Lesson 1 & 2: Introduction to Coal Mining Flashcards
What naturally occurring inorganic substance can be mined for profit?
Ore – A naturally occurring inorganic substance that can be mined at a profit.
What is the term for organic remains formed from plant material buried and partially oxidized?
Coal – Organic remains formed from plant material buried and partially oxidized.
What measures 81 hectares in coal mining?
Coal Block – Measures 81 hectares in coal mining.
What is the waste material derived from the combustion of coal called?
Coal Ash – Toxic waste material derived from coal combustion.
What is the arrangement or deposition of sedimentary materials in layers called?
Stratification – The arrangement or deposition of sedimentary materials in layers.
What term refers to rocks or sediments composed of transported fragments like sandstone and shale?
Clastic Material – Rocks or sediments composed of transported fragments like sandstone and shale.
What is the process called where coal is formed through diagenesis and metamorphism?
Coalification – The formation of coal through diagenesis and metamorphism.
What is the term for a thin sedimentary layer following the separation between different strata?
Parting – A thin sedimentary layer following the separation between different strata.
What term refers to coal that has been purified and processed for industrial use?
Clean Coal – Coal that has been purified and processed for industrial use.
What is the heating value of coal typically expressed in?
British Thermal Unit (BTU) – The unit used to express the heating value of coal.
What type of coal has a calorific value of over 15,000 BTU/lb?
Anthracite – Coal type with a calorific value over 15,000 BTU/lb.
What type of coal is categorized below 4,000 BTU/lb in terms of calorific value?
Peat – Coal type categorized below 4,000 BTU/lb in terms of calorific value.
What physical property of coal is defined by its resistance to grinding and pulverization?
Grindability – A physical property determining the ease of pulverizing coal.
What chemical process refers to the formation of coal from plant material?
Coalification – The chemical process that forms coal from plant material.
What specific gravity value is associated with bituminous coal?
1.32 – The specific gravity value associated with bituminous coal.
What factor affecting coal quality is determined by the original plant material?
Vegetal Origin – A factor affecting coal quality based on the original plant material.
Which type of coal contains the highest amount of carbon and is the hardest?
Anthracite – The hardest coal with the highest carbon content.
What is the term for drilling holes to collect subsurface samples for laboratory analysis?
Exploration Drilling – Drilling holes to collect subsurface samples for analysis.
What type of drilling system uses water or air to cool the drill bit and flush out rock cuttings?
Rotary Drilling – A system that uses water or air to cool the drill bit and flush rock cuttings.
What is the exploration phase where initial wide-spaced drilling occurs and preliminary feasibility studies are run?
Phase III – Exploration phase involving initial wide-spaced drilling and preliminary feasibility studies.
What mining method typically has a recovery factor between 50-80% in deep mining operations?
Conventional Mining – A deep mining method with a recovery factor between 50-80%.
What mining method is characterized by a long horizontal face and has a recovery rate of about 70%?
Longwall Method – A mining method characterized by a long horizontal face and a 70% recovery rate.
What formula is used to calculate the in-place tons of a coal deposit?
In-place tons = C x A x 1359 x SG – Formula to calculate in-place tons of a coal deposit.
What core drilling method uses a double-tube core barrel, with an inner tube to hold the core and outer tube to rotate the drill bit?
Conventional Core Drilling – A method using a double-tube core barrel for retrieving core samples.
What type of drilling involves a rotary system where rock chips are obtained from the cuttings?
Rotary Drilling – Drilling where rock chips (cuttings) are obtained from the action of the bit.
What are the two main geologic processes involved in coal formation?
Diagenesis and Metamorphism – The two main geologic processes involved in coal formation.
What type of environment is necessary for coal to form from accumulated plant material?
Swamp or Marsh Environment – The necessary environment for coal formation from accumulated plant material.
What geologic structure is essential for preventing bacterial decay of organic matter during coal formation?
Rapid Accumulation and Water Saturation – Essential for preventing bacterial decay during coal formation.
What two types of rock formations are commonly found in coal-bearing areas?
Sandstone and Shale – Two common rock types found in coal-bearing areas.
What term is used for coal beds that are divided by layers of waste material?
Parting – Thin layers of waste material that divide coal beds.
What is the term for a coal seam that is exposed and mined by surface methods?
Coal Pit – A surface mine where coal is mined by open-pit methods.
What is the impact of erosion on the coal formation process?
Erosion – The geologic factor that can remove or reduce coal deposits.
What type of faulting can create conditions for coal seam formation?
Faulting – A geologic structure that can create conditions for coal seam formation.
What was one of the earliest known uses of coal in human history (over 1,100 years before the Christian era)?
China (1,100 years before the Christian era) – Earliest known use of coal for cooking and heating.
During what major event did coal usage significantly expand, especially in industries like steel manufacturing?
The Industrial Revolution – The event during which coal usage significantly expanded.
What power generation method began to rely heavily on coal by the 1880s?
Power Generation (1880s) – The method that began relying heavily on coal.
What industry, besides power generation, uses coal as a primary energy source, particularly for heating and electricity?
Cement Manufacturing – An industry besides power generation that uses coal for energy.
What type of manufacturing uses coal to produce materials used in road construction?
Cement Manufacturing – Uses coal in road construction material production.
Which element in coal, when burned, produces energy but can also contribute to air pollution?
Carbon – The element in coal that burns to produce energy but contributes to air pollution.
What is the main purpose of conducting a feasibility study during coal exploration?
To determine the economic viability and potential of the coal deposit – Main purpose of a feasibility study.
What core drilling method is preferred when time is a critical factor, allowing retrieval of the core without removing the entire rod assembly?
Wireline Core Drilling – A core drilling method allowing retrieval of samples without removing the entire assembly.
What is the measure of the heat produced by the combustion of coal called?
Calorific Value – The measure of heat produced by the combustion of coal.
What physical property of coal describes its tendency to break down when exposed to weathering?
Weathering – The physical property describing coal’s tendency to break down when exposed to weather.
What drilling method is ideal for softer formations and uses wireline systems to retrieve core samples?
Wireline Core Drilling – The preferred method in softer formations to retrieve samples efficiently.
What geotechnical data is essential to confirm the minability of a coal deposit?
Minability Data – Geotechnical data essential to confirm the viability of mining operations.
What type of logging examines geological samples and provides crucial data on coal seams?
Logging – The process of examining geological samples from boreholes or cores.
What calculation accounts for both mining and preparation recovery to estimate clean recoverable coal?
Clean Recoverable Coal – The calculated result of mining and preparation recovery factors applied to in-place coal.
Which method is used for high-precision sampling of coal beds to establish a quality parameter field average?
Channel Sampling – The method used for precision sampling of coal beds to establish quality averages.
What factor in coal quality affects the ash melting temperature during combustion?
Ash Melting Temperature – A coal quality factor affecting combustion efficiency.
What drilling fluid is typically used to flush cuttings to the surface during rotary drilling?
Air or Water – The most common drilling fluids used in rotary drilling to flush cuttings.
What type of coal exploration drilling technique is most effective in rough terrain conditions?
Rotary Drilling – A method effective in rough terrain conditions for coal exploration.
What byproduct of coal combustion is considered toxic and has serious environmental risks?
Coal Ash – A byproduct of coal combustion considered toxic and environmentally harmful.
What environmental factor must be monitored during coal mining to prevent dangerous gas emissions?
Methane Levels – The environmental factor that must be monitored to prevent gas emissions during mining.
What is the term for the method used to release methane from coal seams during mining operations?
Degasification – The process used to release methane gas from coal seams during mining.
What type of drilling system is commonly used to assess the hydrological conditions of coal seams?
Exploration Drilling – A system used to assess hydrological conditions in coal seams.
What gas, found in coal seams, poses a serious explosion risk in underground coal mining operations?
Methane – The gas found in coal seams that poses an explosion risk in underground mining.
What water source issues need to be evaluated during coal exploration, especially in arid regions?
Groundwater – A critical water source issue evaluated during coal exploration.
What environmental risk does coal mining pose to local water tables and aquatic ecosystems?
Water Contamination – A major environmental risk posed by coal mining to aquatic ecosystems.
What equipment is used in mining to detect gas leaks or dangerous emissions in underground coal seams?
Gas Monitors – Equipment used to detect gas leaks or dangerous emissions in coal seams.
What is the specific gravity of anthracite coal?
1.47 – Specific gravity of anthracite coal.
If a coal seam is 120 inches thick, located on a 500-hectare property, and 85% of it is minable, what is the in-place tonnage of the coal?
22,163,387 tons – In-place tonnage for a 500-hectare property with a 120-inch thick coal seam.
How do you calculate the total clean recoverable coal if the mining recovery factor is 85% and processing recovery is 88%?
2,791,845.20 tons – Total clean recoverable coal if mining recovery is 85% and processing recovery is 88%.
Given a seam with a thickness of 96 inches, 400 acres of coal property, and 60% of the seam being bituminous, what is the in-place tonnage of bituminous coal?
4,018,291.20 tons – In-place tonnage for bituminous coal on a 400-acre property with a 96-inch thick seam.
What is the clean recoverable coal tonnage for sub-bituminous coal if the processing recovery is 90% and mining recovery is 70%?
10,685 tons – Clean recoverable sub-bituminous coal with 70% mining recovery and 90% processing recovery.
What alternative fuel is being researched to replace coal in power plants, and how does it compare in terms of carbon emissions?
Natural Gas or Biomass – An alternative fuel to coal with lower carbon emissions.
What is the term for the process in which carbon dioxide is captured from the atmosphere and stored underground in coal beds?
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) – The process of capturing CO₂ from the atmosphere and storing it underground.
What is the “clean coal” technology that involves burning coal with oxygen to create a more efficient combustion process?
Oxy-fuel Combustion – A clean coal technology that burns coal with oxygen to increase efficiency.
Which international agreement sets limits on greenhouse gas emissions from coal-fired power plants?
The Paris Agreement – The international treaty that sets limits on greenhouse gas emissions from power plants.
What renewable energy sources are being explored to reduce dependency on coal in industrial applications?
Solar, Wind, and Hydropower – Renewable energy sources being explored to reduce coal dependency.
What is the name of the process that converts coal into liquid fuels for use in transportation industries?
Coal Liquefaction – The process of converting coal into liquid fuels for transportation.
