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                                                                    Exhibit 3.10

                                     BY-LAWS

                                       OF

                            ANKER ENERGY CORPORATION

                      (Formerly Vitol-Anker Holding, Inc.)

                            (a Delaware corporation)

                      ----------------------------------

                                    ARTICLE I

                                     OFFICES

      Section 1. Registered Office. The registered office shall be established
and maintained at the office of the Corporation Trust Company, Wilmington,
Delaware, and said corporation shall be the registered agent of this corporation
in charge thereof.

      Section 2. Other Offices. The corporation may have other offices, either
within or without the State of Delaware, at such place or places as the Board of
Directors may from time to time determine or the business of the corporation may
require.

                                   ARTICLE II

                            MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

      Section 1. Annual Meetings. Annual meetings of stockholders for the
election of directors and for such other business as may be stated in the notice
of the meeting shall be held at such place, either within or without the State
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Delaware, and at such time and date as the Board of Directors, by resolution,
shall determine and as set forth in the notice of the meeting.

      Section 2. Other Meetings. Meetings of stockholders for any purpose other
than the election of directors may be held at such time and place, within or
without the State of Delaware, as shall be stated in the notice of the meeting.

      Section 3. Voting. Each stockholder entitled to vote in accordance with
the terms of the Certificate of Incorporation and in accordance with the
provisions of these By-Laws shall be entitled to one vote, in person or by
proxy, for each share of stock entitled to vote held by such stockholder, but no
proxy shall be voted after three years from its date unless such proxy provides
for a longer period. Upon the demand of any stockholder, the vote for directors
and the vote upon any question before the meeting, shall be by ballot. All
elections for directors shall be decided by plurality vote; all other questions
shall be decided by majority vote except as otherwise provided by the
Certificate of Incorporation or the laws of the State of Delaware.

      A complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the ensuing
election, arranged in alphabetical order, with the address of each, and the
number of shares held by each, shall be open to the examination of any
stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business
hours, for a 


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period of at least ten days prior to the meeting, either at a place within the
city where the meeting is to be held, which place shall be specified in the
notice of the meeting, or, if not so specified, at the place where the meeting
is to be held. The list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of
the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any
stockholder who is present.

      Section 4. Quorum. Except as otherwise required by law, by the Certificate
of Incorporation or by these By-Laws, the presence, in person or by proxy, of
stockholders holding a majority of the stock of the corporation entitled to vote
shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders. In case a quorum
shall not be present at any meeting, a majority in interest of the stockholders
entitled to vote thereat, present in person or by proxy, shall have the power to
adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at
the meeting, until the requisite amount of stock entitled to vote shall be
present. At such adjourned meeting at which the requisite amount of stock
entitled to vote shall be represented, any business may be transacted which
might have been transacted at the meeting as originally noticed; but only those
stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting as originally noticed shall be
entitled to vote at any adjournment or adjournments thereof.


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      Section 5. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the stockholders for any
purpose or purposes may be called by the President or Secretary, or by
resolution of the directors.

      Section 6. Notice of Meetings. Written notice, stating the place, date and
time of the meeting, and the general nature of the business to be considered,
shall be given to each stockholder entitled to vote thereat at his address as it
appears on the records of the corporation, not less than ten nor more than fifty
days before the date of the meeting. No business other than that stated in the
notice shall be transacted at any meeting without the unanimous consent of all
the stockholders entitled to vote thereat.

      Section 7. Action Without Meeting. Unless otherwise provided by the
Certificate of Incorporation, any action required to be taken at any annual or
special meeting of stockholders, or any action which may be taken at any annual
or special meeting, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and
without a vote, if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken,
shall be signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the
minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action
at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and
voted. Prompt notice of the taking of the corporate action without a meeting by
less than unanimous written consent shall be given to those stockholders who
have not consented in writing.


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                                   ARTICLE III

                                    DIRECTORS

      Section 1. Number and Term. The number of directors shall be not less than
two and not more than seven. The directors shall be elected at the annual
meeting of the stockholders and each director shall be elected to serve until
his successor shall be elected and qualified. Directors need not be
stockholders.

      Section 2. Removal. Any director or directors may be removed either for or
without cause at any time by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority
of all the shares of stock outstanding and entitled to vote, at a special
meeting of the stockholders called for the purpose and the vacancies thus
created may be filled, at the meeting held for the purpose of removal, by the
affirmative vote of a majority in interest of the stockholders entitled to vote.

      Section 3. Increase of Number. The number of directors may be increased by
amendment of these By-Laws by the affirmative vote of a majority of the
directors, though less than a quorum, or, by the affirmative vote of a majority
in interest of the stockholders, at the annual meeting or at a special meeting
called for that purpose, and by like vote the additional directors may be chosen
at such meeting to hold office until the next annual election and until their
successors shall have been elected and qualified.


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      Section 4.  Powers.  The Board of  Directors  shall  exercise all of the
powers of the  corporation  except such as are by law or by the Certificate of
Incorporation  of the  corporation  or by  these  By-Laws  conferred  upon  or
reserved to the stockholders.

      Section 5. Committees. The Board of Directors may, by resolution or
resolutions passed by a majority of the whole board, designate one or more
committees, each committee to consist of two or more of the directors of the
corporation. The board may designate one or more directors as alternate members
of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any
meeting of such committee or committees. The member or members thereof present
at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he or they
constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of
Directors to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified
member.

      Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board
of Directors, or in these By-Laws, shall have and may exercise all the powers
and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and
affairs of the corporation, and may authorize the seal of the corporation to be
affixed to all papers which may require it; but no such committee shall have the
power or authority to amend the Certificate of Incorporation, to adopt an
agreement of merger or consolidation, to recommend to the stockholders the sale,
lease or exchange of 


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all or substantially all of the corporation's property and assets, to recommend
to the stockholders a dissolution of the corporation or a revocation of a
dissolution, or to amend the By-Laws of the corporation; and, unless the
resolution, these By-Laws, or the Certificate of Incorporation expressly so
provide, no such committee shall have the power or authority to declare a
dividend or to authorize the issuance of stock.

      Section 6. Meetings. The newly elected directors may hold their first
meeting for the purpose of organization and the transaction of business, if a
quorum be present, immediately after the annual meeting of the stockholders; or
the time and place of such meeting may be fixed by consent in writing of all the
directors.

      Regular meetings of the directors may be held without notice at such
places and times as shall be determined from time to time by resolution of the
directors.

      Special meetings of the board may be called by the President or by the
Secretary on the written request of any two directors on at least two days'
notice to each director and shall be held at such place or places as may be
determined by the directors, or as shall be stated in the call of the meeting.

      Section 7. Quorum. One-third of the directors shall constitute a quorum
for the transaction of business. If at any meeting of the Board of Directors
there shall be less than a quorum present, a majority of those present may
adjourn the


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meeting from time to time until a quorum is obtained, and no further notice
thereof need be given other than by announcement at the meeting which shall be
so adjourned.

      Section 8. Compensation. Directors shall not receive any stated salary for
their services as directors or as members of committees, but by resolution of
the Board of Directors a fixed fee and expenses of attendance may be allowed for
attendance at each meeting. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to
preclude any director from serving the corporation in any other capacity as an
officer, agent or otherwise, and receiving compensation therefor.

      Section 9. Action Without Meeting. Any action required or permitted to be
taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may
be taken without a meeting, if a written consent thereto is signed by all
members of the Board of Directors, or of such committee as the case may be, and
such written consent is filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of
Directors or committee.

                                   ARTICLE IV

                                    OFFICERS

      Section 1. Officers. The officers of the corporation shall be a President,
a Treasurer, and a Secretary, all of whom shall be elected by the Board of
Directors and who shall hold office until their successors are elected and
qualified. In addition,


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the Board of Directors may elect a Chairman, one or more Vice Presidents and
such Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers as they may deem proper.
None of the officers of the corporation need be directors. The officers shall be
elected at the first meeting of the Board of Directors after each annual
meeting. More than two offices may be held by the same person.

      Section 2. Other Officers and Agents. The Board of Directors may appoint
such other officers and agents as it may deem advisable, who shall hold their
offices for such terms and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as
shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors.

      Section 3. Chairman. The Chairman of the Board of Directors, if one be
elected, shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and he shall
have and perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him
by the Board of Directors.

      Section 4. President. The President shall be the chief executive officer
of the corporation and shall have the general powers and duties of supervision
and management usually vested in the office of president of a corporation. He
shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders if present thereat, and, in
the absence or non-election of the Chairman of the Board of Directors, at all
meetings of the Board of Directors, and shall have general supervision,
direction and control of the business of the corporation. Except as the Board of
Directors shall


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authorize the execution thereof in some other manner, he shall execute bonds,
mortgages and other contracts in behalf of the corporation, and shall cause the
seal to be affixed to any instrument requiring it and when so affixed the seal
shall be attested by the signature of the Secretary or the Treasurer or an
Assistant Secretary or an Assistant Treasurer.

      Section 5. Vice President. Each Vice President shall have such powers and
shall perform such duties as shall be assigned to him by the directors.

      Section 6. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have the custody of the
corporate funds and securities and shall keep full and accurate account of
receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the corporation. He shall
deposit all moneys and other valuables in the name and to the credit of the
corporation in such depositaries as may be designated by the Board of Directors.

      The Treasurer shall disburse the funds of the corporation as may be
ordered by the Board of Directors, or the President, taking proper vouchers for
such disbursements. He shall render to the President and Board of Directors at
the regular meetings of the Board of Directors, or whenever they may request it,
an account of all his transactions as Treasurer and of the financial condition
of the corporation. If required by the Board of Directors, he shall give the
corporation a bond for the faithful discharge of his duties in such amount and
with such surety as the Board of Directors shall prescribe.


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      Section 7. Secretary. The Secretary shall give, or cause to be given,
notice of all meetings of stockholders and directors, and all other notices
required by law or by these By-Laws, and in case of his absence or refusal or
neglect so to do, any such notice may be given by any person thereunto directed
by the President, or by the directors, or stockholders, upon whose requisition
the meeting is called as provided in these By-Laws. He shall record all the
proceedings of the meetings of the corporation and of the directors in a book to
be kept for that purpose, and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned
to him by the directors or the President. He shall have the custody of the seal
of the corporation and shall affix the same to all instruments requiring it,
when authorized by the directors or the President, and attest the same.

      Section 8. Assistant Treasurers and Assistant Secretaries. Assistant
Treasurers and Assistant Secretaries, if any, shall be elected and shall have
such powers and shall perform such duties as shall be assigned to them,
respectively, by the directors.

                                    ARTICLE V

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

      Section 1. Resignations. Any director, member of a committee or corporate
officer may, provided the same would not result in a breach of any contract to
which said person is a party, resign at any time. Such resignation shall be made
in 


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writing, and shall take effect at the time specified therein, and if no time be
specified, at the time of its receipt by the President or Secretary. The
acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

      Section 2. Vacancies. If the office of any director, member of a committee
or corporate officer becomes vacant, by reason of death, disability or
otherwise, the remaining directors in office, though less than a quorum, by a
majority vote may appoint any qualified person to fill such vacancy, who shall
hold office for the unexpired term and until his successor shall be duly chosen.

      Section 3. Certificates of Stock. Certificates of stock, signed by the
Chairman of the Board of Directors, or the President or any Vice President, and
the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, or Secretary or an Assistant Secretary,
shall be issued to each stockholder certifying the number of shares owned by him
in the corporation. When such certificates are countersigned (1) by a transfer
agent other than the corporation or its employee, or (2) by a registrar other
than the corporation or its employee, the signatures of such officers may be
facsimiles.

      Section 4. Lost Certificates. A new certificate of stock may be issued in
the place of any certificate theretofore issued by the corporation, alleged to
have been lost or destroyed, and the directors may, in their discretion, require
the owner of the 


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lost or destroyed certificate, or his legal representatives, to give the
corporation a bond, in such sum as they may direct, not exceeding double the
value of the stock represented by such certificate, to indemnify the corporation
against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss of
any such certificate, or the issuance of any such new certificate.

      Section 5. Transfer of Shares. The shares of stock of the corporation
shall be transferable only upon its books by the holders thereof in person or by
their duly authorized attorneys or legal representatives, and upon such transfer
the old certificates shall be surrendered to the corporation by the delivery
thereof to the person in charge of the stock transfer books and ledgers, or to
such other person as the directors may designate, by whom they shall be
cancelled, and new certificates shall thereupon be issued. A record shall be
made of each transfer and whenever a transfer shall be made for collateral
security, and not absolutely, it shall be so expressed in the entry of the
transfer.

      Section 6. Stockholders Record Date. In order that the corporation may
determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of
stockholders or any adjournment thereof, or to express consent to corporate
action in writing without a meeting, or entitled to receive payment of any
dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to
exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or 


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exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of
Directors may fix, in advance, a record date, which shall not be more than sixty
nor less than ten days before the date of such meeting, nor more than sixty days
prior to any other action. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to
notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment
of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new
record date for the adjourned meeting.

      Section 7. Dividends. Subject to the provisions of the Certificate of
Incorporation, the Board of Directors may, out of funds legally available
therefor at any regular or special meeting, declare dividends upon the capital
stock of the corporation as and when they deem expedient. Before declaring any
dividend there may be set apart out of any funds of the corporation available
for dividends, such sum or sums as the directors from time to time in their
discretion deem proper for working capital or as a reserve fund to meet
contingencies or for equalizing dividends or for such other purposes as the
directors shall deem conducive to the interests of the corporation.

      Section 8. Seal. The corporate seal shall be circular in form and shall
contain the name of the corporation, the year of its creation and the words
"CORPORATE SEAL DELAWARE." Said seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile
thereof to be impressed or affixed or otherwise reproduced.


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      Section 9.  Fiscal  Year.  The fiscal year of the  corporation  shall be
determined by  resolution  of the Board of  Directors.  In the absence of such
determination, the fiscal year shall be the calendar year.

      Section 10. Checks. All checks, drafts or other orders for the payment of
money, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of the
corporation shall be signed by such officer or officers, agent or agents of the
corporation, and in such manner as shall be determined from time to time by
resolution of the Board of Directors.

      Section 11. Notice and Waiver of Notice. Whenever any notice is required
by these By-Laws to be given, personal notice is not meant unless expressly so
stated, and any notice so required shall be deemed to be sufficient and if given
by depositing the same in the United States mail, postage prepaid, addressed to
the person entitled thereto at his address as it appears on the records of the
corporation, and such notice shall be deemed to have been given on the day of
such mailing. Stockholders not entitled to vote shall not be entitled to receive
notice of any meetings except as otherwise provided by statute.

      Whenever any notice whatever is required to be given under the provisions
of any law, or under the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation of the
corporation or these By-Laws, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person
or persons


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entitled to said notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall
be deemed equivalent thereto.

                                   ARTICLE VI

                                 INDEMNIFICATION

      To the full extent permitted by law, the corporation may indemnify any
person or his heirs, distributees, next of kin, successors, appointees,
executors, administrators, legal representatives and assigns who was or is a
party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or
completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer,
employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the
corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, domestic or foreign,
against expenses, attorneys' fees, court costs, judgments, fines, amounts paid
in settlement and other losses actually and reasonably incurred by him in
connection with such action, suit or proceeding.

                                   ARTICLE VII

                                   AMENDMENTS

      These By-Laws may be altered or repealed and By-Laws may be made at any
annual meeting of the stockholders or at any special 


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meeting thereof if notice of the proposed alteration or repeal or By-Law or
By-Laws to be made be contained in the notice of such special meeting, by the
affirmative vote of a majority of the stock issued and outstanding and entitled
to vote thereat, or by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of
Directors, at any regular meeting of the Board of Directors, or at any special
meeting of the Board of Directors, if notice of the proposed alteration or
repeal, or By-Law or By-Laws to be made, be contained in the notice of such
special meeting.


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