The mine usually goes uphill once the digging starts into the mineral deposit. It doesn't matter the type of land involved, the mines will receive water through fissures in the land or rock.
When these types of mines are dug with minimum impact of the environment, the tilt upward handles the water runoff through gravity.
The picture below is an old Arizona gold mine. It is an Adit. It is obvious the tilt of the roof of the entrance is upward to the top of the hill. But, also plain is the fact the land collapsed within the mine and filled the hole to the entrance, closing it to more excavation. Unless, someone wants to start all over again. I suppose that depended on who survived the collapse and what amount of gold was being mined.
I know there are Americans looking at the small deposits and estimating the wealth they might get out of the rock.There is a lot to consider and danger is an extremely important consideration.
Investment is still possible, but, caution is in order considering the extent old industries are being abandoned for the development of the future.
November 27, 2016
By Neha Chamaria, Rueben Gregg Brewer and Beth McKenna
...Reuben Gregg Brewer (click here) (Alliance Resource Partners, L.P.): If you're a contrarian investor, or just like to understand views that don't go with the mainstream, then you have to look at coal-focused Alliance Holdings GP, L.P. The big story is that renewable energy and natural gas are taking market share in the utility space, squeezing coal out of the mix. While this is an undisputable fact, there's a deeper story to look at, too.
Coal from different parts of the country have different qualities, and thus have different demand profiles. Alliance Holdings, which is the general partner for Alliance Resource Partners, L.P., is focused on the Illinois Basin region.
Illinois Basin coal has been stealing market share from other regions for years. And according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the region is projected to see increased demand out to 2040 -- even in the worst-case scenario. (The Illinois Basin is included in the "Interior Region" noted below in the graph.)
EIA coal projections out to 2040. The Interior Region, which includes the Illinois Basin, is actually set to see demand grow. Image Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration....
