AN ABINGDON, VIRGINIA MINING COMPANY HAS BEEN SOLD. OFFICIALS WITH CLEVELAND CLIFFS SAY THEY WILL PURCHASE ALPHA NATURAL RESOURCES FOR NEARLY 10-BILLION DOLLARS IN CASH AND STOCK. THE MOVE IS EXPECTED TO BOOST THE MINING COMPANY’S ROLE AS A SUPPLIER TO THE GLOBAL STEEL INDUSTRY. THE BOARDS OF BOTH COMPANIES HAVE APPROVED THE DEAL. THE COMBINED COMPANY WILL BE KNOWN AS CLIFFS NATURAL RESOURCES. IT WILL OWN NINE IRON ORE FACILITIES AND MORE THAN 60 COAL MINES IN NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA AND AUSTRALIA. ALPHA ALSO OPERATES COAL MINES IN WEST VIRGINIA, VIRGINIA, KENTUCKY, AND PENNSYLVANIA.