A Guide to Coal Availability and Resource Development in...
1
D D D D # 0 # 0 # 0 # 0 # 0 # 0 # 0 # 0 # 0 # 0 # 0 # 0 # 0 # 0 # 0 # 0 $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ B B B B B B B B B B B C C C C C C C C C 7 11 3 1 20 18 6 4 16 22 23,24 CASS MENARD MASON BOND JASPER CRAWFORD FAYETTE EFFINGHAM JERSEY CUMBERLAND CALHOUN CLARK MACOUPIN MONTGOMERY GREENE SHELBY COLES SCOTT MOULTRIE CHRISTIAN PIKE MORGAN DOUGLAS EDGAR SANGAMON MACON BROWN ADAMS DEWITT PIATT SCHUYLER LOGAN CHAMPAIGN VERMILION MCDONOUGH HANCOCK FULTON TAZEWELL MCLEAN WOODFORD PEORIA FORD IROQUOIS WARREN LIVINGSTON 21 29 9 27 28 33 79 31 13 25 31 54 12 18 14 15 14 18 272 9 13 8 12 20 12 13 24 18 82 35 32 65 38 9 14 16 62 79 33 41 11 15 11 61 105 49 43 33 66 9 18 15 16 7 21 9 17 18 12 9 32 18 9 29 18 21 15 12 11 19 22 85 18 10 16 23 10 18 § ¨ ¦ 57 § ¨ ¦ 72 § ¨ ¦ 70 § ¨ ¦ 55 § ¨ ¦ 74 § ¨ ¦ 72 § ¨ ¦ 74 § ¨ ¦ 57 § ¨ ¦ 72 § ¨ ¦ 72 § ¨ ¦ 55 § ¨ ¦ 55 § ¨ ¦ 172 § ¨ ¦ 70 § ¨ ¦ 74 § ¨ ¦ 55 § ¨ ¦ 155 § ¨ ¦ 155 § ¨ ¦ 39 § ¨ ¦ 57 § ¨ ¦ 72 § ¨ ¦ 74 55 § ¨ ¦ 474 § ¨ ¦ 57 70 § ¨ ¦ 57 § ¨ ¦ 74 § ¨ ¦ 55 § ¨ ¦ 72 Sam Parr Pere Marquette Ramsey Lake Beaver Dam Lincoln Trail Fox Ridge Wolf Creek Eagle Creek Sangchris Lake Sangchris Lake Walnut Point Spitler Woods Lincoln Trail Homestead Siloam Springs Kickapoo Weldon Springs Railsplitter Kickapoo Weinberg-King Dickson Mounds Moraine View Argyle Lake Nauvoo Norris Prairie City Deer Creek Ellisville Goodfield Milford Pontoosuc Creve Coeur Lexington Dallas City Bartonville Fairview Stoy Oblong Palestine Donnellson Watson St. Elmo Robinson Wheeler Altamont Dieterich Coffeen Bingham Rose Hill Fillmore Hutsonville Yale Taylor Springs Teutopolis Ramsey Effingham Hidalgo Schram City Montrose Shumway Hillsboro Beecher City Irving Jewett Herrick Sigel Cowden Witt Stewardson Greenup Coalton Oconee Toledo Nokomis Casey Wenonah Neoga Ohlman Strasburg Martinsville Shelbyville Tower Hill Pana Lerna Shelbyville Morrisonville Marshall Windsor Palmer Gays Westfield Owaneco Mattoon Assumption Findlay Charleston Ashmore Taylorville Allenville Kansas Jeiseyville Tovey Kincaid Bulpitt Vermilion Sullivan Humboldt Moweaqua Stonington Bethany Redmon Paris Edinburg Oakland Hindsboro Arcola Blue Mound Macon Lovington Dalton City Brocton Arthur Mount Auburn Mount Zion Garrett Hammond Atwood Camargo Newman Mechanicsburg Hume Metcalf Tuscola Long Creek Chrisman Buffalo Illiopolis Dawson Niantic Villa Grove Longview Cerro Gordo Broadlands Ridge Farm Decatur Sidell Pesotum Allerton Bement Warrensburg Forsyth Indianola Oreana Ivesdale Latham Sadorus Argenta Tolono Georgetown Philo Mount Pulaski Cisco Elkhart Sidney Monticello Maroa Homer Fairmount Broadwell Westville Belgium Savoy Catlin Hegeler Kenney Tilton Bondville St. Joseph Muncie De Land Weldon Fithian Ogden Oakwood Vermilion Urbana Champaign Clinton Lincoln De Witt Royal Danville Danville Mahomet Mansfield Lake of the Woods Wapella Waynesville Hartsburg Farmer City Thomasboro Atlanta Emden McLean Gifford Heyworth Potomac Alvin Fisher Henning Rantoul Armington Bellflower Le Roy Foosland Ludlow Downs Rossville Hopedale Saybrook Minier Stanford Ellsworth Arrowsmith Elliott Paxton Rankin Gibson City Hoopeston Bloomington Tremont Loda Danvers Mackinaw Cooksville Normal Towanda Wellington Colfax Anchor Melvin Cissna Park Sibley Buckley Hudson Morton Congerville Roberts Staunton Panama Batchtown Bunker Hill Brighton Otterville Walshville Mount Olive Wilsonville White City Sawyerville Dorchester Benld Mount Clare Royal Lakes Eagarville Fieldon Shipman Gillespie Jerseyville East Gillespie Fidelity Hardin Medora Litchfield Kane Butler Hamburg Chesterfield Rockbridge Eldred Carlinville Kampsville Carrollton Raymond Standard City Greenfield Hettick Harvel Waggoner Nilwood Palmyra Farmersville Nebo White Hall Girard Pleasant Hill Hillview Pearl Scottville Modesto Wilmington Roodhouse Virden Thayer Manchester Glasgow Alsey Time Milton Murrayville Divernon Waverly Auburn Pawnee Franklin Detroit Woodson El Dara Florence Pittsfield Winchester New Canton Loami Chatham Lynnville Valley City Barry Kinderhook South Jacksonville Griggsville New Salem Hull Exeter New Berlin Baylis Springfield Jacksonville Bluffs Rochester Berlin Naples Jerome Chapin Leland Grove Perry Plainville Clear Lake Grandview Concord Payson Meredosia Riverton Spaulding Springfield Pleasant Plains Arenzville Ashland Versailles Liberty Sherman Cantrall Tallula Williamsville Virginia Athens Quincy Quincy Menard City Mount Sterling Columbus Mound Station Petersburg Beardstown Ripley Clayton Coatsburg Chandlerville Camp Point Greenview Ursa Middletown Oakford Mendon Golden Rushville Browning Kilbourne Camden La Prairie Loraine New Holland Lima Bath Mason City Easton Astoria Augusta Littleton Bowen West Point Plymouth Vermont San Jose Havana Topeka Industry Basco Ipava Bentley Table Grove Forest City Delavan Warsaw Liverpool Green Valley Elvaston Lewistown Lewistown Hamilton Tennessee Manito Carthage Colchester Bryant Smithfield Ferris Dunfermline Macomb Cuba South Pekin Marietta Bardolph Banner Kingston Mines Good Hope Blandinsville Bushnell Sciota Mapleton Glasford Nauvoo Canton La Harpe Pekin North Pekin East Peoria Williamson Godfrey Brownstown Newton Sorento Vandalia Willow Hill FOURTH LINE 11 BASE MERIDIAN 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1S 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1W 1N 2 3 20 19 18 16 17 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 4 5 6 7 8 21 22 23 24 25 14W 8 10 11W 12 13 10 9 7 6 5 4 3 2 1E 1W 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 550 6 450 6 7 10 9 850 16 40 100 30 10 5 380 21 8 12 12 A Guide to Coal Availability and Resource Development in Illinois μ Region 2 Region 1 Region 3 Herrin (No. 6) Coal Steven R. Gustison, Philip M. Johanek, Robert J. Finley, Illinois State Geological Survey Illinois State Geological Survey gratefully acknowledges the funding for this project from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Office of Coal Development; 620 East Adams Street; Springfield, IL 62701-1615. Underground Mining Technological Restrictions Minimum seam thickness 42 in. Minimum bedrock cover variable Minimum ratio of bedrock to unconsolidated overburden 1:1 Floodplains 1 ... Minimum interburden between minable seams 40 ft Minimum size of mining block (clean coal) 40 million tons Faults (width of zone of no mining ) Cottage Grove Fault System Master fault Subsidiary fault Rend Lake Fault System Centralia Fault Wabash Valley Fault System 500 to 1,000 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 800 ft Walshville Channel, no mining within 0.5 mi Anvil Rock Channel, no mining within Energy Shale, no mining within Anvil Rock Sandstone within 5 feet of coal Partings Minimum yield Maximim thickness 2 1,800 ft transition zone identified not used … Land-use Restrictions (width of unminable coal around feature) Surface and underground mines 200 ft Towns 0 ft Subdivisions not used Churches and schools not used Cemeteries not used High-voltage transmission towers not used Interstate highways 100 ft Major airports 100 ft Dams 100 ft Closely spaced oil wells >7 wells per 40 acres Available with Conditions Closely spaced oil wells 4 - 7 wells per 40 acres Potential land-use conflicts All otherwise available underground minable coal within areas where land-use patterns are incompatible with mining identified Coal quality limitations none Bedrock cover >minimum but <100 ft 1 Floodplains are considered a restriction only if bedrock is less than 100 feet thick. 2 Areas where partings are likely to be too thick for mining were identified. Data were generally insufficient to isopach parting thickness. 1:250,000 0 8 16 24 32 4 Miles 0 8 16 24 32 4 Kilometers Of the 88.5 billion tons of the original resources of the Herrin Coal in Illinois, 79 billion tons, or 89%, remain; the Herrin Coal is the largest remaining coal resource in the state. The other 9.4 billion tons have been mined or were lost in mining during the more than 200 years Illinois coal has been mined. The degree to which this remaining resource is used in the future depends on the availability of deposits that can be mined at a cost that is competitive with other coals and alternative fuels. This report identifies those resources that have the most favorable geologic and land-use characteristics for mining, shows the probable trend of future mining of these resources, and alerts mining companies to geologic conditions that have a potentially negative impact on mining costs. Approximately 58% of the original Herrin Coal resources (51 billion tons) is available for mining. Available means that the surface land-use and geologic conditions related to mining of the deposit (e.g. thickness, depth, in-place tonnage, stability of bedrock overburden) are comparable to other coals currently being mined in the state. Of these resources, 21 billion tons are 42 to 66 inches thick and 30 billion tons are greater than 66 inches thick. An additional 3 billion tons of Herrin Coal resources are available but have geologic or land- use conditions that are potentially restrictive, making them less desirable for mining. Technological factors (geologic conditions and economic parameters such as size of reserve block) restrict mining of 24% of the resources, and land-use factors (e.g., towns, highways) restrict mining of 4% of the resources. The available resources are primarily located in the central and southern portions of the state (map regions 2 and 3 on the key map) and are well suited for high-efficiency longwall mining. The Herrin Coal resources are relatively flat-lying; have a consistent seam thickness over large areas; are relatively free of faults, channels, or other geologic anomalies; are located predominantly in rural areas free from oil wells and other surface development; and are situated in minable blocks of hundreds of millions of tons. Whether or not the resources are ultimately mined is still dependent on other factors that have not been assessed, including the willingness of local landowners to lease the coal, demands for a particular quality of coal, accessibility of transportation infrastructure, proximity of the deposit to markets, and cost and availability of competing fuels. About 74 billion tons of the remaining Herrin Coal resources have greater than 1.67 pounds of sulfur per million BTU and are therefore mostly suited for the high-sulfur coal market. Although only 9% of the original resources has a sulfur content of less than 1.67 pounds per million BTU, almost one-third of the past mining has been concentrated in these deposits. About 6 billion tons of this lower-sulfur coal remain, and about half of this is classified as available or available with potential restrictions. For the most part, these lower-sulfur resources are too deep for surface mining and will have to be mined by underground methods. Technological factors, particularly seam thickness and the thickness of bedrock cover, are the primary restrictions on mining these lower-sulfur deposits. About 5% of these resources are available but potentially restricted by land use because of the eastward expansion of development in the St. Louis metropolitan area. Most of the available Herrin Coal resources will be mined by underground methods. Of the 86 billion tons of original resources that are at least 40 feet deep (and therefore potentially minable by underground methods), 57% (49 billions tons) is available for underground mining. An additional 4% (3 billion tons) is available but with potential restrictions that make the resources less desirable. These potential restrictions include the presence of closely spaced oil wells, less stable roof strata, or close proximity to developing urban areas. The major technological factors that restrict underground mining are unfavorable thicknesses of bedrock and unconsolidated overburden (9% of original resources) coal less than 42 inches thick (8%), and thin interburden between the Herrin Coal and an overlying or underlying seam (4%). Land use restricts underground mining of 5% of the original resources, and 10% has already been mined or lost in mining. Only about 15 billion tons of the original Herrin Coal resource lie at depths of less than 200 feet and are therefore potentially minable by surface methods. Of these resources, 21% have already been mined (3 billion tons) and 15% (2 billion tons) is available for surface mining. Land-use factors, primarily towns, restrict 17% of the resources. Technological factors, primarily the stripping ratio and thick unconsolidated material, restrict 45% of the surface-minable resources. To avoid high mining costs resulting from unfavorable geologic conditions, companies seeking sites for underground mines should avoid areas with the following conditions: thick drift and thin bedrock cover, close proximity to the Walshville or Anvil Rock Channels or faults, areas of closely spaced oil wells, and areas at the margins of the Energy Shale or closely overlain by Anvil Rock Sandstone. Areas with low-cost surface minable resources (areas with low stripping ratios that are free of conflicting land uses) are limited and will only support small, limited-term operations. From Treworgy, C.G., C.P. Korose, and C.L. Wiscombe, 2000, Availability of the Herrin Coal for mining in Illinois: Champaign, Illinois State Geological Survey, Illinois Minerals 120, 60 p. Legend Restricted or mined-out area 42 to 66 inches Greater than 66 inches Rivers where the 50-year low flow > 5 mgd # 0 Estimated 50 year Low Flow in mgd Existing Reservoir $ Potential Reservoir Sites in mgd D Plant Site with Yield in mgd 14 mgd 28 mgd 72 mgd C Industrial and Institutional Plant B Utility Owned Power Plant Transmission Line Municipality Township County Interstate Railroad Nature Preserve Area with significant ecological, geological, or archaeological features Fish and Wildlife Area Conservation Area State Forest State Park Natural Areas Inventory Federal Land 100 year Floodzone Resource Rich Watersheds Coal Availability Surface Water Sources Reservoirs Wastewater Treatment Plants Potential Groundwater Yields Coal-burning Electric Power Plants Electrical Power Grid Political Boundaries Transportation Systems Areas of Concern
Transcript of A Guide to Coal Availability and Resource Development in...
D
D
D
D
#0
#0
#0
#0
#0
#0
#0
#0
#0
#0
#0
#0
#0
#0
#0
#0
$
$
$
$$
$
$
$ $
$
$
$$$ $
$
$$
$$
$$
$
$$
$
$
$$$
$
$$
$
$
$
$
$$
$$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$ $$
$$
$
$ $$
$
$ $
$
$
$
$$$
$ $
$
$ $
$$$
$$
$
$$
$$ $
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
BB
C
C
C
CC
C
C
C
CC
7
11
3
1
20
18
6
4
16
22
23,24
CASS
MENARD
MASON
BOND
JASPER
CRAWFORD
FAYETTE
EFFINGHAM
JERSEY
CUMBERLAND
CALHOUN
CLARK
MACOUPIN
MONTGOMERYGREENE
SHELBY
COLES
SCOTT
MOULTRIE
CHRISTIAN
PIKE MORGAN
DOUGLAS
EDGAR
SANGAMON
MACON
BROWN
ADAMS
DEWITT
PIATT
SCHUYLER
LOGAN
CHAMPAIGN
VERMILION
MCDONOUGH
HANCOCK
FULTON TAZEWELL
MCLEAN
WOODFORDPEORIA
FORD
IROQUOIS
WARREN LIVINGSTON
2129
9
2728
33 7931
1325
31
5412
18 1415
14
18
272
913
8
122012
13
2418
823532
65
38
9
14
16
62
79
3341
1115
11
61
105
49
4333
66
9 1815
16
7
21 9
17
1812
932
189
29
1821 15 12
11
19
2285
18
10
1623
10
18
§̈¦57
§̈¦72
§̈¦70§̈¦55
§̈¦74
§̈¦72
§̈¦74
§̈¦57
§̈¦72
§̈¦72
§̈¦55
§̈¦55
§̈¦172
§̈¦70
§̈¦74
§̈¦55
§̈¦155
§̈¦155
§̈¦39
§̈¦57
§̈¦72
§̈¦7455
§̈¦474
§̈¦5770
§̈¦57
§̈¦74
§̈¦55
§̈¦72
SamParr
Pere Marquette
RamseyLake
BeaverDam
Lincoln Trail
FoxRidge
Wolf Creek
Eagle Creek
Sangchris Lake
Sangchris Lake
WalnutPoint
SpitlerWoods
LincolnTrail
Homestead
SiloamSprings
KickapooWeldonSprings
Railsplitter
Kickapoo
Weinberg-King
DicksonMounds
Moraine View
Argyle Lake
Nauvoo
NorrisPrairie CityDeer CreekEllisville Goodfield
MilfordPontoosuc CreveCoeur
LexingtonDallas CityBartonville
Fairview
StoyOblong Palestine
Donnellson WatsonSt.Elmo
Robinson
Wheeler
Altamont Dieterich
Coffeen
BinghamRoseHill
FillmoreHutsonville
YaleTaylor
Springs
TeutopolisRamsey
Effingham
HidalgoSchramCity
Montrose
Shumway
Hillsboro
BeecherCity
IrvingJewett
HerrickSigel
CowdenWitt
StewardsonGreenup
Coalton OconeeToledo
Nokomis
CaseyWenonah
Neoga
Ohlman
Strasburg
Martinsville
ShelbyvilleTowerHillPana
LernaShelbyville
MorrisonvilleMarshall
Windsor
Palmer Gays Westfield
Owaneco
Mattoon
AssumptionFindlay
Charleston
Ashmore
TaylorvilleAllenville Kansas
Jeiseyville
Tovey KincaidBulpitt Vermilion
Sullivan Humboldt
Moweaqua
StoningtonBethany
Redmon
Paris
EdinburgOakland
HindsboroArcola
Blue MoundMacon
LovingtonDalton
City
BroctonArthur
Mount AuburnMountZion
GarrettHammond
Atwood Camargo NewmanMechanicsburg
HumeMetcalf
Tuscola
Long CreekChrisman
BuffaloIlliopolisDawson Niantic
VillaGrove
LongviewCerroGordo
Broadlands RidgeFarm
Decatur
SidellPesotumAllertonBement
Warrensburg ForsythIndianola
Oreana
Ivesdale
LathamSadorus
ArgentaTolono
Georgetown
PhiloMountPulaski
CiscoElkhart
SidneyMonticello
Maroa Homer
Fairmount
BroadwellWestville
BelgiumSavoy
CatlinHegeler
Kenney Tilton
BondvilleSt. Joseph
MuncieDe LandWeldon FithianOgdenOakwood
Vermilion
UrbanaChampaign
ClintonLincoln
De Witt
RoyalDanville
Danville
Mahomet
Mansfield
Lake ofthe Woods
Wapella
Waynesville
HartsburgFarmer City
Thomasboro
Atlanta
Emden
McLean GiffordHeyworthPotomac AlvinFisher Henning
Rantoul
Armington BellflowerLe Roy
Foosland
LudlowDowns Rossville
HopedaleSaybrookMinier Stanford
Ellsworth Arrowsmith
Elliott Paxton RankinGibson CityHoopestonBloomington
TremontLoda
DanversMackinaw
Cooksville
Normal
TowandaWellington
Colfax AnchorMelvin Cissna Park
Sibley
BuckleyHudson
Morton
CongervilleRoberts
Staunton
Panama
BatchtownBunker
HillBrighton
Otterville
WalshvilleMountOliveWilsonville
WhiteCity
SawyervilleDorchester Benld
MountClare
RoyalLakes EagarvilleFieldon
Shipman GillespieJerseyville
East Gillespie
FidelityHardin
Medora Litchfield
KaneButler
Hamburg
Chesterfield
Rockbridge
Eldred
Carlinville
Kampsville
Carrollton
Raymond
Standard CityGreenfield
Hettick Harvel
Waggoner
Nilwood
Palmyra
FarmersvilleNeboWhiteHall
GirardPleasant
HillHillview
Pearl
Scottville ModestoWilmingtonRoodhouse
Virden
ThayerManchesterGlasgow
AlseyTime Milton
Murrayville
Divernon
WaverlyAuburn
Pawnee
FranklinDetroit Woodson
El Dara Florence
Pittsfield
Winchester
New Canton
Loami Chatham
Lynnville
ValleyCityBarry
KinderhookSouth
Jacksonville
GriggsvilleNew Salem
Hull
ExeterNew
Berlin
Baylis
Springfield
Jacksonville
BluffsRochester
BerlinNaplesJeromeChapin
Leland GrovePerry
Plainville
ClearLake
GrandviewConcord
Payson Meredosia
Riverton
Spaulding
Springfield
Pleasant PlainsArenzville
AshlandVersaillesLiberty Sherman
CantrallTallula
WilliamsvilleVirginia
AthensQuincy
Quincy
MenardCity
Mount SterlingColumbus
MoundStation Petersburg
Beardstown
RipleyClaytonCoatsburg
ChandlervilleCampPoint
GreenviewUrsaMiddletown
OakfordMendon
GoldenRushville Browning
KilbourneCamdenLa Prairie
Loraine
NewHolland
Lima Bath
MasonCity
EastonAstoriaAugusta LittletonBowen
West Point
Plymouth VermontSanJoseHavana
TopekaIndustryBasco
IpavaBentley
Table GroveForest
City DelavanWarsaw
Liverpool
GreenValley
Elvaston
Lewistown
LewistownHamilton
Tennessee ManitoCarthage
Colchester
Bryant
SmithfieldFerris
Dunfermline
Macomb
Cuba SouthPekin
MariettaBardolph
Banner
KingstonMines
GoodHopeBlandinsville
Bushnell
Sciota MapletonGlasford
NauvooCanton
LaHarpe
Pekin
North Pekin
EastPeoria
WilliamsonGodfrey Brownstown NewtonSorento VandaliaWillow
Hill
FOU
RTH
LINE
11
BASE
ME
RID
IAN11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1S
98 7
6 5 43 2 1W
1N
2
3
20
19
18
16
17
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
4
5
6
7
8
21
22
23
24
25
14W8
1011W12131097654321E
1W234678910111213
550
6
450
6
7
10
9
850
16
40
100
30
10
5
380
21
8
12
12
A Guide to Coal Availability and Resource Development in Illinois
µ
Region 2
Region 1
Region 3
Herrin (No. 6) CoalSteven R. Gustison, Philip M. Johanek, Robert J. Finley, Illinois State Geological Survey
Illinois State Geological Survey gratefully acknowledges thefunding for this project from the Illinois Department of Commerceand Economic Opportunity, Office of Coal Development; 620East Adams Street; Springfield, IL 62701-1615.
Underground Mining Technological Restrictions Minimum seam thickness 42 in. Minimum bedrock cover variable Minimum ratio of bedrock to unconsolidated overburden 1:1 Floodplains1 ... Minimum interburden between minable seams 40 ft Minimum size of mining block (clean coal) 40 million tons Faults (width of zone of no mining ) Cottage Grove Fault System Master fault Subsidiary fault Rend Lake Fault System Centralia Fault Wabash Valley Fault System
500 to 1,000 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 800 ft
Walshville Channel, no mining within 0.5 mi Anvil Rock Channel, no mining within
Energy Shale, no mining within Anvil Rock Sandstone within 5 feet of coal Partings Minimum yield Maximim thickness2
1,800 ft transition zone identified not used …
Land-use Restrictions (width of unminable coal around feature) Surface and underground mines 200 ft Towns 0 ft Subdivisions not used Churches and schools not used Cemeteries not used High-voltage transmission towers not used Interstate highways 100 ft Major airports 100 ft Dams 100 ft Closely spaced oil wells >7 wells per
40 acres Available with Conditions Closely spaced oil wells 4 - 7 wells per
40 acres Potential land-use conflicts All otherwise available underground minable coal within areas where land-use patterns are incompatible with mining
identified
Coal quality limitations none Bedrock cover >minimum
but <100 ft
1 Floodplains are considered a restriction only if bedrock is less than 100 feet thick. 2 Areas where partings are likely to be too thick for mining were identified. Data were generally insufficient to isopach parting thickness.
1:250,0000 8 16 24 324
Miles0 8 16 24 324
Kilometers
Of the 88.5 billion tons of the original resources of the Herrin Coal in Illinois, 79 billion tons, or 89%, remain; the Herrin Coal is the largest remaining coal resource in the state. The other 9.4 billion tons have been mined or were lost in mining during the more than 200 years Illinois coal has been mined. The degree to which this remaining resource is used in the future depends on the availability of deposits that can be mined at a cost that is competitive with other coals and alternative fuels. This report identifies those resources that have the most favorable geologic and land-use characteristics for mining, shows the probable trend of future mining of these resources, and alerts mining companies to geologic conditions that have a potentially negative impact on mining costs. Approximately 58% of the original Herrin Coal resources (51 billion tons) is available for mining. Available means that the surface land-use and geologic conditions related to mining of the deposit (e.g. thickness, depth, in-place tonnage, stability of bedrock overburden) are comparable to other coals currently being mined in the state. Of these resources, 21 billion tons are 42 to 66 inches thick and 30 billion tons are greater than 66 inches thick. An additional 3 billion tons of Herrin Coal resources are available but have geologic or land-use conditions that are potentially restrictive, making them less desirable for mining. Technological factors (geologic conditions and economic parameters such as size of reserve block) restrict mining of 24% of the resources, and land-use factors (e.g., towns, highways) restrict mining of 4% of the resources. The available resources are primarily located in the central and southern portions of the state (map regions 2 and 3 on the key map) and are well suited for high-efficiency longwall mining. The Herrin Coal resources are relatively flat-lying; have a consistent seam thickness over large areas; are relatively free of faults, channels, or other geologic anomalies; are located predominantly in rural areas free from oil wells and other surface development; and are situated in minable blocks of hundreds of millions of tons. Whether or not the resources are ultimately mined is still dependent on other factors that have not been assessed, including the willingness of local landowners to lease the coal, demands for a particular quality of coal, accessibility of transportation infrastructure, proximity of the deposit to markets, and cost and availability of competing fuels. About 74 billion tons of the remaining Herrin Coal resources have greater than 1.67 pounds of sulfur per million BTU and are therefore mostly suited for the high-sulfur coal market. Although only 9% of the original resources has a sulfur content of less than 1.67 pounds per million BTU, almost one-third of the past mining has been concentrated in these deposits. About 6 billion tons of this lower-sulfur coal remain, and about half of this is classified as available or available with potential restrictions. For the most part, these lower-sulfur resources are too deep for surface mining and will have to be mined by underground methods. Technological factors, particularly seam thickness and the thickness of bedrock cover, are the primary restrictions on mining these lower-sulfur deposits. About 5% of these resources are available but potentially restricted by land use because of the eastward expansion of development in the St. Louis metropolitan area. Most of the available Herrin Coal resources will be mined by underground methods. Of the 86 billion tons of original resources that are at least 40 feet deep (and therefore potentially minable by underground methods), 57% (49 billions tons) is available for underground mining. An additional 4% (3 billion tons) is available but with potential restrictions that make the resources less desirable. These potential restrictions include the presence of closely spaced oil wells, less stable roof strata, or close proximity to developing urban areas. The major technological factors that restrict underground mining are unfavorable thicknesses of bedrock and unconsolidated overburden (9% of original resources) coal less than 42 inches thick (8%), and thin interburden between the Herrin Coal and an overlying or underlying seam (4%). Land use restricts underground mining of 5% of the original resources, and 10% has already been mined or lost in mining. Only about 15 billion tons of the original Herrin Coal resource lie at depths of less than 200 feet and are therefore potentially minable by surface methods. Of these resources, 21% have already been mined (3 billion tons) and 15% (2 billion tons) is available for surface mining. Land-use factors, primarily towns, restrict 17% of the resources. Technological factors, primarily the stripping ratio and thick unconsolidated material, restrict 45% of the surface-minable resources. To avoid high mining costs resulting from unfavorable geologic conditions, companies seeking sites for underground mines should avoid areas with the following conditions: thick drift and thin bedrock cover, close proximity to the Walshville or Anvil Rock Channels or faults, areas of closely spaced oil wells, and areas at the margins of the Energy Shale or closely overlain by Anvil Rock Sandstone. Areas with low-cost surface minable resources (areas with low stripping ratios that are free of conflicting land uses) are limited and will only support small, limited-term operations. From Treworgy, C.G., C.P. Korose, and C.L. Wiscombe, 2000, Availability of the Herrin Coal for mining in Illinois: Champaign, Illinois State Geological Survey, Illinois Minerals 120, 60 p.
Legend
Restricted or mined-out area
42 to 66 inches
Greater than 66 inches
Rivers where the 50-year low flow > 5 mgd
#0 Estimated 50 year Low Flow in mgd
Existing Reservoir
$ Potential Reservoir Sites in mgd
D Plant Site with Yield in mgd
14 mgd
28 mgd
72 mgd
C Industrial and Institutional Plant
B Utility Owned Power Plant
Transmission Line
Municipality
Township
County
Interstate
Railroad
Nature PreserveArea with significant ecological,geological, or archaeological features
Fish and Wildlife Area
Conservation Area
State Forest
State Park
Natural Areas Inventory
Federal Land
100 year Floodzone
Resource Rich Watersheds
Coal Availability
Surface Water Sources
Reservoirs
Wastewater Treatment Plants
Potential Groundwater Yields
Coal-burning Electric Power Plants
Electrical Power Grid
Political Boundaries
Transportation Systems
Areas of Concern
