1.      Introduction

Initially the reader is referred to Combustion File 177 for an overview of [GLOSS]coal[/GLOSS], coal age and [GLOSS]coal rank[/GLOSS]. In Combustion File 178, an overview is given of the global proven coal reserves at the end of 2001, along with global statistics of coal production and consumption in 2001.

In this Combustion File, more detailed information is given of the national proven reserves and production in the Americas.

Further a brief summary is given of the geographical distribution of the known coal deposits in the Americas along with a regional commentary of the coal types/ranks available.

2.      Reserves and production data

The estimated national proven reserves of coal in the Americas at the end of 2001 are presented in Table 1.

Table 2 shows the overall national production data in 2001 for the Americas and the number of year of reserves available if this production rate were maintained.

Table 1: Proven national coal reserves in the Americas at end of 2001
[Source: BP statistical review of world energy 2002]

Notes to Tables 1
Proven reserves of coal – Generally taken to be those quantities that geological and engineering information indicates with reasonable certainty can be recovered in the future from known deposits under existing economic and operating conditions.

Table 2: Total national coal production in the Americas in 2001
[Source: BP statistical review of world energy 2002]

Notes to Table 2
Reserves/Production (R/P) ratio – If the reserves remaining at the end of the year are divided by the production in that year, the result is the length of time that those remaining reserves would last if production were to continue at that level.

3.   Qualitative overview of coal available nationally and regionally in the Americas

In the following paragraphs, reserves of coal will frequently be described in terms of their geological age. In “CF177 What is coal?” the general relationship between geological age and coal rank was described in tabular form. This Table is reproduced below as an aid to reader in assessing the available coal reserve descriptions below.

Table 3: Geological ages and main coal formation periods

The inclusion of Peat as a type of coal is almost universal and therefore a class of Fossil Fuel – see CF84.

3.1       United States of America

The Eastern Appalachian Province is the oldest and most extensively developed coal area in the USA. The coal is of the Carboniferous period and the area contains about two fifths of the nation’s bituminous coal and nearly all the anthracite.

Coal rank tends to increase from west to east such that high volatile bituminous coal gives way to low volatile bituminous and anthracite.

Most reserves are in high to medium volatile bituminous rank range and are used mainly for the generation of steam in the power industry.

The Interior Province consists of a number of separate basins containing high volatile bituminous coal of the Carboniferous period.

The Northern Great Plains Province contains coals of Cretaceous to Tertiary periods. In this area some bituminous coals are present but the main reserves are of sub-bituminous coals and lignite.

Most coal from the Rocky Mountain area is sub-bituminous or high volatile bituminous mainly mined through the open cast method.

The Pacific Coast Province (including Alaska) has coal deposits coal in widely scattered areas and in general has not been widely exploited.

Finally the Gulf Costal Plain Province contains lignites of the Tertiary period and the coal is used extensively for power generation.

3.2       Canada

Western Canada – the largest Canadian coal bearing regions are located in Western Canada stretching from Saskatchewan to British Columbia. The coals of the late Jurassic and early Cretaceous periods and tend to consist of sub-bituminous coals and lignites.

Eastern Canada – Carboniferous coals are mined in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, and all are bituminous coals.

Northern Canada – coals of the Carboniferous and Tertiary Periods are found and consist of sub-bituminous coals and lignites.

Older coals from the Devonian Period – Cannel coal – are known to occur in the Artic Islands.

3.3       Mexico

Coals of the Cretaceous Period are found throughout Mexico. All are highly [GLOSS]tectonised[/GLOSS] and structurally complex.

The principal coalfield is at Coahuila on the Texan border. The coal is low volatile bituminous with high ash and low sulphur content.

Another location of note is in the northwest of the country at Sonora where anthracites are found.

Numerous small deposits of bituminous coals are found throughout Mexico but seam development is irregular and affected by volcanic activity.

3.4           Brazil

Brazil has five coal bearing regions but none of these are currently exploited to any degree.

These regions are: The Upper Amazon, The Rio Fresco, Tocantins-Araguaia, Western Piaui and Southern Brazil.

The principal deposits are situated in Southern Brazil and are of the Carboniferous-Permian ([GLOSS]Gondwana[/GLOSS]) Periods.

Some Lignites are present in the Sao Paolo region but their economic potential is currently unknown.

3.5       Colombia

Coal deposits of the Cretaceous and Tertiary Periods are found in many locations in the northern half of Colombia.

All coals have been highly tectonised and coals range from lignite to anthracite.

The deposit at El Cerrejon is on of the most important coal deposit in South America and one of the most important export steam coals.

3.6       Venezuela

All the known coal-bearing deposits in Venezuela are of the Tertiary Period and occur in a series of basins north of the River Orinoco. The principal areas of interest are Zulia, Lobatera, and the Caracas-Barcelona basin. Some seams are up to 10m in thickness and all tend to be high volatile bituminous.

3.7   Other South and Central America

Most of the coals are of Cenozoic (Tertiary) Age with coals of the Palaeozoic (Gondwana) found mainly in Uruguay, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Costa Rica and Chile. Mesozoic coals are found in discrete deposits throughout the region.

The coal deposits of Argentina are found in a series of deposits in the Andean Cordillera and in the Austral Patagonia. Coals are of Carboniferous-Triassic, Jurassic and Tertiary ages. Of these, the Tertiary coals are of principal economic interest.

Coals of Carboniferous-Triassic periods are found in the La Rioja – San Juan region and all are highly tectonised. Coals are low to medium volatile bituminous with some anthracites.

Tertiary coals are found in a large basin extending from Pico Quemado in the north to Tierra del Fuego in the south.

Most coals are used for power generation.  

4.      Further national/regional information

Other world regions – Europe, Africa and the Middle East, the Former Soviet Union and the Asia Pacific Region are dealt with separately in Combustion Files 193-196 inclusive.

Sources

BP statistical review of world energy 2002
http://www.bp.com/centres/energy2002/index.asp

Source of reserves data – World Energy Council

Walker, S. Major Coalfields of the World. IEA Coal Research, 2000, ISBN 92-9029-342-X

Thomas, L. Practical Coal Geology, John Wiley and Sons, 1992, ISBN 0-471-93557-3

Acknowledgements

Our acknowledgements and thanks are due to BP for the concise and clear information made openly available in their review of world energy and IEA Coal Research for information provided in “Major World Coal Fields”.