet. This coal was not used for long, as its resin content made it unsafe for use in the steam boilers of that time. http://www.fs.fed.us/r10/tongass/districts/admiralty/heritage/coalmining.shtml -134.6423864132949 57.50228116633577 0 -24.06442834860401 0 31128.6119437025 relativeToGround #msn_ylw-pushpin160 -134.5148131493551,57.53035504590621,0 Datewell Coal Mine (approx) In 1895 Admiralty Island Coal and Fuel Company opened the Datewell Mine about 1.5 miles from Murder Cove. http://www.fs.fed.us/r10/tongass/districts/admiralty/heritage/coalmining.shtml -134.5471517043704 57.04688483059221 0 -23.9836264611502 0 1707.571560282373 #msn_ylw-pushpin160 -134.5471517043704,57.04688483059221,0 Harkrader Coal Mine (approx) Harkrader Mine operated for only one year, with a total production of less than 1000 tons.]]> -134.4443105090249 57.50111247994172 0 -23.89690468747794 0 4118.955351287396 relativeToGround #msn_ylw-pushpin160 -134.4369177689235,57.50137450320356,0 Unga Island Coal Mines (approx)
"The past two years' explorations in the supposed coal fields of Western Alaska have demonstrated that the Territory presents a new and inexhaustable source of wealth in its coal fields. There is every indication that the coal can be easily mined. This is the unvarying statement of every person who has had the means of personal observation. ... The supply seems illimitable, the consumption will rapidly increase, and the business of its transportation to California, Oregon, and Washington will become enormous."
New York Times, 1889]]> -160.6341558670975 55.32346323508523 0 0.6345344167016486 0 7896.905431991262 relativeToGround #msn_ylw-pushpin160 -160.6043071739247,55.33150349029205,0 Corwin Bluffs Coal Mine In 1900 and 1901 over 1,000 tons of coal extracted from the Corwin Mines were shipped to Nome. Other small-scale mines (Alaska Development Company, Arctic Development Company, and Corwin Trading Company) along the Corwin Bluff seacliffs extracted coal for shipboard use.]]> -165.1583963484053 68.87112211603277 0 -1.596387877793876 0 6459.895501843605 relativeToGround #msn_ylw-pushpin160 -165.1408809233541,68.86938264669178,0 Cape Beaufort Coal Mine (approx) In the late 1870s whaling ships and U.S. Revenue cutters start using coal from the Corwin Bluff mines and Cape Beaufort area along the Arctic coast. -163.8491999908409 69.02567830134379 0 -0.3749604555380949 0 4478.50771892059 relativeToGround #msn_ylw-pushpin160 -163.851157971956,69.02801249844305,0 Chignik River Coal Mine (approx) A coal mine operated here in the late 1880s. In 1893 the Alaska Packers Association opened the Chignik River Mine to produce coal for their cannery and steamer. This mine operated for over 12 years, closing in 1911. -158.713772826177 56.26724180721995 0 4.577175763530094 0 12738.87371777337 relativeToGround #msn_ylw-pushpin160 -158.7133366199272,56.26307843014339,0 Herendeen Bay Coal Mine (approx) A coal mine operated here in the late 1880s. -160.6728146146487 55.76378740452795 0 2.953968828608409 0 9780.024798107383 relativeToGround #msn_ylw-pushpin160 -160.6963161909013,55.76420257821236,0 Wainwright/Kuk River Coal Mine (approx)
In 1941 a series of U.S. Department of Defense orders opened northern Alaska to coal development, leading to the opening of mines at Kuk River, Atkasuk (Meade River), Peard Bay and several other sites.]]> -160.0953730962071 70.59008429946495 0 2.858194730666429 0 9702.567597107818 relativeToGround #msn_ylw-pushpin160 -160.0988758592665,70.60872212689519,0 Anchorage Cove Coal Mine (approx) In 1893, the Alaska Mining and Development Company opened a coal mine on Anchorage Bay. -158.4107052029844 56.30353316298471 0 4.829178019322755 0 11914.19419341722 relativeToGround #msn_ylw-pushpin160 -158.396941098386,56.30106014848184,0 Coal Cove Mine - First in Alaska first coal mine in Alaska The Russians began mining here in 1855, but the mine was shut down when the US purchased the state in 1867.]]> -151.9026116060486 59.39556302711267 0 10.17606441786293 0 388.8140550071655 relativeToGround #msn_ylw-pushpin160 -151.9048065511752,59.39649371856171,0 McNeil Canyon Coal Mine (approx) In 1891 the U.S. Navy mined 200 tons of coal in McNeil Canyon west of Coal Point (Homer Spit) for testing in San Francisco. -151.230480496544 59.71911328887575 0 10.75556729660276 0 4538.178332366269 relativeToGround #msn_ylw-pushpin160 -151.2471542516191,59.7192687827593,0 North Pacific Mining and Transportation Company Coal Mine (approx) In the late 1890s the North Pacific Mining and Transportation Company mined 650 tons of coal from an area 14 miles northwest of Homer. -151.1858707635432 59.79708594522447 0 0.1732785941893494 0 57256.12280459784 relativeToGround #msn_ylw-pushpin160 -151.1912073186391,59.76099735411945,0 Drew Coal Mine A mine was opened here in 1897 -149.8340392634924 65.66107262807792 0 0.979948255287473 0 4320.410404522445 relativeToGround #msn_ylw-pushpin160 -149.829250149775,65.66835470574259,0 Chicago Creek Coal Mine Between 1902 and 1908 around 100,000 tons of coal was mined at Chicago Creek to provide coal for local gold placer mines. -162.4256253089701 65.89175605392306 0 0.9549250427702046 0 10594.50922501989 relativeToGround #msn_ylw-pushpin160 -162.4487149453664,65.89391955196199,0 Chicago Creek Coal Mine (2) Between 1902 and 1908 around 100,000 tons of coal was mined at Chicago Creek to provide coal for local gold placer mines. -162.4256253089701 65.89175605392306 0 0.9549250427702046 0 10594.50922501989 relativeToGround #msn_ylw-pushpin160 -162.4524661087688,65.87152891762945,0 Carbon Creek Coal Fields Between 1906 and 1912 six major tunnels were driven in the Carbon Creek area, and over 150 prospects were opened. -144.1643215593764 60.38554870610736 0 -1.356765064366785 0 7322.235663347998 relativeToGround #msn_ylw-pushpin160 -144.1933818842379,60.3859607161819,0 McDonald Property Coal Mine (approx) In 1907 six hundred tons of coal were mined from the McDonald Property on Bering Lake and used in Cordova. -144.2782949464718 60.3153286378928 0 -1.455850243278909 0 3324.883707317798 relativeToGround #msn_ylw-pushpin160 -144.2952864274887,60.31290376258382,0 Haralan Coal Mine (approx) In 1908 Captain Theielen opened the 'Haralan Mine' on the Kobuk River about a mile below the Kallarichuk River. This mine is now within the boundaries of Kobuk Valley National Park. It was named for Alexander Haralan who renewed mining at this site in 1929. -159.8076965062766 67.11189449883244 0 0.4485395479730921 0 10056.80229259874 relativeToGround #msn_ylw-pushpin160 -159.7893947092601,67.09432073729084,0 Hook Bay Coal Mine (approx) In 1908 the Alaska Peninsula Mining and Trading Company opened the Hook Bay Mine. -158.2737361363379 56.48755786159382 0 1.477251070769191 0 34468.82889288121 relativeToGround #msn_ylw-pushpin160 -158.1332583133918,56.50854065192053,0 Dunkle Coal Mine In 1911, this coal mine opened to supply coal to the railroad. Between 1940 and 1954 over 60,000 tons of subbituminous coal were produced here for use by the Alaska Railroad. -149.4471768200857 63.28384112729556 0 -2.388858048106997 0 16510.21213466747 relativeToGround #msn_ylw-pushpin160 -149.5222239894077,63.27108420347591,0 Chickaloon Coal Mines (approx)
However in 1922 the Chickaloon Coal Mine and townsite were prepared for abandonment when it was determined that coal in the area could not be mined economically.]]> -148.6214292519107 61.80316796944765 0 -1.666672149687267 0 48300.9839458596 relativeToGround #msn_ylw-pushpin160 -148.4776447985261,61.79508529009281,0 Iditarod Coal Mine From 1914 through 1916 the Iditarod Mine produced coal from two shallow shafts and transported it on a tramway between Flat and Iditarod. -158.0706631778293 62.51071295372979 0 0.04418820289264453 0 9464.985317873603 relativeToGround #msn_ylw-pushpin160 -158.0673476112882,62.51249549580822,0 Doherty Coal Mine (approx) Between 1916 and 1918 the Doherty Mine of the Matanuska field produced around 50,000 tons of coal. -149.0349634057079 61.72412870627271 0 -0.09853948419514164 0 15293.903727481 relativeToGround #msn_ylw-pushpin160 -149.0457475571281,61.70563070032799,0 Eska Coal Mine (approx)
However in 1922 these mines were prepared for abandonment when it was determined that coal in the area could not be mined economically.

In 1942 the Alaska Railroad reopened the Eska Mine to supply coal to new army posts and military airfields. It closed in 1945.]]> -148.9464583930158 61.72223107494808 0 -0.02059277045276929 0 6174.484084634516 relativeToGround #msn_ylw-pushpin160 -148.9052803086351,61.73833878965731,0 Meade River (Atqasuk) Coal Mine In 1941 a series of U.S. Department of Defense orders opened northern Alaska to coal development. In 1943 the U.S. Bureau of Education's Alaska Native Services opened the Meade River Mine to supply coal to the school and hospital at Barrow. It was closed in 1953. -157.3853216250413 70.464722989797 0 0.01383343071187619 0 2073.128233944056 relativeToGround #msn_ylw-pushpin160 -157.3857123723443,70.4632894581426,0 Peard Bay Coal Mine (approx) In 1941 a series of U.S. Department of Defense orders opened northern Alaska to coal development, leading to the opening of mines at Kuk River, Atkasuk (Meade River), Peard Bay and several other sites. -158.7965273974145 70.79796993619128 0 -93.78924042268321 0 39393.64387164849 relativeToGround #msn_ylw-pushpin160 -158.8018610406323,70.82801785756888,0 Nenana Coal Fields (approx) In 1943 traditional underground coal mining in Alaska gave way to surface-mining methods with the opening of two strip mines in the Nenana coal field, one of which was the Diamond Coal Company Mine. -148.8130718284352 63.87398926050349 0 0.1888733847126527 0 11256.37104635202 relativeToGround #msn_ylw-pushpin160 -148.8165418624303,63.87115912026174,0 Houston Coal Mine Between 1949 and 1952, over 65,000 tons of coal were mined at Houston and washed in a Forester jig. -149.8381260553753 61.63524101107591 0 -0.03539898172549016 0 3535.370654965509 relativeToGround #msn_ylw-pushpin160 -149.8406101333108,61.63715197237094,0 Castle Mountain Coal Mine (approx) Between 1958 and 1960, two strip pits were excavated at the Castle Mountain Mine, but produced less than 30,000 tons of coal. -148.5547178831621 61.81691154102767 0 1.270656085515722e-08 0 13166.3345853703 relativeToGround #msn_ylw-pushpin160 -148.5713932469802,61.81285286555987,0