Kosse Mine - Kosse, TX
Posted by: 
Raven
N 31° 16.715 W 096° 28.723
14R E 740030 N 3463219
Kosse Mine is an open pit lignite (coal) mine in Robertson and Limestone counties, Texas.
Waymark Code: WMQQK3
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 03/19/2016
Views: 7
Viewable from both sides of the four-lane Texas Highway 7 at the Limestone/Robertson county line lies the Kosse Mine, an open pit lignite mine operated by Luminant, a state electric utility.
The mine opened in 2010 and provides feedstock for the nearby 1,600 MW Oak Grove Power Plant; its energy produced is enough to power about 800,000 homes.
Lignite has characteristics of both peat and coal: it’s considered the lowest grade of coal and is used almost exclusively as a fuel for power generation. Geologically younger than the other forms of coal (mainly originating in the Tertiary period), it is brownish-black in color and has a carbon content of 25% - 35%.
Lignite often has a high volatile materials and moisture content. Because of spontaneous combustion issues, transportation and storage issues become problematic. Also, due to its low energy characteristics, it is not cost effective to transport long distances and is therefore often burned in power stations located nearby.
The Kosse Mine's most impressive feature is its D-52 dragline, an enormous earth excavator weighing 7 million lbs. It can been day or night when driving by. All access roads into the work area are obviously private property, but due to it being an open pit covering a vast expanse less than 500 feet from both sides of the road, ample opportunities abound for photo snapshots of the bustling activity.
Mine Type: Working Mine
Mineral Collecting: No
Material Mined: Coal, Lignite
Operation: Opencast Mine
Surface Features: Yes
KNOWN DANGERS:
No access, only viewable from the highway (with enough shoulder for safe stopping/parking).
Any associated website: Not listed
Any Other information: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
Optional photograph welcomed.