It is proposed to raise the production rate at the Leigh Creek Coalfield from half a million tons to two million tons per annum. From an economic point of view as well as from the point of view of rate of production open cut mining would be preferable to underground mining. Reports from overseas would indicate that large excavators are being used with success on comparable open cut projects. This report is intended to indicate the problems connected with the mining of coal in the Leigh Creek deposit by open cut methods down to a vertical depth of 220 feet of overburden. A working method is proposed and an estimate given of the cost of winning the coal. The Telford Basin has been used for the purpose of the discussion. It is assumed that the production from this basin will be at the rate of one million tons per annum and the balance of the required output will be obtained from the Northern Basin or Lobe C.