UK Onshore Coal Resource Maps for New Exploitation Technologies

British Geological Survey maps depict the spatial extent of principal UK coal resources, overlaying existing workings and potential new technologies. The project covers all onshore coalfields, including Northern Ireland, and includes data for 21 individual regions at a 1:100,000 scale. Work was initiated in April 2002 and completed in October 2003.

Use Cases

• Analyze spatial extent of principal coal resources to identify areas for potential resource development.
• Overlay maps of existing workings with new technology areas to assess feasibility for coalbed methane extraction.
• Use 1:100,000 scale regional maps for strategic planning and land-use assessment in specific coalfields.
• Identify areas where coal is buried beneath younger rocks for environmental hazard indication in mined regions.

Strengths

• Covers all onshore UK coalfields, including Northern Ireland, providing national scope.
• Includes data for 21 individual regions or coal fields at a detailed 1:100,000 scale.
• Produced by the authoritative British Geological Survey in collaboration with the Department of Trade and Industry and the Coal Authority.

Limitations

• Data is temporally stale, originating from a project completed in October 2003.
• No offshore data beyond 5 km is included, limiting coastal resource analysis.
• Original data was published in static formats (printed maps, PDFs), not as structured, machine-readable data.

Provenance

Source

British Geological Survey (BGS)

Collection Method

Joint work with Department of Trade and Industry and the Coal Authority, published as printed maps, inkjet plots, and PDFs.

Time Range

Project initiated April 2002, completed October 2003.

Freshness

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Geography

United Kingdom, all onshore coalfields including Northern Ireland, excluding areas more than 5 km offshore.