SITES, ROY S., and KAREN K. HOSTETTLER, Division of Mineral Resources, Charlottesville, VA

ABSTRACT: Southwest Virginia Underground Coal Mine Map Database and Base Maps: Synopsis of an Ongoing Coalfield Project

In September 1991, the Department of Mines, Minerals, and Energy of the Commonwealth of Virginia entered into an agreement with the Office of Surface Mining to prepare a coal mine map database and to produce 1:24,000 scale individual coal-bed base maps showing documented underground mined areas throughout the Southwest Virginia coal field. The project results are to provide public, industry, and all levels of government a much-needed means of initial evaluation of many coalfield related concerns. The completed maps will be incorporated into an integrated geographic information system (GIS).

Evaluating the entire coalfield involved a preliminary review of 48 quadrangles. Ongoing detailed, accurate information gathering of extensive underground mine map files was necessary to provide a needed organized map database. Construction of coalfield index maps of information gathered to date provide insight into coalfield-wide outcrop patterns, mine distributions, and coal-bed trends. A completed set of individual maps, referenced to the underground mine map database, showing the types of mining applicable per coal bed per quadrangle is the designated project output.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90995©1993 AAPG Eastern Section Meeting, Williamsburg, Virginia, September 19-21, 1993.