Despite sagging coal market, top Illinois Basin mines produced more in 2015

摘要

Despite slipping by nearly four million tons from the year-ago quarter, therntop-producing mines in the Illinois Basin finished the year up slightly fromrn2014 in the face of sustained market pressure and waning demand.rnAccording to data provided by the U.S. Mine Safety and HealthrnAdministration, the top producing mines in the Illinois Bain produced 21.9rnmillion tons in the fourth quarter of 2015, down 3.9 million tons from thernyear ago period. However, the basin ended the year with 98.6 million tons,rnup 1.4% over 2014.