Chapter J

A Summary of Coal Distribution and Geology

in the Kaiparowits Plateau, Utah

By Robert D. Hettinger1

U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1625–B*

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

National Coal

Resource

Assessment

Click here to return to Disc 1 

Volume Table of Contents

Chapter J of

Geologic Assessment of Coal in the Colorado Plateau:

Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah

Edited by M.A. Kirschbaum, L.N.R. Roberts, and L.R.H. Biewick

1

 U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, Colorado 80225

* This report, although in the USGS Professional Paper series,

is available only on CD-ROM and is not available separately
Contents

Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 1

Acknowldegments............................................................................................................................... 1

Location of the Kaiparowits Plateau ......................................................................................................... 2

Physiography of the Kaiparowits Plateu................................................................................................... 3

Geologic Mapping ........................................................................................................................................ 4

General Stratigraphy.................................................................................................................................... 5

Stratigraphy of the Coal-Bearing Upper Cretaceous Straight Cliffs Formation ................................. 6

Sequence Stratigraphy of the Upper Cretaceous Straight Cliffs Formation....................................... 7

Folds and Faults in the Kaiparowits Plateau ............................................................................................ 8

Distribution of Strata in the Kaiparowits Plateau.................................................................................... 9

Distribution of Coal in the Calico and A-Sequences............................................................................. 10

Stratigraphic Cross Sections and Coal Correlations in the Calico and A-Sequences.................... 11

Isopach and Overburden Maps of Coal in the Calico and A-Sequences.......................................... 12

Coal Quality in the Calico and A-Sequences ......................................................................................... 13

Previous Mining Activity in the Kaiparowits Plateau ........................................................................... 14

Coal Resources of the Kaiparowits Plateau, Utah ................................................................................ 15

References Cited ........................................................................................................................................ 16

Figures

 1. Location of the Kaiparowits Plateau, southern Utah.............................................................. 2

 2. Location of the Kaiparowits Plateau, counties, highways, and towns................................ 2

 3. Location of the Kaiparowits Plateau with respect to nearby 

National Forests, Parks, Monuments, and Recreation areas ............................................... 2

 4. Shaded relief map of the Kaiparowits Plateau and vicinity .................................................. 3

 5. Index map showing detailed geologic mapping used to assess coal 

in the Kaiparowits Plateau.......................................................................................................... 4

 6. Stratigraphic summary of Upper Cretaceous and Tertiary strata 

in the Kaiparowits Plateau.......................................................................................................... 5

 7. Paleogeographic reconstruction during the Coniacian and Santonian Stages ................ 6

 8. Descriptions and depositional interpretations for members of the 

Straight Cliffs Formation.............................................................................................................. 6

 9. Sequence stratigraphy and facies relations in the Straight Cliffs Formation .................... 7

 10. Generalized view of the Kaiparowits Plateau along cross section A-A’............................. 8

 11. Structural features and inclination of strata of the Kaiparowits Plateau ........................... 8

 12. Geologic map of the Kaiparowits Plateau................................................................................ 9

 13. Diagram showing coal zones in the John Henry Member .................................................. 10
 14. Locations of drill holes and measured sections used to assess 

coal resources in the Kaiparowits Plateau............................................................................ 10

 15. Location of cross sections used to show the subsurface distribution 

of coal across the Kaiparowits Plateau.................................................................................. 11

 16. Coal correlations along cross section B-B’ ........................................................................... 11

 17. Isopach map of net coal for beds more than 1 ft thick in the 

Calico and A-sequences ........................................................................................................... 12

 18. Isopach map of cumulative coal thickness for beds 14–20 ft thick 

in the combined Calico and A-sequences ............................................................................. 12

 19. Isopach map of overburden on the base of the coal-bearing interval.............................. 12

 20. Coal-quality summary for samples collected from cores of the 

Calico and A-sequences ........................................................................................................... 13

 21. Locations of core holes ............................................................................................................. 13

 22. Location of abandoned coal mines in the Kaiparowits Plateau ......................................... 14

 23. Examples of geologic and geographic coverages queried 

in GIS to report coal resources within various spatial parameters................................... 15

 24. Original coal resources and other occurrences of non-resource coal 

in the Calico and A-sequences ................................................................................................ 15
A Summary of Coal Distribution and Geology in the Kaiparowits Plateau, UtahBy Robert D. HettingerIntroduction

During the past 35 years, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has conducted 

extensive geologic research in the area of the Kaiparowits Plateau, Utah. The studies resulted in numerous publications that described the geology of the region; these studies also provided essential data for land-use planning and resource evaluation. The Kaiparowits Plateau is one of twelve areas on the Colorado Plateau that was evaluated as part of the USGS National Coal Resource Assessment. The Kaiparowits Plateau was evaluated because coal companies had expressed an interest in developing its coal resource and because the potential for coal development had created land-use and environmental issues.

Hettinger and others (chap. T, this CD-ROM) have integrated outcrop geologic 

and subsurface drill-hole data to assess the coal resources of the Kaiparowits Plateau. 

This summary report provides a brief description of Kaiparowits Plateau and serves as an overview to thchapter T.Acknowledgments

I thank Peter McCabe (USGS) for providing p

Tim Hester, Rick Scott, and Kathy Varnes (USGS) 

Fiftymile Mountain on southeastern margin of Kaiparowits Plateau, as viewed from Lake Powell. Photograph by Peter McCabe.

Red strata produced by burned coal beds in the southPhotograph by Peter McCabe.
J2 Geologic Assessment of Coal in the Colorado Plateau: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah

The Kaiparowits Plateau is located in south-central 

Utah (fi g. 1) within Garfi eld and Kane Counties. Nearby towns include Boulder, Escalante, Henrieville, and Glen Canyon City (fi g. 2). The plateau is delineated by the base of Upper Cretaceous rocks except at its northern boundary, where it is truncated by the Paunsaugunt fault and merges with the Aquarius Plateau. The plateau extends 65 mi from north to south and 20 to 55 mi from east to west, covering 1,650 mi2

.

Location of the Kaiparowits Plateau

Kaiparowits 

Plateau

Utah

Figure 1. Location of the Kaiparowits Plateau in southern Utah.

The Kaiparowits Plateau extends through the central part of the 

Grand Staircase

–Escalante National Monument (

fi g. 3). The northern 

part of the plateau is within the Dixie National Forest, and the southern part of the plateau is within the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (fi g 3). Capitol Reef and Bryce Canyon National Parks are located east and west of the plateau, respectively (

fi g 3).

0 10

MILES

Scale

Glen Can

City

89

Henrieville

K

12

Aquarius Plateau

Paunsaugunt faultGARFIE

KAN

Figure 2. Location of thighways, and towns.

BRYCE CANYON 

NATIONAL 

PARK

DIXIE NATIONAL 

FOREST (part)

GRAND STAIRCASEESCALANTE 

NATIONAL MONUMENT

KAIPAROWITS 

PLATEAU

Figure 3. Location of the Kaiparowits PNational Forests, Parks, Monuments, and and others (chap. T, this CD-ROM).
A Summary of Coal Distribution and Geology in the 

The Kaiparowits Plateau is a dissected mesa that 

rises as much as 6,500 ft above the surrounding terrain. Elevations range from 10,450 ft above sea level near the Aquarius Plateau on the north, to 4,000 ft above sea level near Lake Powell on the south. The landscape is de

fi ned 

by four sets of cliffs and benches that are located between the Aquarius Plateau and Lake Powell. One set includes a prominent escarpment along the plateau’s eastern 

fl ank. 

This escarpment is called the Straight Cliffs and is 1,100 ft high at Fiftymile Mountain (

fi g. 4). These various 

landforms are shown on a shaded relief map that has been modi

fi ed from a Digital Elevation Model produced by the 

U.S. Geological Survey (

fi g. 4).

Boulder

Escalante

Glen Canyon

City

89

Henrieville

KAIPAROWITS

PLATEAU

Monument 

boundary

1

Aquarius Plateau

N

Grand Staircase-Escalante

Straight

10 MILES

Lak

Kaiparowits 

Plateau

Utah

Grand StaircaseEscalante 

National 

Monument

Figure 4. Shaded relief map of the Kaiparowits Plateau and vicinity.

Physiography of the Kaiparowits Plateau
J4 Geologic Assessment of Coal in the Colorado Plateau: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah

Geologic Mapping 112o

38o 

112 37 o

o

1 

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9 10 11 12

13 14 15 16 17 

20 21 22 23 24 

 1

27 28 29 

33 34 35 

Carcass

Canyon

Death

Ridge

Ship Mtn.

Point

Fourmile

Bench

Warm

Creek Bay

G

Canaan

Creek

Collet

Top

UpperValley

Butler

Valley

Canaan

Peak

Calico

Peak

Wide

Hollow

Reservoir

Griffin

Point

Horse

Mtn

Petes

Cove

Pine

Lake

Horse

Flat

Tibbet 

Bench

Nipple

Butte

S

Smoky

Hollow

Slickrock

Bench

Henrieville

Needle

Eye Point

Ea

N

Seep

Flat

Lone

Rock

Glen

Canyon

City

Dave

Canyon

Table showing references to geologic mapping in the Kaiparowits Plateau.  Map no. Reference Map no. Reference  1 .....Sargent and Hansen (1982) 19.... Peterson (1980)  2 .....Bowers (1973b) 20.... Doelling and Graham (1972)  3 .....Stephens (1973) 21.... Bowers (1993)  4 .....Bowers (1973c) 22.... Bowers (1991b)  5 .....Bowers (1973a) 23.... Zeller and Vaninetti (1990)  6 .....Zeller (1973b) 24.... Zeller (1990a)  7 .....Zeller (1973d) 25.... Zeller (1990b)  8 .....Bowers (1975) 26.... Peterson (1975)  9 .....Bowers (1981) 27.... Waldrop and Sutton (1967a)  10 ....Zeller (1973c) 28.... Waldrop and Sutton (1967b)  11 ....Zeller (1973a) 29.... Peterson (1967)  12 ....Zeller and Stephens (1973) 30.... Peterson and Horton (1967)  13 ....Doelling and Graham (1972) 31.... Peterson and Barnum (1973b)  14 ....Bowers (1983) 32.... Peterson and Barnum (1973a)  15 ....Bowers (1991a) 33.... Waldrop and Sutton (1967c)  16 ....Zeller (1990c) 34.... Waldrop and Peterson (1967)  17 ....Zeller (1978) 35.... Peterson (1973)  18 ....Doelling and Graham (1972) 36.... Peterson and Waldrop (1967)

Figure 5. Index map showing detailed geologic mapping used this CD-ROM) to assess coal in the Kaiparowits Plateau. Publishin table, and names of selected 7.5’ quadrangles are shown.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Utah Geological and 

Mineralogical Survey have published geologic maps at various scales for all areas within the Kaiparowits Plateau. Mapped areas are shown in fi gure 5 and are referenced below. The geologic maps provided essential data for the assessment of the plateau’s coal resources.
A Summary of Coal Distribution and Geology in the 

The geology of the Kaiparowits Plateau was 

fi rst described by 

Gregory and Moore (1931), but it was not until the 1960’s that the region’s 

geology and coal were investigated in detail. Stratigraphic studies by the USGS and the Utah Geological and Mineralogical Survey demonstrated that the plateau was underlain by as much as 10,500 ft of Upper Cretaceous and Tertiary strata (

fi g. 6). The rocks were grouped by 

similar age and depositional characteristics and named by Peterson (1969a, 1969b) and Bowers (1972). Their studies provided the basis for geologic mapping and stratigraphic investigations that were subsequently conducted throughout the plateau. During the same time, subsurface drilling revealed that the Upper Cretaceous Straight Cliffs Formation contained signi

fi cant 

deposits of coal in the interior region of the Kaiparowits Plateau.

General Stratigraphy

Age Formation Thick- ness 

(ft)

Description and de

Miocene

Eocene 

and

Paleocene

Paleocene?

Paleocene? 

and 

Late Cretaceous

Late 

Cretaceous

Osiris Tuff 0- 600 Gray, purplish-gray and red-brown welded a

Variegated sandstone member (0-600 ft) 

coarse-grained sandstone, mudrock and minoWhite limestone member (0-600 ft) Lightmudrock. Lacustrine. Pink limestone member (0-900 ft) Gray, tlimestone, mudrock, sandstone, and minor co

Wasatch 

Fm. 1,350- 1,650

Pine Hollow 

Fm.

0-450

Lavender to red and gray mudrock and limeslower part. Low-energy fluvial and lacustrin

Canaan Peak 

Fm.

0-900

Kaiparowits 

Fm.

600-3,000

Greenish- and bluish-gray, fine-grained, silty and limestone. Low-energy fluvial (meande

Wahweap 

Fm.

900-2,600

Light-gray and brownish-orange, fine- to memudrock and shale. Upper part is mostly san

Straight 

Cliffs 

Fm.

1,000-2,000

Drip Tank Member (140-400 ft) Light-graconglomeratic sandstone, and minor mudrocJohn Henry Member (600-1,500 ft) Light-sandstone; minor coarse-grained and conglomblack mudrock, and coal. Nearshore marineSmoky Hollow Member (20-300 ft) Upper pebbly sandstone (Calico bed) and contains cgrained sandstone, mudrock, and coal. BraidTibbet Canyon Member (60-185 ft) Yellowgrained sandstone; siltstone and mudrock in 

Tropic 

Shale

600-900

Gray shale with thin beds of siltstone and finmarine.

Dakota 

Fm.

15-250

Upper member (0-68 ft) Light-brown, finewith gray mudrock. Coastal plain, brackish Middle member (4-76 ft) Gray to brown, vinterbedded with yellowish-green mudrock, fluvial, floodbasin, and paludal.Lower member (0-66 ft) Gray to brown cosandstone and minor carbonaceous mudrock

Lithologic descriptions and depositional int(1982), Bowers (1972), Peterson (1969a, 19

Gray, tan, and brown conglomerate, conglommudstone. High-energy fluvial.

Figure 6. Stratigraphic summary of Upper Cretaceous and Tertiary Utah. Modifi ed from Hettinger and others (chap. T, this CD-ROM).
J6 Geologic Assessment of Coal in the Colorado Plateau: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah

During the Coniacian and Santonian Stages (88.5

Cretaceous, the area now occupied by the Kaiparowits western edge of the Western Interior Seaway (fi g. 7). Asetting, the plateau contains Upper Cretaceous strata thcoastal-plain, and alluvial environments (Peterson 196strata contain coal that developed from the peat that ac(Shanley and McCabe, 1991; McCabe and Shanley, 19and coal-bearing coastal-plain strata are preserved in t

The Straight Cliffs Formation is divided, in ascen

Canyon, Smoky Hollow, John Henry, and Drip Tank M1969b) (fi g. 8). The Tibbet Canyon consists of shallowdeposits (Peterson, 1969a, 1969b; Shanley and McCabhas coal-bearing coastal-plain strata in its lower part anupper part; the braided-river deposits are called the Ca1969b). The upper part of the Smoky Hollow also has coastal plain strata (Shanley and others, 1992; HettingJohn Henry consists of near-shore marine and estuarininto coal-bearing coastal-plain and alluvial strata (Shaoverlying Drip Tank consists of sandstone that was dep(Peterson, 1969a, 1969b).

Kaiparowits 

Plateau 

Continental

Coastal plain 

Peat swamp 

Marine

Thrust fault

Paleolatitude

Western

Interior

Seaway

30°

45°

45°

30°

30°

Sevier Highl ands

Depositional 

Systems

Figure 7. Paleogeographic reconstruction during the Coniacian and Santonian Stages. Modifi ed from Roberts and Kirschbaum (1995).

Drip Tank Member (140-400 ft) Light-gray, medium- to coarse-graisandstone, and minor mudrock. Braided river.John Henry Member (600-1,500 ft) Light-gray to brown, very fine to coarse-grained and conglomeratic sandstone; olive-gray, brown, and blmarine, estuarine, paludal, coastal plain, and alluvial. Smoky Hollow Member (20-300 ft) Upper part contains light-gray, msandstone (Calico bed) and has some has coal in the subsurface. Lowemudrock, and coal. The upper part formed in braided river, estuarine, alower part formed in paludal and coastal-plain environments.Tibbet Canyon Member (60-185 ft) Yellow-gray and gray-orange, flower part is siltstone and mudrock. Estuarine and nearshore marine.

Figure 8. Descriptions and depositional interpretations Cliffs Formation.

Stratigraphy of the Coal-Bearing Upper Cretaceous Straight Cliffs Formation
A Summary of Coal Distribution and Geology in the 

Sequence Stratigraphy of the Upper Cretaceous Straight Cliffs Formation

2

1

4

3

Calico bed

MFS

MFS

Estuarine Shoreface Alluvial and coastal plain Fluvial Coal-bearing channel Offshore

Sequence boundary 

unconformity

2 Calico sequence boundary

3 A-sequence boundary

4 Drip Tank sequence boundary

1 Tibbet sequence boundary

MFS--Maximum flooding surface A sandstone

Rock House 

Cove

Left Hand Collet Canyon

Drip

Tank

Mbr.

John

Henry

Mbr.

Smoky

Hollow

Mbr.

 Tibbet

Canyon

Mbr.

Straight Cliffs Formation

Tropic Shale

(part)

Drip Tank

sequence

 (part)

A-sequence

Calico

sequence

Tibbet

sequence

HST TST

HST TST

HST TST

HST--Highstand systems tractTST--Transgressive systems tract

Line of section

Kaiparowits

Plateau

Left Hand

Collet Canyon

Rock 

House 

Cove

Turonian

Coniacian

Santonian

Campanian

200 ft0

Vertical 

scale

(approx.)

(No horizontal 

scale implied)

Modified from Shanley and McCabe (1991)and Hettinger and others (chap. T, this CD-ROM).

Escalante

Age Stratigraphy

Coal distribution between the northeast and southwest flanks of the Kaiparowits Plateau, Utah. The line of section extends from Left Hand Collet Canyon to Rock House Cove.

Near the town of Escalantbounded by regional uncocontains strata deposited ihighstand (HST) systems lower TST grades upward channel (TC), and upper scapped by a condensed secontains progradational deand upper shoreface (USFoverlain by tidal deposits iPhotograph is modified fro

Calico sequence TST HST

10 m

Figure 9. Sequence stratigraphy and facies relations in the Straight Cliffs Formation. The line of section is perpendicular to the paleoshoreline.

Stratigraphic and sedimentological studies by Shanley and McCabe (1991) 

identi

fi ed four unconformity-bounded sequences in the Straight Cliffs Formation (

fi g. 

9). Deposition in each sequence was controlled by base-level 

fl uctuations whereby 

each sequence-boundary unconformity was cut during a fall in base level and each overlying sequence was deposited during a rise in base level. Transgressive systems tracts were deposited as incised valleys and were back

fi lled with deepening-upward 

successions of strata during the initial stages of bassystems tracts contained marine, coal-bearing coastwere arranged in aggradational and progradational level rise (Shanley and McCabe, 1991; McCabe and others, 1992; Hettinger and others, 1994; and Hettin
J8 Geologic Assessment of Coal in the Colorado Plateau: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah

Folds and Faults in the Kaiparowits Plateau

Younger strata

John Henry Member (coal-bearing)

Older strata

A A'

10,000 ft

Sea level

34 miles

KAIPAROWITS

PLATEAU

A

A'

Based on Lidke and Sargent (1983)

central 

basin 

Dutton monocline

cut-away section shown below

Figure 10. Generalized view of the Kaiparowits Plateau along cross section A-A’.

Johns Valley anticline

0 5 10

MILES

SynclDirectAnticlFold sFault: 

Ex

East Kaibab monocline

Dutton monocline

Last

Coyote Creek

Paunsaugunt fault

graben

-Billie Washsyncline

Chance syncline

Escalante

Jake-Hollow

Modified from Hettin

Table Cliffs synclin

Henrieville

Figure 11. Structural features and inclination of strata o

Strata in the Kaiparowits Plateau are inclined along numerous north-trending 

folds that plunge into a deep central basin containing the Table Cliffs, Last Chance, and Coyote Creek–Billie Wash synclines (

fi gs. 10, 11). The northeastern 

fl ank of the 

central basin is de

fi ned by the westward-dipping limb of the Dutton monocline. The 

central basin’s western 

fl ank is de

fi ned by eastward-dipping limbs of the Johns Valley 

anticline and East Kaibab monocline. There are relatively few faults, and most are located along the 

fl anks of the plateau.

Strata are inclined by less than 6° throughout most of the plateau (

fi g. 11). 

However, beds are inclined by as much as 25° near the town of Escalante, 30° on 

the eastern limb of the Johns Valley anticline, 45° along the Dutton monocline, and 

80° along the East Kaibab monocline (

fi g. 11). Areas where strata are inclined from 

0°–6°, 6°–12°, 12°–25°, and >25° are shown in 

fi gure 11.
A Summary of Coal Distribution and Geology in the 

Distribution of Strata in the Kaiparowits Plateau

Un

Cr

Dutton monocline

East Kaibab monocline

Modified fr

Figure 12. Geologic map of the Kaiparowits Plateau. Th

from a 1:125,000 scale map by Sargent and Hansen (1982)

Exposures of the Straight Cliffs Formation along the Straight Cliffs escarpment, eastern fl ank of Kaiparowits Plateau. Photograph by Peter McCabe.

Structural features and exposures of strata in the Kaiparowits Plateau 

are shown on the accompanying generalized geologic map (

fi g. 12). Upper 

Cretaceous rocks in the Dakota, Tropic, and Straight Cliffs Formations are exposed along the 

fl anks of the plateau and are buried by younger strata in the 

plateau’s central region. Outcrops of the coal-bearing John Henry Member are shown in red. Although the Calico and A-sequences have not been mapped, their combined outcrops are nearly identical to those of the John Henry Member as shown in 

fi gure 12.
J10 Geologic Assessment of Coal in the Colorado Plateau: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah

Distribution of Coal in the Calico and A-Sequences

Outcrops of the coaand A-sequences (a

Location of drill holmeasured sections

Outline o

P

Modified from Hettinger an

Straight Cliffs Formation (part)

Eastern flank 

of 

plateau 

Central part 

of 

plateau

Western flank 

of 

plateau

Drip Tank

Member

Smoky 

Hollow 

Member

Calico bed

John 

Henry 

Member

Coastal-plain strata

Coal-bearing coastal-plain strata

Henderson coal zone

lower coal 

zone

Christensen

 coal zone

Rees coal

zone

Alvey coal zone

Continental strata (fluvial)

Marine strata (shoreface)Marine strata (offshore)

Line of section

Kaiparowits

Plateau

Inset

Calico 

sequence

A-sequence

Figure 13. Diagram showing coal zones in the John Henry Member. The line of section trends northeast-southwest (see inset map).

The distribution of coal in the plateau’s subsu

exploratory drilling. Drill-hole data show that net 

interior region. Both outcrop and drill-hole data wothers (chap. T, this CD-ROM) to determine the dithe plateau. The locations of drill holes and measufi gure 14.

Figure 14. Locations of drill holes and measured sectioresources in the Kaiparowits Plateau.

The Kaiparowits Plateau has signi

fi cant deposits of coal in the Calico and 

A-sequences. These sequences are equivalent to the upper part of the Smoky Hollow Member and the John Henry Member (

fi g. 13). Coal distribution in outcrops (

fi gs. 

12 and 14) has been determined from geologic mapping by the USGS and Utah Geological and Mineralogical Survey (

fi g. 5). Coal beds generally split and pinch out 

over short distances along outcrop, and many beds have been naturally burned. The lower, Christensen, Rees, and Alvey coal zones (

fi g. 13) occupy a 500- to 700-ft-thick 

interval on the plateau’s eastern 

fl ank, and contain as much as 70 ft of net coal in 

that area. Coal-bearing strata thin southwest, and less than 25 ft of net coal is in the Henderson coal zone, which is exposed along the plateau’s western 

fl ank. A summary 

of published coal data for each 7.5’ quadrangle is provided in Hettinger and others 

(chap. T, this CD-ROM). 
A Summary of Coal Distribution and Geology in the K

Stratigraphic Cross Sections and Coal Correlations in the Calico and A-Sequences

B southwest 

Braided 

river

Coal

bed

Coal 

zone

Coastal 

plain

Shoreface Offshore

14 miles

Modified from Hettinger and others (chap

100 

ft

Calico and A-sequences

NG Den NG Den

NG Den NG Den NG Den

NG 

The cross sections were constructed from geop

descriptions, and measured sections. Cross sections 

perpendicular to paleoshorelines, and cross section the paleoshorelines. The cross sections show that varelated to the distance that the original peat accumushoreline reached a stillstand in the vicinity of the psequences are dominated by sandstone and mudrocenvironments. Southwestward thinning of shoreface increase in net coal thickness. As viewed in cross secoal are located only a few miles landward of the shft of net coal are located 8

–15 mi southwest of the p

Figure 16. Coal correlations along cross section B-B’. T

northern part of the Kaiparowits plateau (fi g. 15) and extepaleoshorelines.

10 MILES

B A'

A

C

C'

B'

B B'

Line of 

cross section

Kaiparowits 

Plateau

Alvey Wash

Left Hand 

Collet Canyon

Tibbet Canyon

Rock House 

Cove

Figure 15. Location of cross sections used to show the subsurface distribution of coal across the Kaiparowits Plateau. All cross sections are shown in Hettinger and others (chap. T, this CD-ROM). Only cross section B-B’ is shown to the right.

The Calico and A-sequences (Smoky Hollow (upper part) and John Henry 

Members) contain as many as 30 beds of coal that range from 1 to 59 ft in thickness. The subsurface distribution of coal is shown by a series of cross sections in Hettinger and others (chap. T, this CD-ROM). Locations of the cross sections are shown below in 

fi gure 15, and an example of cross section B-B’ is shown to the right in 

fi gure 16.
J12 Geologic Assessment of Coal in the Colorado Plateau: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah

Isopach and Overburden Maps of Coal in the Calico and 

Net coal in feet

 > 120 

60-90 

90-120 

30-60

0-30 

0

Modified from Hettinger and others (chap. T, this CD-ROM)

0 20 MILES

Area where coalbearing strata are eroded.

50' - 60'60' - 70'70' - 80'40' - 50'30' - 40'20' - 30'14' - 20'

Modified from Hettinger and others (chap. T, this CD-ROM)

0 20 MILES

Cumulative thickness 

of coal beds14 to 20 

ft thick

Area where coal-bearing 

strata are eroded.

Contour interval is 10 ft; 14.1 ft is also shown

Central basin

Modified from 

Figure 17. Isopach map of net coal for beds more than 1 ft thick in the Calico and A-sequences.

Figure 19. Isbase of the co

Figure 18. Isopach map of cumulative coal thickness for beds 14–20 ft thick in the combined Calico and A-sequences.

The depth of coal below the Earth’s surface 

is shown by the overburden map in 

fi gure 19. The 

map shows that the base of the coal-bearing interval is less than 2,000 ft deep in all areas of the plateau, except for the central basin where overburden is 2,000 to 8,500 ft thick.

Coal distribution in the Calico and A-sequences (Smoky Hollow (upper part) and John 

shown in a series of isopach maps by Hettinger and others (chap. T, this CD-ROM). The ne17) shows that coal is widely distributed throughout the plateau, and more than 100 ft of neof the plateau’s central region. Isopach maps by Hettinger and others (chap. T, their 

fi gs. 16

beds of increasing thickness occupy successively smaller areas in the plateau’s interior. For are 14 to 20 ft thick are found only in the central region of the plateau, and they have a cummuch as 80 ft (

fi g. 18).
A Summary of Coal Distribution and Geology in the K

The apparent rank 

Plateau is subbituminoubituminous, based on pabout 100 samples colloutcrops (Doelling and quality data has been refour cores (

fi g. 20). App

the core samples range volatile A bituminous. fi gure 21.

Coals sampled from core K-DR-1; analyses reported by Zeller (1979)

Alvey 

(2 samples) 19.7-20.4 34.7-35.1 37.0-37.7 7.2-8.2 1.0 9,440-9,510 10,240-10,440

Rees 

(3 samples) 15.6-18.4 29.6-35.0 29.9-36.3 10.3-24.9 0.6-0.7 7,640-9,280 10,450-10,460

Christensen 

(3 samples) 19.7-21.1 33.3-34.7 39.8-40.9 4.4-5.8 0.5-0.6 9,830-9,860 10,320-10,520

Coals sampled from core SMP-1-91; analyses provided by Brenda Pierce (USGS, unpub. data, 1996)

Rees ? 

(6 samples) 8.2-9.7 41.7-43.9 41.8-44.7 2.7-8.2 0.4-0.7 11,488-12,381 12,390-12,760

Rees 

(17 samples) 0.7-7.8 27.9-50.7 24.9-45.4 4.3-42.5 0.5-2.3 6,962-12,387 12,700-13,710

Christensen 

(13 samples) 5.5-7.9 35.3-44.5 34.6-48.0 2.3-24.7 0.3-1.0 9,464-12,477 12,360-13,590

 lower 

(15 samples) 4.5-7.1 35.4-46.5 32.1-45.5 3.5-26.4 0.4-2.3 9,002-12,620 12,610-16,720 High-volatile A, B, and C Bituminous

High-volatile B 

and C Bituminous

High-volatile B 

and C Bituminous

High-volatile C 

Bituminous

Subbituminous 

A and B

Subbituminous 

B

Subbituminous 

B

Coals sampled from core CT-1-91; analyses provided by Brenda Pierce (USGS, unpub. data, 1996)

Christensen

(23 samples) 8.5-15.5 34.5-41.1 34.8-4.6 3.7-17.6 0.4-2.2 9,717-11,721 11,110-12,590

Subbituminous A to 

High-volatile C 

Bituminous

Coals sampled from core DH-1; analyses summarized from Doelling and Graham (1972)

Henderson

(5 samples) 9.4-18.9 32.4-38.2 26.4-35.6 8.4-29.9 no record 9,740-10,300 11,010-11,350 Subbituminous A

Coal zone Moisture

%

Volatile 

matter 

%

Fixed 

carbon

%

Ash

yield

%

Sulfur 

content

%

Heating 

value

Btu/lb

Moist, 

mineralmatter-free 

heating value

Btu/lb

Apparent rank

Figure 20. Coal-quality summary for samples collected from cores of the Calico and A-sequences. Coal zone queried where uncertain. Apparent rank calculated using the Parr formula (American Society for Testing and Materials, 1995). Core hole locations are shown in fi gure 21. Modifi ed from Hettinger and others (chap. T, this CD-ROM).Coal Quality in the Calico and A-Sequences

DH-1

K-DR

C

SM

Figure 21. Locations ofi gure 20.
J14 Geologic Assessment of Coal in the Colorado Plateau: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah

Previous Mining Activity in the Kaiparowits Plateau

Escalante

Glen Canyon

City

GARFIELD COUNTY 

KANE COUNTY

KAIPAROWITS

PLATEAU

Mo

Henrieville

Figure 22. Location of abandoned coal mines in the Kaiparocurrently in operation.

Abandoned adit in a coal bed on the plateau’s southern fl ank. Photograph by Peter 

McCabe.

Coal in the Kaiparowits Plateau was produced from small mines between the 

late 1800’s and early 1960’s. Less than 50,000 short tons of coal were produced, 

and all of the mines have been abandoned (

fi g. 22). In the 1960’s, energy companies 

expressed an interest to develop the region’s coal, and plans were made to develop a 

coal-burning power plant near the plateau. The plans were revised after controversy over environmental issues, and they were 

fi nally discontinued due to Government 

action and pending lawsuits over environmental issues. The few Federal coal leases that remained were suspended prior to the establishment of the Grand Staircase

–

Escalante National Monument in 1996, and they remain in suspension as of the date of this publication. By 1999, only one Preference Right Lease Application was in effect; it was located in the northern part of the plateau.
A Summary of Coal Distribution and Geology in the K

Coal Resources of the Kaiparowits Plateau, Utah

Net coal 

Overburden

ARC/INFO Coverages

Inclination 

of strata

Figure 23. Examples of geologic and geographic coverages queried in GIS to report coal resources within various spatial parameters. In this example, digital maps of net coal, inclination of strata, and overburden were combined to report coal resources in both range of dip and overburden categories.

0-1

2 4 6 8 10 12 

1-22-33-6

>6

Overburden 

(thousands feet)

Millons of short tons

Figure 24. Original coal resources and other occurrences of non-resource the Calico and A-sequences. Coal tonnage is reported by overburden based T, this CD-ROM).

Digital coverages have been combined in a Geographic Informa

resources by various geographic and geologic parameters (

fi g. 23). C

multiplying the density of coal by the volume of coal, as determined (fi g. 17), and resources were reported in overburden categories by cowith the overburden map (

fi g. 19). Additional coverages were used to 

quadrangle, township, areas of mineral ownership, and in categories mining. Results are reported by Hettinger and others (chap. T, this Cdetermined using the methods described in Wood and others (1983) C, this CD-ROM). All digital data are available in a report by BiewicCD-ROM).

The Calico and A-sequences contain about 48 billion short tons 

deep and about 14 billion short tons of coal that are 3,000 to 8,500 ft fi gures must be regarded with caution because they do not re

fl ect eco

technological, and geologic restrictions that affect availability and re55 percent of the coal is not likely to be mined because of excessive and limited or excessive coal-bed thickness. Additional coal might ndiscontinuous, used for support, or destroyed while mining adjacent 

part of the resource might remain undeveloped because it is now witNational Monument.
J16 Geologic Assessment of Coal in the Colorado Plateau: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah

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quad

UtahInves

Zeller, H

map Mouof the CounInves