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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Selected geologic factors affecting mining of the Pittsburgh coalbed

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:7357874
The coalbed thickness appeared to be structurally controlled; the bed was generally thinner near the axes of anticlines and thicker near the axes of synclines. The overburden isopach shows a similar relationship. Most of the clay veins in coal occur in the synclinal troughs, generally under sandstone roof. Cleat orientations measured in 18 underground mines showed that face cleats are perpendicular to the axial trends of the folds, and the butt cleats are parallel to the axial trends, indicating structural control of the cleat. Measurement and analysis of surface joint orientations provide a method for predicting the cleat orientations of the coalbed, but linears measured from infrared photographs and photoindex sheets helped only to determine regional trends. The results of these investigations provide a geologic framework for rational planning for underground mine development to use the best available technology to cope with methane emissions, coalbed discontinuities, and related ground support problems.
Research Organization:
Bureau of Mines, Washington, D.C. (USA)
OSTI ID:
7357874
Report Number(s):
BM-RI-8093
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English