Major Coalfields of the World

摘要

At least 90% of world hard coal output will be produced from fewer than twenty major coalfields during the next two decades. The report analyses these coalfields from both a geological and economic perspective. Introductory chapters provide an overview of the economic and geological history of world hard coal. The first chapter briefly describes the changing pattern of output and demand over the past century, including the growth in international coal trade. The second chapter describes the formation of coal deposits at various stages in geological history, and the resultant differences in coal type, grade and rank. Subsequent chapters analyse each major coalfield against this background. The geology, structure and stratigraphy, rank and quality, resources and areas of interest of each coalfield are discussed. Industry structure and performance over the recent past are then considered, together with the transport infrastructure, production costs and market potential associated with each coalfield.