Digital resource modeling of the northern and central Appalachian Basin coal regions: Top producing coals

Conference · Thu Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1998

OSTI ID:349086

Ruppert, L; Tewalt, S; Bragg, L; Wallack, R; Jenkins, J; Tully, J ^[1]

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1. Geological Survey, Reston, VA (United States)

The US Geological Survey is currently conducting a coal resource assessment of the coal beds and zones that are expected to provide the bulk of the Nation`s coal resources for the next few decades. In partnership with the state geologic surveys of Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Maryland, six coal beds will be digitally assessed in the northern and central Appalachian Basin coal region. In ascending stratigraphic order, the beds which range from the Lower Pennsylvanian Pocahontas Formation to the Upper Pennsylvanian Monongahela Group are the Pocahontas No. 3, Pond Creek, Fire Clay, Lower Kittanning, Upper Freeport, and Pittsburgh coals. Comprehensive stratigraphic and geochemical databases have been developed for the coal beds. Maps that show the extent and mined areas of the beds, structure contour, isopach, and overburden thickness have been compiled for the Pittsburgh coal bed and are in preparation for the other coal beds. The resource model for the Pittsburgh coal bed indicates that of the original 33.6 billion short tons (30.5 billion tonnes) of Pittsburgh coal, approximately 15.9 billion short tons (14.4 billion tonnes) remain. The remaining coal is, however, higher in ash and sulfur, and generally thinner and under thicker overburden cover.

• OSTI ID: 349086
• Report Number(s): CONF-980985--; ISBN 1-890977-15-2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
ASH CONTENT
COAL DEPOSITS
COAL RESERVES
COAL SEAMS
INFORMATION SYSTEMS
OVERBURDEN
RESOURCE ASSESSMENT
STRATIGRAPHY
SULFUR CONTENT
THICKNESS
US GS