ALASKA'S HIGH-RANK COALS A summary of high-rank coal resources in Alaska and their potential for mining and development. First Edition 1990 Revised Edition 1993 Department ofNatura1 Resources DMSION OF GEOLOGICAL & GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS Fairbanks, Alaska ! Cover photo: North linrb of Wishbone Hill syncline, Mafanusku Valley. (Seefig. 8, p. 7.) STATEOFALASKA Walter J. Hickel, Governor DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES Glenn A. Olds, Commissioner DIVISION OF GEOLOGICAL & GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS Thomas E. Smith, State Geologist Address mail orders to the Fairbanks office. DGGS publications may be inspected at the following locations. Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys 794 University Avenue, Suite 200 Fairbanks, Alaska 99709-3645 Department of Natural Resources Public Information Center 3601 C Street, Suite 200 Anchorage, Alaska 99510 This publication, produced and released by the Division of Geological &Geophysical Surveys, and printed in Delta Junction, Alaska, by Dragon Press at a cost of $2.66 per copy. Publication is required by Alaska Statute 41, "to determine the potential of Alaskan land forproductionofrnetals, minerals, fuels, and geothermal resources; the location and supplies of groundwater and construction materials; the potential geologic hazards to buildings, roads, bridges, and other installations and structures; and shall conduct such other surveys and investigations as will advance knowledge of the geology of Alaska." FOREWORD Although current coal production is limited to subbituminous coals, Alaska produced high rank coals from the MatanuskaJield until 1968. Plans are again under wayfor production from the MatanuskaJield. Deadfall syncline coal, being in close proximity to the Bering Sea, is anofher candidatefor development and is receiving renewed attention. For example, seam K3 of thisfield is ofhigh voIatile A bituminous rank and has a maximum thickness of 17feet, with an average ash content of 9percentand over 10feet of this seam averages less than 4percent ash. Other exposures along Kukpowruk, Kokolik, and Ufukmkriversare of similar high quality. The low volatile bifuminous coal of the Bering River jeld has been well explored. Some seams of fhisjeld have unusually low ash content and could be washed to produce clean coal containing less than 0.5 percent ash for special utilizationpurpose. Coals of the Alaska Peninsula, near Chignik, have been mined in the past for use in fish canneries. Alaska has extensive high rank coal deposits which await development. P. D. Rao Associate Director Mineral Industry Research Laboratory STATE AGENCIES INVOLVED IN COAL EXPLORATION, DEVELOPMENT AND MARKETING OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE (OIT) Prontotes trade and aport of Alaska prodrrcts, inclrtdittg nrilreral and firel resorirces, Frontier Building to worldwide nzarkets. 3601 C St., 7th Floor Anchorage, Alaska 99503 (907) 562-2728 Robert Poe, Director * DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES Chief agenql that nzalrages artd adnrirtisters Alaska's state lands. (DNR) 400 Willoughby Avenue, 5th Floor Juneau, Alaska 99801 (907) 465-2400 Rod Swope, Comntissior~er Division of Mining (DOM) Chief agency for regrtlation and nzanagenrent of coal nzining on State land in Alnska. Frontier Building Leases coal land and issrres coal-prospecting and coal-esyloratiott pernrin. 3601 C St., Suite 800 Adtt~inistersthe Alaska Surfice Mitti~igControl and Reclan~atioltAct (ASMCRA), P.O. Box 107016 wl~iclt irtchrdes pernlittirlg and ir~spectio~tof coal-r~lil~ir~gactir~ity arid reclarttatiot~ Anchorage, Alaska 99510 of abattdo~rednzitzes. (907) 762-2163 Gerald L. Gallagher, Director Division of Geological and Geophysical Suiveys Chief agency colzdrrctiltg field investigations, e.~ploratioll, and research relatittg (DGGS) to Alaska's coals. Detertitirtes the coal resolrrces and dfi~elopntetit potetitial 3700 Airport Way of Alaska's lands. I'rovides inforttzarion used to deternrirze smte lmtd desig~tatiotts Fairbanks, Alaska 99709 (AAC 85.010) for coal-lease prtrposes in areas of high ro ntoderate coal- (907) 451-2760 developtizent poterttial. Saves as liaison with irld~rstr):~Vatir~e cofporations, atlrl Robert B. Forbes, Director arid State Geologist other state and federal agatcies, and lends tech~zicnl advice in nrntrcrs perlaitling to Alaska's coal. Sewes as repository for ir~foni~ation011 Alaska's coal. Pirblislies a wide range of reports corlrairzirtg resrrlts of coal irt\~estigatiot~s. DEPARTMENT OF COMIMERCE AND Pron~oteseconotitic ciec'elopnlellt in Alaska. ECONOIMIC DEVELOPMEhT (DCED) State Office Building, 9th Floor P.O. Box D Juneau, Alaska 99811 (907) 465-2500 Larry Merculieff, Conlitlissiolzer Division of Business Development (DBD) Chief ah~ocacyagency in state goverltnlerlt for the nrirting ittdrrstty. Provides State Office Building, 9th Floor liaisolr behcleen state goverrtnlent and the private sector. Researches atid P.O. Box D plrblishes econoniic data on Alaska's nlitting ittd~rsny. Juneau, Alaska 99811 (907) 465-2094 Janles M. Parsons, Director Tom Lawson, Deprity Director UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA Condlrcts applied a12d basic research 012 rhe location, da~elopnzent, and rise of Mineral Industry Research Laboratory (MIRL) Alaska's coal resorrrces. Specializes in the tt~i~teralogicnl,chentical, and pe@ogmphic 210 O'Neill Resources Building characterizntion of Alaska's coals and their preparation. P~iblislzesreports and Fairbanks, Alaska 99775 general infoutzatio~rcolicertli~zg coal nlbting and rrtilization in Alaska. (907) 474-7135 or 474-7136 Russell Ostermann, Acting Director P.D. Rao, Associate Director CONTENTS Page Introduction .......................................................................................................................................................................... Acknowledgments ................................................................................................................................................................ Matanuska coalfield ............................................................................................................................................................ Bering River coalfield ......................................................................................................................................................... Herendeen Bay coalfield .................................................................................................................................................. Chignik coalfield .................................................................................................................................................................. Western Arctic coalfields.................................................................................................................................................... Outlook for coal development in Alaska ......................................................................................................................... References ............................................................................................................................................................................ Glossary of terms ................................................................................................................................................................. FIGURES Figure 1. Pie chart showing Alaska's coal resources by rank ..................................................................................... 2 . Map showing the general distribution of Alaska's high-rank coal deposits ........................................... 3. Histogram showing estimated measured resources of Alaskan high-rank coals ................................... 4 . Map showing major districts of the Matanuska coalfield, Matanuska Valley, south-central Alaska .... 5 . Generalized stratigraphic section of the upper Chickaloon Formation, western Wishbone Hill district, Matanuska field...................................................................................................................... 6 . Longitudinal cross section of the Wishbone Hill syncline .......................................................................... 7 . Diagram of coal ~roductionin Matanuska field, 1915-1970....................................................................... 8. Photograph of highwall face at Evan Jones surface mine, north limb of Wishbone Hill syncline, Matanuska Valley ........................................................................................................................................ 9 . Photograph of drilling for coal at the Wishbone Hill project of Union Pacific Resources .................... 10. Photograph of drill core from the Wishbone Hill project of Union Pacific Resources .......................... 11. Map showing generalized outcrop extent of the Kushtaka Formation of Bering River coalfield showing eastward gradation in coal rank ................................................................................................ 12. Stratigraphy of the Kushtaka Formation ....................................................................................................... 13. Cross section of the Carbon Ridge area ....................................................................................................... 14 . Photograph of the 'Queen Vein, ' a 28-foot thick coal seam of the Bering River field ........................... 15. Photograph showing folding in coal beds in the Carbon Mountain area, Bering River field ...............