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Coal Mines, Coal Geology and Resource Data Online

Coal mine maps


Coal geology of Illinois (PDF)
Coal industry map (PDF)
Coal stratigraphic database (PDF)
Low sulfur coal paleoenvironments (PDF)
Minesubsidence information (PDF)
Springfield coal SE Illinois resources (PDF)

Statewide Coal Maps

Statewide coal maps on this page include structural elevation, depth, thickness, sulfur, and chlorine of major, potentially minable coal seams in Illinois. These include the Colchester, Danville, Davis, Dekoven, Herrin, Jamestown, Seelyville, and Springfield Coals. The maps presented here are page-sized (8.5 x 11 inches) maps available as PDF files. Herrin Coal structural elevation maps at a scale of 1:500,000 also available.

County Coal Map Series

The series contains coal resource maps, coal mine maps and directories, and coal logs. This index is designed as a starting point for gathering information on coal and mines within an Illinois county. After choosing a county, you will be taken to the county webpage where links to the maps and coal logs are displayed. Coal resource maps on this page include structural elevation, depth, thickness, sulfur, and chlorine maps of the Colchester, Danville, Davis, Dekoven, Herrin, Jamestown, Seelyville, and Springfield Coals. The coal mine maps are maps compiled by the ISGS of known mines, both underground and surface. The coal mine maps and accompanying directories, which provide basic information about the mines, represent the most comprehensive compilation of available data. Please note, however, that the accuracy and completeness of the mine maps and directories vary depending on the availability and quality of source material. The coal logs are non-confidential coal log descriptions from the Coal Section's stratigraphic database located in the county. These are part of the basis for the coal resource maps.

NOTE: A 1:100,000 scale color plot version (includes directory if mine map) is available at a cost of $10.00, and can be ordered by contacting the ISGS at (217) 244-2414, or e-mail at isgs@isgs.illinois.edu. A 1:24,0000 scale color plot version of each available quadrangle with the directory is available at a cost of $7.50., and can be ordered by contacting the ISGS also.

Illinois Coal Mines Quadrangle Maps and Directories

These selected 1:24,000-scale, 7.5-minute quadrangle maps show active and abandoned mines and their known extent. They are presented online as PDF versions on a topographic map base which includes township, range, and section lines and surface features such as roads, towns, lakes, and rivers. The mines are color-coded by mining method and the relative precision and completeness of the source map used for the mine boundary are indicated. Accompanying each map is a directory that gives a brief history of mining on the quadrangle and lists for each mine the location of mine opening and tipples; the name, thickness, and depth of seams mined; production history; geologic problems reported; company names; mine names and numbers; type of mine; years operated; coal seam mined; and mine location. Links to these same files are also now available via the county coal mine maps and directories pages and maps.

NOTE: A 1:24,0000 scale color plot version of each available quadrangle with the directory is available at a cost of $7.50, and can be ordered by contacting the ISGS at (217) 244-2414, or e-mail at isgs@isgs.illinois.edu.

Bedrock Geology Map

Strata of the Pennsylvanian System constitute the bedrock in about two-thirds of the area of Illinois (36,806 out of 56,400 square miles) and underlie all or parts of 86 of the 102 counties of the state. The majority of Illinois coals are found within these rocks, and all known economic resources are restricted to the Pennsylvanian in Illinois, sometimes informally called the "coal measures" in past.

Coal Geology of Illinois, 2003.

A summary of the information on Illinois Coal Geology, including characteristics of Illinois Coal, both by region and major minable seams. 3.6 MB PDF file, requires Adobe Acrobat for viewing. (Download Acrobat)

Pennsylvanian Stratigraphic Column and Nomenclature currently in use by the Coal Section


 Designing a Stratigraphic Database: An example from the Coal Section of the Illinois State Geological Survey.

Reprint 1993C, 1993.

Distribution of economic coal seams

Over 75 separate coal seams are known from the Pennsylvanian in Illinois. However only a few of them have been mined or identified as having significant economic reserves. The maps listed below illustrate the important economic seams.

  • Colchester (No. 2), Dekoven, Jamestown, Belle Rive, Bristol Hill, Calhoun, Friendsville, Louden, Oconee, Opdyke, Shelbyville, and Trowbridge Coals.
  • Springfield Coal
  • Herrin Coal
  • Danville Coal
  • Other Coals: Davis, Murphysboro, and Seelyville, with Assumption, Bell, Houchin Creek (formerly Summum (no. 4)), Litchfield, coals near Makanda, Mt. Rorah, New Burnside, Reynoldsburg, Rock Island (No. 1), "Seahorne", Survant (formerly Shawneetown), Wiley, Willis, and Wise Ridge Coal

Availability of Coal Resources

Harrisburg (No. 5) Coal Reserves of Southeastern Illinois,

Circular 431, 1968, 2.8 MB PDF file, requires Adobe Acrobat for viewing. (Download Acrobat)

Paleoenvironments and Distribution of Low-Sulfur Coal in Illinois,

Reprint 1986e, 1986, 800 KB PDF file, requires Adobe Acrobat for viewing. (Download Acrobat)

Mine Subsidence in Illinois: Facts for Homeowners,

C 569, 2006, 6 MB PDF file, requires Adobe Acrobat for viewing. (Download Acrobat)

Illinois Coal Resource Shapefiles and Coal Stratigraphic data at the ISGS

Digital coal resource shapefiles and raw database files available from the ISGS Coal Section. The listed shapefiles are the same ones that were used to construct the County Coal Map Series maps and Mined Out Area maps.

Trace Element Maps for the Herrin and Springfield Coals

These statewide trace element maps, which also include ash, total sulfur, and pyritic sulfur content to organic sulfur content ratio, are PDF versions and show trace element concentrations in the Herrin and Springfield Coals.

Coal Industry Map

(Warning! 8MB file size.)

Older and out of print publications


Coal Quality Data

(Excel data file)

 

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ILLINOIS STATE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
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Updated 7/22/2008 SLD