GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 171 COAL RESOURCES OF VIRGINIA By Andrew Brown, Henry L. Berryhill, Jr., Dorothy A. Taylor, and James V. A. Trumbull UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Oscar L. Chapman, Secretary GEOLOGICAL SURVEY W. E. Wrather, Director GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 171 COAL RESOURCES OF VIRGINIA By Andrew Brown, Henry L. BenyhilL Jr., Dorothy A. Tayknr, and James V. A. Trumbull Prepared in cooperation with the Virginia Geological Survey Washington, D. C., 1962 Free on application to the Geological Surrey, Waatiii«ton 26, D. C. PREFACE This report on the coal resources of Virginia has been prepared by the U. S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Virginia Geological Survey. It is the seventh of a series of reports published by the U. S. Geological Survey as part of a program to reappraise the coal reserves of the United States. Studies of reserves in other States are contained in the following publications: Geology of the Deep River coal field, Chatham, Lee, and Moore Counties, N. C., Preliminary map, 1949; Coal resources of Montana, Circular 53, 1949; Coal resources of Michigan, Circular 77, 1950; Coal resources of Wyoming, Circular 81, 1950; Coal resources of New Mexico, Circular 89, 1950; and Lignite resources of South Dakota, Circular 159, 1952. W. E. WRATHER, Director CONTENTS Page Page Introduction .............................. 1 The Southwest field Continued Acknowledgments ..................... 1 Coal beds in the Norton formation Con. Summary of Reserves...................... 2 Description Continued Methods of preparing reserve estimates ...... 2 Aily bed ..................... 19 Classification according to charac­ Kennedy bed ................... 19 teristics of the coal.................. 3 Caldwell bed ................... 19 Rank of coal ...................... 3 Big Fork bed .................. 19 Weight of coal ..... .............. 3 Lower Banner bed.............. 19 Thickness of beds ................. 3 Upper Banner bed .............. 22 Thickness of overburden.......... 3 Splash Dam bed................ 22 Classification accerding to abundance Hagy bed....................... 24 and reliability of data ................ 3 Norton bed .................... 24 Measured reserves............... 3 Reserves in the Norton formation .... 24 Indicated reserves ................. 3 Coal beds in the Wise formation ......... 24 Inferred reserves ................ 3 Description ....................... 24 Distinction between original, remaining, Dorchester bed................. 24 and recoverable reserves............. 3 Lyons bed...................... 27 Methods of recording data and making Blair bed ..................... 27 calculations ......................... 5 Eagle bed .................... 27 Comparison of past and present estimates.... 6 Clintwood bed.................. 27 The Southwest field.......,................ 6 Addington and Rocky Location .............................. 6 Fork beds .................. 28 Topography and drainage................ 6 Imboden or Campbell Climate, vegetation, and land use.......' 8 Creek bed ................... 28 Population........................... 8 Stone Creek bed ............... 28 Transportation....................... 8 Kelly bed ..................... 28 Stratigraphy .......................... 9 Little Alma and Alma beds ;..... 28 Lee formation..................... 9 Lower Cedar Grove bed ........ 28 Norton formation.................. 9 Cedar Grove bed .............. 28 Gladeville sandstone............... 10 Pinhook bed .................. 28 Wise formation.................... 10 Lower St. Charles bed ......... 28 Harlan sandstone ................. 10 Upper St. Charles bed .......... 29 Structure............................. 10 Harlan or Upper Standiford The Cumberland block ....... ... 10 bed ........................ 29 Buchanan, Tazewell, and north­ Kirk bed ..................... 29 eastern Russell Counties ......... 10 Taggart Marker or "B" bed..... 29 Coal beds in the Lee formation .......... 10 Taggart bed .................... 29 Description ....................... 10 Low Splint bed ................. 29 The Pocahontas beds........... 11 Phillips bed ................... 30 Pocahontas No. 3 bed ...... 11 Gin Creek bed ................. 30 Pocahontas No. 4 bed ...... 11 Wax bed ....................... 30 Pocahontas No. 5 bed ...... 11 Pardee bed.................... 30 Coal beds above the Pocahontas Morris bed ................... 30 beds in Tazew'ell County...... 11 High Splint bed ................ 30 Lower Horsepen bed....... 11 Reserves in the Wise formation...... 30 War Creek bed............. 11 The Valley fields........................... 31 "C" bed .................. 11 General features ....................... 31 Middle Horsepen bed........ 12' Stratigraphy........................... 31 Upper Horsepen bed ....... 12 Structure ............................. 31 Lower Seaboard bed........ 12 Coal beds ............................. 32 Middle Seaboard and........ Coal fields ............................ 32 Greasy Creek beds....... 12 Description .. ..................... 32 Upper Seaboard bed......... 12 North River field .............. 32 Coal beds in the Lee formation North Mountain field............ 33 in Scott and Russell Counties .. 12 Brushy Mountain field........... 33 Reserves in the Lee formation ...... 12 Price Mountain field ............ 33 Coal beds in the Norton formation........ 15 Little Walker Mountain field ..... 33 Description ............ .......... 15 Pulaski field .................. 34 Tiller bed..................... 15 Max Meadows field ............. 34 Jawbone bed .................... 15 Reed Creek field............... 34 Raven bed ......... ........... 15 Bland field ....;.............. 34 ill C ONTENTS Continued Page Page The Valley fields Continued Production of coal in Virginia ............. 39 Goal fields Continued The first period, 1748-1882........... 39 Description C ontinued Richmond basin.................... 39 Lick Creek field ................ 35 Valley fields ...................... 41 Reserves of the Valley fields......... 35 The second period, 1883-............. 41 The Eastern fields .......................... 35 Valley fields ...................... 41 Richmond basin ........................ 35 Southwest field.................... 41 General features ................... 35 Coal mining in Virginia .................... 55 Stratigraphy ....................... 35 Mining methods ....................... 55 Structure ......................... 38 Recoverability in mining................ 55 Coal beds .......................... 38 Selected bibliograpny....................... 56 Reserves .......................... 39 Farnwille basin ........................ 39 ILLUSTRATIONS Page Plate 1. Geologic map of the Southwest Virginia coal field ....................................... In pocket 2. A. Generalized map of the Clintwood coal bed, Southwest Virginia field; B. Generalized map of the Imboden or Campbell Creek coal bed, Southwest Virginia field ............................................................... in pocket 3. Chart showing stratigraphic position of coal beds in the Southwest Virginia field........... In pocket Figure 1. Index map of Virginia, showing location of coal fields................................... 7 2. Generalized map of the Tiller coal bed, Southwest Virginia field ......................... 16 3. Generalized map of the Jawbone coal bed, Southwest Virginia field ....................... 17 4. Generalized map of the Raven coal bed, Southwest Virginia field ......................... 18 5. Generalized map of the Kennedy coal bed, Southwest Virginia field ....................... 20 6. Generalized map of the Lower Banner coal bed, Southwest Virginia field .................. 21 7. Generalized map of the Upper Banner coal bed, Southwest Virginia field .................. 23 8. Generalized map of the Splash Dam coal bed, Southwest Virginia field .................... 25 9. Generalized map of the Dorchester coal bed, Southwest Virginia field .................... 26 10. Sketch map of coal fields in Montgomery, Pulaski, Wythe, and Bland Counties, Va. ....... 31 11. Map of the Richmond and Farmville basins, Virginia ................................... 40 12. Graph showing production of Southwest Virginia field by counties, 1882-1948 .............. 44 TABLES Page Table 1. Classification of coals by rank ...................................................... 4 2. Estimated remaining reserves of bituminous coal in the Southwest Virginia field as of January 1, 1951 by beds ....................................................... 13 3. Estimated remaining reserves of bituminous coal in the Southwest Virginia field as of January 1, 1951, by counties ................................................... 14 4. Estimated original reserves of semianthracite in the Valley fields of Virginia, by counties........................................................................ 36 5. Production of coal from tne Richmond basin, 1748-1882 ................................ 37 6. Recorded production of coal in Virginia, 1748-1950 .................................... 42 7. Estimated remaining reserves of bituminous coal in the Southwest Virginia field as of January 1, 1951, by beds and counties ............................................ 45 8. Estimated remaining reserves of bituminous coal in the Southwest Virginia field as of January 1, 1951, by counties and beds ........................................... 52 iv COAL RESOURCES OF VIRGINIA INTRODUCTION too