The US Geological Survey's national coal resource assessment: The results

International Journal of Coal Geology
By: , and 

Links

Abstract

The US Geological Survey and the State geological surveys of many coal-bearing States recently completed a new assessment of the top producing coal beds and coal zones in five major producing coal regions—the Appalachian Basin, Gulf Coast, Illinois Basin, Colorado Plateau, and Northern Rocky Mountains and Great Plains. The assessments, which focused on both coal quality and quantity, utilized geographic information system technology and large databases. Over 1,600,000 million short tons of coal remain in over 60 coal beds and coal zones that were assessed. Given current economic, environmental, and technological restrictions, the majority of US coal production will occur in that portion of the assessed coal resource that is lowest in sulfur content. These resources are concentrated in parts of the central Appalachian Basin, Colorado Plateau, and the Northern Rocky Mountains.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title The US Geological Survey's national coal resource assessment: The results
Series title International Journal of Coal Geology
DOI 10.1016/S0166-5162(02)00120-9
Volume 50
Issue 1-4
Year Published 2002
Language English
Publisher Elsevier
Description 28 p.
First page 247
Last page 274
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details