UK Coal Outcrops Indicating Historical Mining Activity

Geospatial data from the Mining Remediation Authority identifies locations where underground coal seams reach the surface, known as outcrops. These features indicate areas of probable historical shallow mining or where unviable coal seams remain. The dataset was last updated on 2026-04-14.

Use Cases

• Identify areas of probable historical shallow underground coal workings based on outcrop locations.
• Assess subsurface geological risks for construction or development projects based on coal seam proximity to the surface.
• Support environmental remediation planning by mapping potential legacy mining features.
• Conduct historical land-use analysis related to coal extraction activities.

Strengths

• Data is provided by the authoritative Mining Remediation Authority (formerly the Coal Authority).
• Dataset is explicitly geospatial, delivered in WMTS format for mapping applications.
• Last update timestamp (2026-04-14) is precisely recorded.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count and spatial extent are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• The description notes data may include areas of unviable coal seams, not just historical workings.

Provenance

Source

Mining Remediation Authority

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-14 15:45:45.278336

Geography

United Kingdom