Economics of large-scale surface coal mining using simulation modes. Final report, volume 10. User's manual for area dragline macromodel

Large-scale surface coal mining will play a key role in meeting the future energy needs of the U.S., especially in affecting the costs of coal conversion and advanced combustion processes being developed by ERDA. Fluor Utah, Inc., with Bonner and Moore Associates, Inc. as subcontractor, was contracted by ERDA to determine and define the problems that future large-scale surface mines would encounter in meeting these energy needs. The project resulted in a series of computer models for use by the industry in mine planning and analysis, and by government in estimating future energy costs. Presented here is the User's Manual for a computer model that simulates a surface coal mine using a dragline for overburden removal in the area-stripping mining method. The mine may include any of the following operations: overburden drilling and blasting; overburden removal; coal drilling and blasting; coal loading and hauling; coal handling and preparation; land clearing and reclamation; and general support functions such as premining activities, central facilities, staff, and taxes and royalties. The model develops equipment requirements and ownership and operating costs for direct analysis in constant dollars. The model also develops input for processing with the Cash Flow Analysis Model when a discounted cash flow analysis is desired.