Time represented by coal seams in the coal measures of England

Broadhurst, F. M.

doi:10.1016/0166-5162(86)90024-8

Cited by 23 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Fielding 1984a;Broadhurst & France 1986;Fulton & Williams 1988) or caused by differential compaction resulting in the switching of depositional systems (e.g. Elliott 1969;Fielding 1984aFielding , c, 1986b.…”

Section: Mire (Coal)mentioning

confidence: 98%

Application of sedimentology to the development and extraction of deep-mined coal

Fulton

Guion

Jones

1995

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Most deep-mined coal in the UK comes from the Westphalian A and B (Langsettian-Duckmantian) of the coalfields of the Pennine Basin, in which several sedimentary facies have been identified. Deep mining of coal may be divided into four main operations: shaft sinking and driving of access drifts; drivage of underground roadways; excavation of coal faces; and the provision of temporary underground storage. The prediction of the lithological, geometrical and geotechnical properties of the various sedimentary facies likely to be encountered during mining is important for the success of all these operations.Roadway location may be influenced by the geotechnical attributes of the sedimentary facies, which also govern the type of machinery and methods used to cut and support the roads. The thickness, quality and continuity of the coal, and the properties of the roof and floor, are important in selecting the location of longwall faces and in their productivity. Facies composed of strong sedimentary rocks are likely to be the most suitable for the location of staple shafts and bunkers for coal storage. The geotechnical properties of each of the sedimentary facies is described, with particular reference to their excavation and support characteristics, and the discontinuities of sedimentary origin that are likely to be present. Distal lacustrine delta facies appear to provide the optimum roof conditions for coal faces and roadways.A simple scheme for the prediction of the sedimentary facies which may influence mining is presented, and a variety of mapping techniques, including facies maps, isopach maps and palaeocurrent analysis, are outlined. An improved knowledge of the properties and distribution of the various sedimentary facies at a mine site should lead to improved productivity and a reduction in risks and costs.Most of the deep-mined coal in the UK is currently obtained from collieries in the coalfields of the Pennine Basin (Fig. 1), in which most of the seams mined are of Westphalian A and B (Langsettian-Duckmantian) age (Fig. 2). Exploration for coal within the Pennine Basin was intense from the mid-1970s to the mid1980s. As a consequence of this, new mining areas were opened at Selby in Yorkshire and Asfordby in Leicestershire, and many extensions were developed from collieries in existing coalfields. Economic conditions have since resulted in a shrinkage in the demand for coal and a corresponding reduction in mined tonnage, with current exploration and development being restricted to existing mines.The object of this paper is to show that sedimentology can be applied to all stages of deep-mined coal exploration and development, by reference to the coalfields of the Pennine Basin. In particular, it concentrates on how the lithological, geometrical and geotechnical attributes of the various facies described by Guion et al. (this volume), affect the extraction of deepmined coal. The accurate prediction of both the properties and distribution of facies is important for the success of many mining operations, and a sche...

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Section: Mire (Coal)mentioning

confidence: 98%

Application of sedimentology to the development and extraction of deep-mined coal

Fulton

Guion

Jones

1995

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“…8: 2a, 2b) offer another way of describing channel orientation patterns using different sedimentary environments, and as noted, these environments will have been more susceptible to structurally initiated changes in elevation. Also, according to Broadhurst & France (1986) the coals represent a very large proportion of depositional time (around 50%, estimated by R.E. Elliott, pers.…”

Section: Sedimentological Criteriamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Broadhurst & France (1986) investigated depositional patterns in the Lancashire field, but did not find any obvious structural controls; they considered that syn-tectonism should be more apparent in the coals, rather than the intervening elastics, because of the proportion of time occupied by peat accumulation. In North Staffordshire, internal NCB reports (P. Norman, in R.E.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

The identification of syn-depositionally-active structures in the coal-bearing Upper Carboniferous of Great Britain

Rippon

1998

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The Upper Carboniferous coalfields of Great Britain occupy various tectonic settings. Excellent data sets allow detailed analysis of any relationship between structure and the depositional patterns. Syn-depositional movement can be identified on a basin scale, and also at the scale of individual faults. However, with the exception of the Scottish Midland Valley, definitive evidence for syn-depositional movement on specific structures is relatively rare, and especially so in the English Pennine Basin. In particular, there is a general scarcity of detailed structural control on coal-depositional patterns. The environments in which coals formed would have been much more sensitive to subtle ground movements than the higher energy environments of the major channel belts. The precursor peats were widespread and commonly diachronous, and probably spanned around half the available time and space during Westphalian deposition across the Pennine Basin. The rarity of localized structural controls on coal patterns is therefore firm evidence of rarity of specific syn-depositional faulting throughout the sedimentary volume. Using mining data mainly from the Pennine Basin and the Midland Valley, this account discusses examples of likely, and less likely syn-depositional features, and proposes structural and sedimentological critieria for systematic assessment.Much of the British Silesian (Upper Carboniferous) is coalbearing, particularly the strata of mid-A to mid-C Westphalian age. Significant earlier coals are present in Dinantian and Namurian successions in northern Britain, while Westphalian D coals are widespread within the coalfields of southern England and South Wales (Fig. 1). The main sequences have been extensively explored and mined, and many publications describe the regional geology, structural setting, and sedimentology. However, there is little published on syn-depositional movements and associated structures, and the existing literature does not assess the prevalence, or rarity, of movement and its effects on deposition; naturally, authors have reported examples of likely movement, rather than its absence.

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“…If these factors are taken into account, the Sydney Mines Formation cyclothems represent on average only 65 ka or less. The average thickness of the major coal seams is given by Gibling and Bird (1994) as 1.2 m, which based on estimates of coal accumulation given by Broadhurst and France (1986) and White et al (1994) (1 m thickness of coal represents 7-10 ka of peat-accumulation) means that each seam represents on average 9-12 ka. Consequently, it would seem that the Sydney Basin was covered by coal forests for perhaps only 20% of the time.…”

Section: Geological Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

Palynological evidence for Pennsylvanian (Late Carboniferous) vegetation change in the Sydney Coalfield, eastern Canada

et al. 2010

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The palynology of clastic samples from seven stratigraphical levels in the late Moscovian Sydney Mines Formation, exposed along the shore at Bras d'Or, Nova Scotia, has been investigated. Most of the samples were from roof shales of major coals; the one sample that was not yielded a much higher proportion of pollen derived from extra-basinal vegetation. The four stratigraphically lower roof shale samples yielded essentially similar palynological spectra, with 39 AE 4% lycophytes, 9 AE 4% sphenophylls, 23 AE 4% tree-ferns, 12 AE 4% other ferns and 5 AE 3% cordaites. The palynology of the upper part of the investigated succession suggests a shift in vegetation towards one favouring more marattialean treeferns, cordaites and conifers, and fewer lycophytes. This correlates with changes in drainage patterns as the alluvial plain migrated seawards and thus changed water tables. No evidence was found to suggest significant climate change at this time.

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Time represented by coal seams in the coal measures of England

Cited by 23 publications

References 3 publications

Application of sedimentology to the development and extraction of deep-mined coal

Application of sedimentology to the development and extraction of deep-mined coal

The identification of syn-depositionally-active structures in the coal-bearing Upper Carboniferous of Great Britain

Palynological evidence for Pennsylvanian (Late Carboniferous) vegetation change in the Sydney Coalfield, eastern Canada

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