Coal Mining in the Newcastle area	The city of Newcastle was developped around the coal industry. There are approximatly 40 mines in a 200km radius. The majority are open pit mines and only few underground mines are left. Depending on the quality of refinement of the extracted coal, it is either exported or used in the area mainly for power generation.
Left When a coal stream is discovered, a trench is cut (here 2Km long). Right "The wall". The black at the bottom is the coal that will be extracted. The 35m of stones above are not used. It's a 1 to 7 ratio. For 1T of coal, 7T of rocks are removed too.
	Half way along the trench, perpendiculary an access ramp is also prepared. Trucks will drive up here full of coal.
	Some coal streams are several meters below the ground. As we only want the precious minerals, many tonnes of rock, stone and gravel have to be removed before.
	This only 2 of a kind 3'500 Tonnes crane, removes bucket loads of 150 Tonnes out and places them behind him. It's electricaly driven, so a 33KV cable follows him every where.
Approx 6-8, 18Tonne buckets of this crane loads the coal onto trucks.
	These Euclid trucks (at the Narama mine), cary depending on the model 150T or 170T loads.
This CAT truck, caries up to 150T loads. (Oakfiled mine).
Left The trucks dump the load here. Right The coal is crushed into smaller blocks and transported via conveyor belt to the nearest power plant. (5 to 20Km away) Below Other mining vehicules.
	Coal used for generating Electricity Left - Bayswater Power Station This power station is just one in the area. It uses cooling towers for the heat exchange. Below-right - Lake Liddell Power Station This power plant is much older and uses water from the lake for cooling.
	Coal used for exporting Trains bring the coal from the mines to Newcastle port. They look likes snakes traveling through the country side. The longest train I saw had 60 wagons.
	Big cranes such as this one, load the coal on the ships.
	This ship needs 4 small tug boats to bring it safely to it's loading dock.
	Coal for local industries Otherwise it's used for local steel works. As they pollute the air, their numbers are decreasing gradualy.