Coal Resource Recoverability
A MethodologyU.S. Bureau of Mines Circular 9368
Table 1.-Comparisons between USBM and USGS-KGS coal availability (minability) restrictions
USBM | USGS-KGS | |
Land use restrictions: | ||
Industrial constraints: | ||
Powerlines | 100 ft buffer | 100 ft buffer. |
Pipelines | 100 ft buffer | 100 ft buffer. |
Oil and gas wells | 200 ft square | 200 ft square. |
Highways and railroads | NA | NA. |
Environmental constraints: | ||
Cemeteries | 100 ft buffer | 100 ft buffer. |
Major streams, lakes | 100 ft buffer | 100 ft buffer. |
Towns and residences | 300 ft buffer | 300 ft buffer. |
Ground slopes <65% | NA | NA. |
Technical restrictions: | ||
Minimum mining thickness: | ||
Surface mining | 12 in minimum | 14 in minimum. |
Deep mining | 24 in minimum | 28 in minimum. |
Stability considerations: | ||
Thicker coal beds too close | <40 ft above/ below |
<40 ft above/ below |
Deep mining too close | < 40 ft above/ below |
<40 ft above/ below |
Overburden too thin | <100 ft | NA. |
Too deep: | ||
Surface mines | >20:1 highwall ratio |
>200 ft. |
Deep mines | NA | >1,000 ft1 |
Geologic factors | NA | NA. |
Barrier restrictions: | ||
Present mine barriers | 50 ft buffer | 50 ft buffer. |
Future (planned) mine barriers | Actual area | NA. |
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