A valilability of the fire clay (Hazard NO.4) coal in part of the eastern kentucky coal field

摘要

The Fire Clay (Hazard No.4) coal is one of the most heavily mined beds in the Eastern Kentucky Coal Field,which is part of the Appalachian Basin.Avaiable resources for the coal were calculated for an area of 15 7.5 -minute quadrangles that accounts for 43 percent of current annual Fire Clay coal production.This study differs from previous coal-availability studies in that a single coal bed was analyzed across several 7.5-minute quadrangles rather than multiple coals in a single quadrangle being analyzed.Original Fire Clay coal resources for the study area are extimated at 1.7 billion tons (Bt).Coal mined or lost in mining is estimated at 449 million tons (Mt),resulting in 1.3 Bt of remaining Fire clay resources.Of the remaining resources.400 Mt are restricted from mining,mostly becarse of coal considered too thin (less than 28 in.,71 cm) to economically mine with present market conditons and mining technology.The total coal available for mining in the study area is 911 Mt or 51.7 percent of the original resource.Of the 911 Mt,75 percent is less than 42 inches (1.06m) in thickness,and most of this resource is below drainage.