How coal is prospected?

[davem]

How do coal mining companies check out an area to mine for coal?  I know nothing on this but it seems they must have a geologist do some type of sampling before a lot of money is spent hauling in equipment, etc.  If this is correct, on the sampling, are a few holes bored to see how thick a coal vein may be, etc?

The reason I ask is I have a few hundred acres of land that was looked at back in 1958 by a geologist that said there was a good quality of anthracite but didn't say how much.  I was to see if any mining companies are interested but I really don't know how to proceed.


Any help ap[appreciated. 

[John]

Dec 10, 2016 10:35:05 GMT -5 davem said:

How do coal mining companies check out an area to mine for coal?  I know nothing on this but it seems they must have a geologist do some type of sampling before a lot of money is spent hauling in equipment, etc.  If this is correct, on the sampling, are a few holes bored to see how thick a coal vein may be, etc?

The reason I ask is I have a few hundred acres of land that was looked at back in 1958 by a geologist that said there was a good quality of anthracite but didn't say how much.  I was to see if any mining companies are interested but I really don't know how to proceed.


Any help ap[appreciated. 

Core sampling from boreholes drilled around the prospect area. You will need to know the depth, seam thickness and quality of the coal. If it's good quality and not too deep, they will open cut the coal, remove the top soil and overburden, then drill fire and load out. If it's deep, two methods, but as you say just a few hundred acres, would probably be worked Bord and Pillar method, if they can get leases from your neighbors maybe invest in longwall equipment.

[davem]

Who would do that type of work? A coal company?  In other words, I am trying to figure out how to proceed.  Would the usual approach be to contact a coal mining company in the area and see if they are interested and they send a crew out? OR....do I get a third party outfit and have it done for me?
Thanks for any help- appreciate it.

[John]

Dec 12, 2016 10:12:41 GMT -5 davem said:

Who would do that type of work? A coal company?  In other words, I am trying to figure out how to proceed.  Would the usual approach be to contact a coal mining company in the area and see if they are interested and they send a crew out? OR....do I get a third party outfit and have it done for me?
Thanks for any help- appreciate it.

It's usually the coal company who would prove the coal reserves, you might find a drill rig would be way outside of your pocket book, remember, they will take core samples, probably the full length of the bore hole, which is called borehole logging, depending on depth you could be up for several thousand dollars per borehole. I don't know where you are, but here in Missouri, all boreholes, including water wells, have to be logged for the state authorities. They like to know what strata the bore is drilled through.
You could well be up for permits too, California requires a state permit for each hole drilled, and they aren't cheap.
Personally I'd contact your state authority who deals with minerals and seek their advice, you could also do a search of your states government departments on the internet. But you will ultimately will need to contact a coal company.

You might also check your deeds, do you own all mineral rights?? Were they sold off by a previous land owner??

I own all minerals under my land to the center of the earth, that's just noted to stop anyone claiming any minerals below our land. I know we have a low grade coal seam many hundreds of feet below us, plus over 600 feet of limestone.

Like I stated in my previous post, you may have to talk to your neighbors, a coal company might not be interested in investing in a small lease, mining machinery is very expensive and they may tell you to recover their operating costs they might request your neighbors to lease the coal deposits beneath their lands..

[davem]

Thanks, the land is in Wyoming.  All the folks around me did a group lease on oil about 30 years ago but nothing came of it.  Maybe a similar thing could be done on the coal.