Coal resources for part of the Wilcox group (Paleocene through Eocene), central Texas

AAPG Studies in Geology -10
By: , and 
Edited by: Peter D. WarwickAlexander K. KarlsenMatthew D. Merrill, and Brett J. Valentine

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Abstract

The Wilcox Group of central Texas contains shallow (less than 500 ft) coal deposits that are mined for use in mine-mouth electric power generating plants. These coal deposits range in apparent rank from lignite to sub-bituminous (Pierce et al., 2011) and are similar in rank and composition to shallow coal deposits in the northeast and south Texas areas (Figure 1). The coal zones and associated strata in the central Texas assessment area generally dip to the southeast toward the Gulf of Mexico coastline and basin center. The central Texas resource assessment area includes parts of eight counties (Figure 2). The assessment area was selected to encompass current mining areas and areas with available subsurface stratigraphic data. The assessment area is roughly 160 miles long and 5 to 25 miles wide and generally follows the outcrop of the Paleocene to Eocene Wilcox Group in central Texas (Figures 1, 2). Approximately 1800 subsurface stratigraphic records from rotary and core drill holes were used to assess the resources of the central Texas assessment area. Of the 1800 drill holes, only 167 are public data points and are primarily located in the areas that have been permitted for surface mining (Figure 2; Appendix 1). The remaining 1632 drill holes, which are distributed throughout the assessment area, were provided to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) on a confidential basis by various coal companies for use in regional studies.

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Publication type Book chapter
Publication Subtype Book Chapter
Title Coal resources for part of the Wilcox group (Paleocene through Eocene), central Texas
Series title AAPG Studies in Geology
Chapter 10
Volume 62
Year Published 2011
Language English
Publisher American Association of Petroleum Geologists
Contributing office(s) Eastern Energy Resources Science Center
Description 68 p.
Larger Work Type Book
Larger Work Subtype Monograph
Larger Work Title Geologic assessment of coal in the Gulf of Mexico coastal plain
First page 192
Last page 259
Country United States
State Texas
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