Abstract |
Operators of bituminous coal mines that produced 100,000 tons or more in 1967 in Alabama, eastern Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia responded to a special questionnaire, or were personally contacted. A remaining reserve of 31.4 billion short tons of bituminous coal was reported as of December 31, 1967. At 1967 prices, 5.7 billion tons was reported as recoverable; an additional 7.7 billion tons could be recovered with a price increase up to and over $2.00 per ton. Of the reported recoverable reserve, 34 percent contains 1.0 percent or less sulfur. Reserves reported as captive accounted for 8 percent of the total remaining reserves; 40 percent was reported as commercially available on the open market. The remainder was reported as undifferentiated, neither captive nor commercial. Of the 266 million tons of coal reported produced in 1967, by the selected companies, about 43 percent was at a sulfur level of 1.0 percent or less. An additional 24 million tons, mostly high-quality coking coal, was exported. The balance of 44 million tons was used for other industrial purposes and retail sales. Coal analytical data are also provided. Differences in coal reserves estimates are discussed. (Author) |