Chapter O

Investigations of the Distribution 

and Resources of Coal in the Southern Part 

of the Piceance Basin, Colorado

By Robert D. Hettinger,1 Laura N.R. Roberts, 1 and T.A. Gognat2

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 O 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

2

 U.S. Geological Survey contract employee, Denver, Colorado 80225

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

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

Abstract........................................................................................................................................................O1

Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 2

Purpose and Scope ............................................................................................................................. 2

Methods ................................................................................................................................................ 2

Lithologic and Stratigraphic Data ............................................................................................ 2

Geologic and Geographic Coverages ..................................................................................... 3

Coal Resource Calculations...................................................................................................... 3

Location................................................................................................................................................. 4

Physiographic Features...................................................................................................................... 4

Coal Fields............................................................................................................................................. 6

Previous Geologic Investigations ..................................................................................................... 7

Acknowledgments............................................................................................................................... 8

Geologic Setting............................................................................................................................................ 8

Paleogeography of the Southern Part of the Piceance Basin During 

the Late Cretaceous and Tertiary ........................................................................................ 8

General Stratigraphy of Upper Cretaceous and Tertiary Strata in the 

Southern Part of the Piceance Basin ............................................................................... 10

Detailed Stratigraphy of Upper Cretaceous Mesaverde Formation and 

Mesaverde Group in the Southern Part of the Piceance Basin .................................. 11

Structure ............................................................................................................................................. 13

Coal Distribution, Quality, and Resources in the Mesaverde Group and 

Mesaverde Formation .................................................................................................................. 16

Coal Distribution in Outcrops........................................................................................................... 19

Black Diamond Coal Group (Anchor, Palisade, and Chesterfield Coal Zones)............... 19

Cameo-Fairfield Coal Group West of Long 107°15′W. (Cameo-Wheeler, 

South Canyon, and Coal Ridge coal zones) ............................................................ 21

Cameo-Fairfield Coal Group East of Long 107°15′W. in the Crested Butte 

Coal Field (Lower, Middle, and Upper Coal Zones)................................................ 23

Subsurface Distribution of Coal in the Cameo-Fairfield Coal Group......................................... 24

Cameo-Wheeler Coal Zone..................................................................................................... 24

South Canyon Coal Zone ........................................................................................................ 35

Coal Ridge Coal Zone .............................................................................................................. 35

Coal in the Cameo-Fairfield Coal Group East of Long 107°15′W. ...................................... 35

Coal Quality......................................................................................................................................... 35

Coal Resources .................................................................................................................................. 39

Cameo-Wheeler Coal Zone..................................................................................................... 40

South Canyon Coal Zone ........................................................................................................ 43

Coal Ridge Coal Zone .............................................................................................................. 46

Coal Resources in the Cameo-Fairfield Coal Group East of Long 107°15′W................... 46

Coal Production........................................................................................................................................... 49
Coal-Bed Methane ..................................................................................................................................... 52

Coal Resource Summary ........................................................................................................................... 52

References Cited ........................................................................................................................................ 54

Appendix 1—Summary of Data................................................................................................................ 58

Appendix 2—Summary of Coal Quality................................................................................................... 71

Appendix 3—Coal Tonnage Tables for Quadrangles, Townships, and 

Areas of Ownership ...................................................................................................................... 78

Appendix 4—Maps of Counties, Townships, 7.5′ Quadrangles, and Coal Ownership.................... 96

Appendix 5—Database Used for the Southern Piceance Basin 

Assessment Unit, Colorado

[Location, lithologic, and stratigraphic data are available in ASCII format, 

DBF, and Excel spreadsheets on disc 2 of this CD-ROM set]

Appendix 6—ArcView Project for the Southern Piceance Basin 

Assessment Unit, Colorado

[The digital fi les used for the coal resource assessment of the Southern Piceance 

assessment unit are presented as views in the ArcView project. The ArcView project 

and the digital fi les are stored on both discs of this CD-ROM set—Appendix 6 

of chapter O resides on both discs. Persons who do not have ArcView 3.1 may 

query the data by means of the ArcView Data Publisher on disc 1. Persons who 

do have ArcView 3.1 may utilize the full functionality of the software by accessing 

the data that reside on disc 2. An explanation of the ArcView project and data library

—and how to get started using the software—is given by Biewick and Mercier 

(chap. D, this CD-ROM). Metadata for all digital fi les are also accessible through 

the ArcView project]

Plate

 1. Investigations of the distribution and resources of coal in the southern part 

of the Piceance Basin, Colorado .........................................................................................O101

 Figure A. Location of drill holes and measured sections

 Figure B. Geologic map of the southern part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado

 Figure C. Stratigraphy of continental and marine rocks in the Upper 

Cretaceous Mesaverde Group and Mesaverde Formation, along 

cross section A-A′, in the southern part of the 

Piceance Basin, Colorado

Figures

 1. Location of the Piceance Basin and adjacent structural features ....................................O4

 2. Location of study area in southern part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado......................... 5

 3. Location of coal fields.................................................................................................................. 6

 4. Index map showing primary sources of geologic data in relation to the study area........ 8
 5. Paleogeographic map of the central part of North America during the late part 

of the Campanian Stage of the Cretaceous Period ................................................................ 9

 6. Stratigraphic correlations and facies relationships in the Mesaverde Group 

and Mesaverde Formation........................................................................................................ 12

 7A. Faults and folds in the southern part of the Piceance Basin .............................................. 17

 7B. Structure contour map of the top of the Rollins Sandstone Member of the 

Mount Garfield, Mesaverde, and Iles Formations ................................................................ 18

 8. Schematic diagram showing the stratigraphic position and nomenclature 

used in this report for coal groups and coal zones .............................................................. 19

 9. Isopach map showing the thickness of the Cameo-Fairfield coal group.......................... 20

 10. Isopach map of net coal in the Cameo-Fairfield coal group ............................................... 25

 11. Isopach map showing thickness of Cameo-Wheeler coal zone ........................................ 26

 12. Isopach map of net coal in the Cameo-Wheeler coal zone ................................................ 27

 13. Isopach map showing distribution of net coal in beds that are 1.0–2.3 ft thick 

in the Cameo-Wheeler coal zone ............................................................................................ 28

 14. Isopach map showing distribution of net coal in beds that are 2.3–3.5 ft thick 

in the Cameo-Wheeler coal zone ............................................................................................ 29

 15. Isopach map showing distribution of net coal in beds that are 3.5–7.0 ft thick 

in the Cameo-Wheeler coal zone ............................................................................................ 30

 16. Isopach map showing distribution of net coal in beds that are 7.0–14.0 ft thick 

in the Cameo-Wheeler coal zone ............................................................................................ 31

 17. Isopach map showing distribution of net coal in beds that are more than 

14 ft thick in the Cameo-Wheeler coal zone .......................................................................... 32

 18. Isopach map showing thickness of the South Canyon coal zone...................................... 33

 19. Isopach map of net coal in the South Canyon coal zone..................................................... 34

 20. Isopach map showing thickness of the Coal Ridge coal zone............................................ 36

 21. Isopach map of net coal in the Coal Ridge coal zone .......................................................... 37

 22. Isopach map of net coal in the Cameo-Fairfield coal group east of long 107°15′W. ...... 38

 23. Isopach map of overburden on base of the Cameo-Wheeler coal zone .......................... 41

 24. Map showing areas of reliability for coal resources in the Cameo-Wheeler 

coal zone ...................................................................................................................................... 42

 25. Isopach map of overburden on the base of the South Canyon coal zone ........................ 44

 26. Map showing areas of reliability for coal resources in the South Canyon 

coal zone ...................................................................................................................................... 45

 27. Isopach map of overburden on the base of the Coal Ridge coal zone.............................. 49

 28. Map showing areas of reliability for coal resources in the Coal Ridge 

coal zone ...................................................................................................................................... 50

 29. Isopach map of overburden on the base of the Cameo-Fairfield coal group 

east of long 107°15′W................................................................................................................. 51

 30. Map showing areas of reliability for coal resources in the Cameo-Fairfield 

coal group east of long 107°15′W. ........................................................................................... 51

 31. Locations of active and inactive coal mines in the southern part of 

the Piceance Basin, Colorado.................................................................................................. 53
Tables

 1. Stratigraphic summary of Cretaceous and Tertiary strata in the southern 

part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado ...................................................................................O11

 2. Stratigraphic summary of the Upper Cretaceous Mesaverde Group and 

Mesaverde Formation in the Book Cliffs, Grand Mesa, Somerset, Crested Butte, 

Carbondale, and Grand Hogback coal fields ......................................................................... 14

 3. Range of ash yield, sulfur content, and calorific values for coal in the 

Mesaverde Group and Mesaverde Formation ...................................................................... 38

 4. Range of ash yield, sulfur content, and calorific values in the Mesaverde 

Group and Mesaverde Formation............................................................................................ 39

 5. Range of ash yield, sulfur content, and calorific values for coal zones in 

the Mesaverde Group and Mesaverde Formation................................................................ 39

 6A. Original coal resources in the Cameo-Wheeler coal zone ................................................. 40

 6B. Other occurrences of coal at depths greater than 6,000 ft in the Cameo-Wheeler 

coal zone ...................................................................................................................................... 43

 6C. Estimated coal tonnage in bed-thickness categories in the Cameo-Wheeler 

coal zone ...................................................................................................................................... 43

 7A. Original coal resources in the South Canyon coal zone...................................................... 46

 7B. Other occurrences of coal at depths greater than 6,000 ft in the South Canyon 

coal zone ...................................................................................................................................... 47

 8A. Original coal resources in the Coal Ridge coal zone............................................................ 47

 8B. Other occurrences of coal at depths greater that 6,000 ft in the Coal Ridge 

coal zone ...................................................................................................................................... 47

 9. Original coal resources in the Cameo-Fairfield coal group east of 

long 107°15′W.............................................................................................................................. 48

 10. Cumulative coal production for mines operating in the southern part of 

the Piceance Basin, Colorado, during the years from 1977 to 1997................................... 52
Abstract

This report on the southern part of the Piceance Basin, 

Colorado, is a contribution to the U.S. Geological Survey’s 

(USGS) “National Coal Resource Assessment,” a 5-year effort 

to identify and characterize coal beds and coal zones that 

could potentially provide fuel for the Nation’s coal-derived 

energy during the 21st century. The report provides a geologic 

overview of the southern Piceance Basin and assesses its coal 

in terms of stratigraphic and geographic distribution, net accumulation, bed thickness, and overburden. Results are shown in 

maps, cross sections, and tables, and coal tonnage is reported 

by overburden, reliability, county, 7.5′ quadrangle, and ownership. These data provide useful information for future energy 

exploration and land-use planning and may help evaluate the 

basin’s coal-bed methane potential.

Coal quantities reported as “resources” represent, as accurately as the data allow, all the coal in the ground that is in 

beds greater than 1 ft thick and less than 6,000 ft deep. Quantities of more deeply buried coal are reported as “other occurrences of non-resource” coal. Resources and non-resources 

of coal are differentiated into “identifi ed” and “hypothetical” 

categories following the standard classifi cation system of the 

USGS. Identifi ed resources are those within 3 mi of a measured thickness value (data point), and hypothetical resources 

are farther than 3 mi from a data point. This study does not 

attempt to estimate coal “reserves” for the southern part of the 

Piceance Basin. Reserves are that subset of the resource that 

could be economically produced at the present time. Factors 

that effect the amount of coal that can be economically recovered include: (1) coal bed thickness, (2) the lateral discontinuity and inclination of coal beds, (3) coal that must be left in the 

ground for roof support, (4) coal beds that may be bypassed 

or destroyed while mining adjacent seams, and (5) coal that 

may not be mined owing to land-use or environmental restrictions. These factors may signifi cantly reduce the amount of 

coal that could be recovered in the southern Piceance Basin, 

and the data used in the coal assessment are not suffi cient to 

determine the proportion of the resource that is technologically 

and economically recoverable. For purposes of comparison, 

studies of coal resources in the Eastern United States have 

shown that less than 10 percent of the original coal resource, 

in the areas studied, could be mined economically at today’s 

prices.

The study area occupies about 4,140 mi2

 of rugged terrain 

in the southern part of the Piceance Basin of west-central 

Colorado. The study area contains large quantities of coal 

and natural gas in the Upper Cretaceous Cameo-Fairfi eld coal 

group. The coal group is exposed along the basin’s gently to 

steeply dipping fl anks, and it is as much as 14,000 ft deep in 

the basin’s interior region. The coal-bearing rocks are intruded 

by Tertiary dikes, sills, and laccoliths in the study area’s southeastern region. The coal group is in the Williams Fork, Mount 

Garfi eld, and Mesaverde Formations, and it overlies the Rolllins Sandstone Member of the Mesaverde, Iles, and Mount 

Garfi eld Formations. Coal beds in the Cameo-Fairfi eld accumulated in coastal-plain mires along the western edge of the 

Western Interior Seaway. These coastal-plain deposits intertongue to the southeast with marginal-marine strata that were 

deposited as the shorelines migrated back and forth during an 

overall regression to the southeast.

The Cameo-Fairfi eld coal group is 4 to 1,400 ft thick 

and contains as much as 140 ft of net coal in as many as 

26 beds; coal-bed thicknesses range from 1 to 44 ft. The apparent rank of coal varies from subbituminous A to anthracite, 

and coal with coking properties has been identifi ed in the 

southeastern part of the basin. The coal group contains (in 

ascending order) the Cameo-Wheeler, South Canyon, and Coal 

Ridge coal zones. The Cameo-Wheeler coal zone is the most 

widespread of the three zones and it contains the thickest beds 

of coal; it is exposed along the southern and eastern margins of 

the study area and extends through the subsurface. The South 

Canyon and Coal Ridge coal zones are located only in the 

eastern part of the study area. About 176 million short tons of 

coal have been mined underground from the Cameo-Fairfi eld 

group in the Book Cliffs, Grand Mesa, Somerset, Crested 

Butte, Carbondale, and Grand Hogback coal fi elds. Most of the 

coal has been produced from the Cameo-Wheeler coal zone.

The Cameo-Fairfi eld coal group contains approximately 

34 billion short tons of coal in beds that are more than 3.5 

Investigations of the Distribution and 

Resources of Coal in the Southern Part of 

the Piceance Basin, Colorado

By Robert D. Hettinger, Laura N.R. Roberts, and T.A. Gognat

O1
ft thick and less than 3,000 ft deep. Although some of this 

resource is currently feasible to mine economically, much of it 

may not be minable because of geological, technological, landuse, or environmental constraints. The coal group contains 

additional coal that is either too deep or in beds too thin to be 

mined economically in the foreseeable future. These include 

an estimated 13 billion short tons of coal that are less than 3.5 

ft thick and under less than 3,000 ft of overburden, and about 

170 billion short tons of coal that are under 3,000 to 14,000 ft 

of overburden. Although these thin or deep beds of coals are 

not likely to be mined, they may be an important source for 

coal-bed methane. 

Introduction

Purpose and Scope

This report provides an assessment of coal resources in 

the southern part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado. Results of 

the study include a preliminary delineation and assessment of 

thick coal deposits and may serve as a baseline for other efforts 

to further assess the coal resource in terms of its availability 

and recoverability. The study also provides data that may help 

evaluate the basin’s coal-bed methane potential. The Southern 

Piceance Basin assessment unit is part of the U.S. Geological 

Survey’s National Coal Resource Assessment project that was 

initiated in 1994. The goal of the National Assessment is to 

characterize the resource potential and quality of coal for the 

entire Nation, with emphasis on those coals that may be of 

importance during the fi rst quarter of the next century. The 

southern Piceance Basin contains signifi cant resources of coal 

within the Mesaverde Group and Mesaverde Formation and 

is one of six priority areas within the Rocky Mountains and 

Colorado Plateau region. Resources in the southern part of the 

Piceance Basin represent about 3 percent of the Nation’s total 

coal resource in the lower 48 States, if compared to the fi gures 

of Averitt (1975).

The assessment of the southern Piceance Basin is based 

primarily on data from oil and gas drill holes as well as 

data from coal test holes, outcrop measurements, and geologic 

mapping that has been conducted in the region since the 

early 1900’s. Our interpretations from these data have been 

integrated with additional published geologic information to 

construct coal correlation charts and maps that show various 

aspects of coal distribution in the southern Piceance Basin. 

These data have been stored digitally and manipulated in 

a geographic information system to calculate coal resources 

within a variety of spatial parameters that are useful for landuse planning. Coal resources reported in this investigation are 

for total in-place coal and do not indicate the amount of coal 

that can be economically mined from the southern Piceance 

Basin.

Methods

In order to assess the coal resources of the southern part 

of the Piceance Basin, we created digital fi les for various 

geographic and geologic features within the region. These 

spatial data were stored, analyzed, and manipulated in a geographic information system (GIS) using ARC/INFO software 

developed by the Environmental Systems Research Institute, 

Inc. Spatial data that require gridding for the generation of 

contour and isopach maps were processed using EarthVision 

(Dynamic Graphics, Inc.). Contour lines generated in EarthVision were then converted into an ARC/INFO-generated format 

using a program called ISMARC and then converted into 

ARC/INFO polygon coverages using an Arc Macro Language 

(AML) program called CONVERT-ISM. We received both of 

the conversion programs from the Illinois State Geological 

Survey. We also collected and created additional coverages 

in ARC/INFO that defi ne topographic features and various 

geographic boundaries within the vicinity of the study area 

such as counties, 7.5′ quadrangles, townships, and boundaries 

of surface and coal ownership. Integrating these various coverages allowed us to calculate coal resources and characterize 

coal distribution within a variety of geologic and geographic 

parameters that could be selected according to an individual’s 

needs. The various digital fi les used in this report are available 

in the Colorado Plateau ArcView project (see Appendix 6), 

and they are explained by Biewick and Mercier (chap. D, this 

CD-ROM). The following paragraphs discuss procedures used 

to produce the various coverages used in the assessment.

Lithologic and Stratigraphic Data

Lithologic and stratigraphic data and the geographic distribution of coal are based on our interpretations of geophysical logs from 526 drill holes as well as published lithologic 

descriptions from 31 coal exploration holes and 70 published 

stratigraphic sections described from outcrops. At least one 

data point has been used in each square mile where data 

are available. Data point localities are shown on plate 1 (fi g. 

A) and identifi ed in Appendix 1; latitudinal and longitudinal 

coordinates of oil and gas holes were provided by the Colorado 

Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. Net-coal thicknesses 

and the elevation at the base of the coal resource interval (i.e., 

the top of the Rollins Sandstone Member) are also provided for 

each data point in Appendix 1. Stratigraphic interpretations are 

based on lithologic stacking patterns in each drill hole, as well 

as published outcrop descriptions and texts in geologic reports. 

Our complete database is available in ASCII format, DBF, 

and Excel spreadsheets in Appendix 5 on disc 2 of this CDROM—this database contains all lithologic and stratigraphic 

interpretations used in this assessment.

Lithologic interpretations from geophysical logs were 

generally made from a combination of natural gamma (gamma 

ray), density, resistivity, neutron, spontaneous potential, and 

caliper logs. Sandstone was interpreted from a moderate 

O2 Geologic Assessment of Coal in the Colorado Plateau: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah
response on natural gamma and resistivity logs. Mudrock was 

interpreted from a high natural gamma and a low resistivity 

response. Coal was interpreted from a low natural gamma and 

density response and a high resistivity and neutron response. 

The thicknesses of coal beds were generally determined from 

density logs recorded at a scale of 1 inch to 40 ft. Coal-bed 

thicknesses were measured at the infl ection points on the logs 

and refl ected a specifi c gravity of 1.4 to 1.75 g/cm3

; thickness 

adjustments were made, if necessary, based on observations 

made from supplemental logs. The recorded thicknesses of 

coal beds were rounded off to the nearest 1 ft, and beds less 

than 1 ft thick were not included in the assessment; a minimum 

thickness of 1 ft was a modifi cation from the 14-inch cutoff 

for coals of bituminous rank suggested by Wood and others 

(1983).

Coal-bed thicknesses and the net coal in a bed were 

determined according to Wood and others (1983). According 

to that methodology, a bed includes all coal and partings (noncoal material) that lie between the roof and fl oor, and the net 

thickness of coal in a bed does not include the thickness of 

partings that are more than 3/8 inch thick (Wood and others, 

1983, p. 5, 31). Furthermore, according to Wood and others, 

(1983, p. 36), separate benches of coal are considered to be 

part of the same bed when the intervening parting is thinner 

than either bench; when the parting exceeds the thickness of 

either bench, the bed is considered to have split into two beds. 

Based on these criteria, we report the thickness of a bed to 

include the combined thicknesses of benches and partings; 

however, we report the net coal in a bed to include only the 

combined thicknesses of the coal benches.

Several quality-control procedures were used to detect 

and omit stratigraphic and data-entry errors. Down-hole depths 

of formations, coal zones, and lithologies were recorded on 

encoding sheets and hand-keyed into a StratiFact data-management system. Data entry errors were discovered and resolved 

by comparing the original geophysical logs to corresponding 

“strip logs” generated from the StratiFact database. Stratigraphic data were further evaluated by building numerous 

cross sections within the StratiFact graphics package, and 

stratigraphic interpretations were reevaluated when correlation 

problems were identifi ed. Finally, structure contour and isopach maps were generated within the StratiFact package to 

reveal any anomalies.

Geologic and Geographic Coverages

ARC/INFO coverages for geologic and geographic 

boundaries were either created in-house or imported from 

existing public-domain databases by Tracey Mercier of the 

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The various coverages were 

made using common map projections, registered with common 

coordinates, and overlain to produce composite coverages used 

for fi gures and resource calculations presented in this report. 

Every effort was made to properly align spatial features in 

the composite coverages; however, some slight discrepancies 

could not be resolved because the original coverages had been 

digitized at different scales.

Geographic coverages include State, county, and township boundaries; cities and towns; highways; roads; railroad 

lines; rivers and streams; topography; coal mines; and areas 

of surface and mineral ownership. State and county lines were 

obtained from 1:100,000-scale Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing (TIGER) fi les produced 

by the U.S. Bureau of the Census in 1990. Township boundaries were modifi ed in-house from 1:100,000-scale Digital 

Line Graph (DLG) fi les of the Carbondale, Delta, Douglas 

Pass, Grand Junction, Glenwood Springs, and Paonia quadrangles. Cities and towns were obtained from 1:2,000,000-scale 

DLG fi les produced by the USGS Global Land Information 

System (GLIS). Roads and highways were imported from a 

1:100,000-scale National Transportation Atlas Databases produced in 1996 by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Railroad lines were imported from a 1:2,000,000-scale National 

Transportation Atlas Databases produced in 1996 by the 

Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Rivers and streams were 

imported from a 1:500,000-scale coverage entitled “Conversion of the U.S. Environmental Survey Research File 1 to 

an ARC/INFO coverage.” Surface topography was obtained 

from 1:250,000-scale U.S. Geological Survey digital elevation 

models (DEM) of the Grand Junction, Leadville, Moab, and 

Montrose quadrangles. Areas of surface and coal ownership 

were digitized from 1:24,000-scale quadrangle maps by the 

Bureau of Land Management. Inactive coal mine locations 

were compiled onto 1:24,000-scale 7.5′ quadrangle maps by 

the Colorado Geological Survey and were digitized by the 

Colorado Geological Survey under contract by the USGS.

The bedrock and surfi cial geology was modifi ed from 

a digital geologic map of Colorado (Green, 1992) that was 

compiled from the 1:500,000-scale geologic map of the State 

of Colorado (Tweto, 1979). In the eastern and southern part 

of the study area, the base of the coal resource interval is 

represented by the top of the Iles Formation and the base of 

the Mesaverde Formation, as depicted on this digitized map. 

In the western part of the study area, the base of the resource 

interval was digitized from the base of the Cameo coal zone as 

mapped by Erdmann (1934). The base of the resource interval 

was adjusted where necessary to match topographic features 

indicated on 1:250,000 digital elevation models constructed by 

the USGS.

Coal Resource Calculations

Coal resources were calculated using the methodology of 

Wood and others (1983) and Roberts and others (chap. C, this 

CD-ROM). Coal resources represent all coal beds greater than 

1 ft thick and under less than 6,000 ft of overburden within 

specifi ed coal zones. Coal beds deeper than 6,000 ft are not 

considered to be a resource according to Wood and others 

(1983). Coal resources were determined by multiplying the 

volume of coal by the average density of coal (Wood and 

Investigations of the Distribution and Resources of Coal in the Southern Part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado O3
others, 1983, p. 36). The volume of coal was determined by 

multiplying the net thickness of coal within a specifi ed coal 

zone by the areal distribution of the coal zone. Coal density 

was estimated by its rank (Wood and others, 1983, p. 22). 

The density of coal in the southern part of the Piceance Basin 

varies from 1,700 short tons per acre-ft for subbituminous 

coal to 2,000 short tons per acre-ft for anthracite. This study 

used an average density of 1,800 short tons per acre-ft for 

bituminous coal.

Coal resources were reported within various maximum 

coal-overburden categories. Overburden was determined by 

subtracting elevations at the base of specifi ed coal zones from 

surface elevations imported from 1:250,000 digital elevation 

models constructed by the USGS. Maximum overburden lines 

are shown on resultant maps at 500-; 1,000-; 2,000-; 3,000-; 

6,000-; and 10,000-ft intervals. Coal resources are reported 

in overburden categories of 0–500; 500–1,000; 1,000–2,000; 

2,000–3,000; and 3,000–6,000 ft by integrating the overburden 

and net coal isopach maps of each coal zone.

Reliability categories are based on the distance that the 

resource is calculated from a data point. Identifi ed resources 

are located within a 3-mi radius of a data point, and hypothetical resources are located beyond a 3-mi radius from a data 

point (Wood and others, 1983). Although confi dence levels 

have not been established for these categories, they refl ect 

decreased levels of accuracy for calculated resources based on 

their distance from a data point.

Location

The area of investigation is located in west-central Coloorado within the southern part of the Piceance Basin and 

includes a small part of the Uinta Basin (fi g. 1). These adjoining structural and sedimentary basins developed as a single 

basin during Late Cretaceous time but were subsequently 

divided along the Douglas Creek arch (fi g. 1) during the early 

Tertiary (Johnson and Finn, 1986). The Piceance Basin is 

bordered on the north by the Axial basin anticline, on the 

east by the White River and Sawatch uplifts, and on the south 

by the San Juan volcanic fi eld and Uncompahgre uplift (fi g. 

1). The eastern fl ank of the Piceance Basin is defi ned by 

the Grand Hogback monocline, which extends approximately 

90 mi from near Redstone north to Meeker, Colo. (fi g. 1). 

The southern part of the Piceance Basin, or “study area” as 

defi ned in this report, includes those areas in Colorado that 

are within the Piceance and Uinta Basins that are south of 

lat 39°42′30′′ and underlain by Upper Cretaceous rocks within 

the Mesaverde Group and Mesaverde Formation (this dual 

terminology is discussed in a later section on detailed stratigraphy) (fi gs. 1 and 2). The southeasternmost part of the 

study area is delineated along an inferred beveled edge of the 

Mesaverde Formation below Oligocene volcanics in the West 

Elk Mountains (Ellis and others, 1987).

The study area occupies approximately 4,140 mi2

 within 

parts of Delta, Garfi eld, Gunnison, Mesa, Pitkin, and Rio 

Blanco Counties (fi g. 2). All or part of 99 7.5′ quadrangles 

cover the study area, and their names and locations are provided in Appendix 3. The towns of New Castle, Glenwood 

Springs, Carbondale, Redstone, Marble, and Crested Butte 

are located along the eastern margin of the study area, and 

the towns of Somerset, Paonia, Cedaredge, Delta, Palisade, 

and Grand Junction are located along the southern margin of 

the study area (fi g. 2). Transportation through the study area 

includes Interstate 70, numerous State and local highways, and 

the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad (fi g. 2).

Physiographic Features 

The study area is characterized by rugged and variable 

terrain that has been produced by regional uplift, crustal folding, and subsequent erosion. Additionally, the terrain in the 

southeastern part of the study area, near the Elk and West Elk 

Mountains (fi g. 2) has been further extensively infl uenced by 

numerous volcanic intrusions. The study area is drained by the 

AXIAL BASIN 

ANTICLINE

MONTROSE

DELTA

MESA

PITKIN

GARFIELD

RIO BLANCO

MOFFAT

GUNNISON

Redstone

Gunnison

Grand Junction

Glenwood 

Springs

Meeker

Rangely

UNCOMPAHGRE 

UPLIFT

SAN JUAN 

VOLCANIC FIELD

UNITA BASIN

DOUGLAS CREEK ARCH

WHITE 

RIVER 

UPLIFT

SAWATCH UPLIFT

UNITA 

UPLIFT

SAND WASH 

BASIN

study area

0 25

MILES

G rand

H o gbac k

monocline

PICEA N CE

BASIN

109 ̊ 107 ̊

39 ̊

41 ̊

Colorado

Inset map

western part of 

the United States

Figure 1. Location of the Piceance Basin and adjacent structural 

features (modifi ed from Tweto, 1979). The study area (green) is in the 

southern part of the Piceance Basin. The inset map shows the location of these structural features (black area) in the State of Colorado 

and the western part of the United States.

O4 Geologic Assessment of Coal in the Colorado Plateau: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah
Delta

Hotchkiss

Paonia

Crested Butte Cedaredge

Bowie

Somerset

Grand Junction Marble

Palisade

Redstone

Carbondale

Rifle

Glenwood 

Springs

New 

Castle

10 0 10 Miles

DELTA

MESA 

GARFIELD

RIO BLANCO

GUNNISON

PITKIN

15 S

14 S

13 S

11 S

10 S

 9 S

 8 S

 6 S

2 N

1 N

2 E

3 E

 5 S

 4 S

 90 W 89 88 87 86 W 85

 91 90 W

103 W 102 101 100 99 98 97 96 95 94 93 92

 91 W

104 W 103

102 W 101 W

 96 W 95

 97 W

100 W 99 W 98

1 W 1 E

3 W 2 W

1 S

2 S

3 S

4 S

UTAH

COLORADO

39 45' o 109o

108 o107 o

39 45' o

39 o

107 o 39 o

109 o

A

139

70

70

13

70

330

65

92

135

133

50

Study area Railroad line Roads and highways

65

State

70

Interstate

50

U.S. 

Rivers, streams, and creeks County line State line City or town

Somerset

Grand 

Junction

Redstone

Carbondale

Glenwood 

Springs

10 0 10 Miles

UTAH

COLORADO

39 45' o 109o

108 o107 o

39 45' o

107 o 39 o

109 o

14 S

15 S

10 S

 8 S

 6 S

 5 S

 4 S

88 85 W

 90 W

 90 W

102 W 100 98 96 94 92

COL ORADO RIVER

COLORADO

RIVER

Gunniso n River

North Fork

Hotchkiss Leroux Cr

Coal Cr

Ohio R iver

Slate River

Crystal River

WEST

ELK

MTS

ELK 

MTS

GRAND VALLEY

BOOK

CLIFFS

GRAND MESA

COAL

BASIN

GRAND

HOGBACK

New 

Castle

BATTLEMENT MESA

BUCK

MESA

ROAN PLATEAU

ROAN CLIFFS

39 o

B

Anthracite Cr

Figure 2. Location of study area in southern part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado. The study area includes areas south of lat 

39°42′30′′N. that are underlain by the Mesaverde Group or Mesaverde Formation. A, Geographic features in the vicinity of the study 

area. B, Physiographic features in the vicinity of the study area.

Investigations of the Distribution and Resources of Coal in the Southern Part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado O5
Colorado River, North Fork of the Gunnison River, and their 

tributaries (fi g. 2), and tributaries to the Gunnison, Crystal, and 

White Rivers (fi g. 2). The Colorado River fl ows southwesterly 

through the central part of the study area between the towns of 

Glenwood Springs and Grand Junction and proceeds westward 

through Grand Valley, which borders the southwestern part of 

the study area (fi g. 2). The North Fork of the Gunnison River 

drains the southeastern part of the study area near Somerset 

and Paonia and joins the Gunnison River at the town of Hotchkiss; the Gunnison River then joins the Colorado River at the 

town of Grand Junction. Elevations on the Colorado River 

range from about 6,000 ft above sea level (asl) near Glenwood 

Springs to 4,400 ft (asl) near the Colorado-Utah State line, and 

elevations on the North Fork of the Gunnison River range from 

about 6,500 ft (asl) at its source to about 5,500 ft (asl) at its 

junction with the Gunnison River. 

The area north of the North Fork of the Gunnison River is 

characterized by steep hogbacks, cliffs, and dissected plateaus 

and high mesas. The Grand Hogback is one of the region’s 

most prominent physiographic features; it rises 1,500 to 3,500 

ft above the surrounding countryside and extends more than 60 

mi from north of New Castle to Coal Basin (near Redstone) 

along the study area’s eastern boundary (fi g. 2). The Book 

Cliffs form an extensive escarpment that rises as much as 

2,000 ft and forms the northern fl ank of Grand Valley (fi g. 

2). The Roan Cliffs form the southern fl ank of the broad and 

dissected Roan Plateau, which is about 8,500 ft (asl) in areas 

north of the Colorado River (fi g. 2). Battlement Mesa, Buck 

Mesa, and the Grand Mesa are prominent features between the 

Colorado River and the North Fork of the Gunnison River (fi g. 

2). These mesas rises as much as 5,500 to 6,000 ft above the 

fl oors of nearby valleys and elevations are 10,500 ft (asl) on 

Grand Mesa and 10,973 ft (asl) on Battlement Mesa. 

The area south of the North Fork of the Gunnison river 

is extremely rugged owing to high peaks, ridges, deep valleys, 

and gorges in the vicinity of the West Elk Mountains (fi g. 2). 

Numerous peaks rise 2,000 to 5,000 ft above nearby valley 

fl oors, and summit elevations range from about 11,500 ft to 

13,000 ft (asl). Many of these peaks are erosional remnants of 

large laccoliths that intruded during the Oligocene Epoch.

Coal Fields

The southern part of the Piceance Basin is in the Uinta 

coal region and contains the Book Cliffs, Grand Mesa, Somer14 S

15 S

10 S

 8 S

 6 S

 5 S

 4 S

 90 W 88 85 W

 92 W 91 W 90 W

103 W 102 101 100 99 97 98 96 95 93

UTAH

COLORADO

39 45' o 109o

108 o107 o

39 45' o

107 o 39 o

109 o

COAL 

BASIN

39 o

10 0 10 Miles

Book Cliffs

Grand Mesa Somerset

Crested Butte

Carbondale

Grand Hogback

(southern part)

COL ORADO RIVER

COLORADO

RIVER

Gunniso n River

North Fork

Le or ux Cr

Ohio Creek

Slate River

Crystal River

Coal

Creek Anthracite Cr

Somerset

Grand 

Junction

Glenwood 

Springs

Book Cliffs Grand Mesa Somerset Crested Butte Carbondale Grand Hogback Intrusion

Coal field

Figure 3. Location of coal fi elds in the southern part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado. Coal-fi eld names are shown in 

bold type. Coal-fi eld locations represent areas where the Mesaverde Group and Mesaverde Formation are exposed within 

the approximate fi eld boundaries described by Landis (1959), Hornbaker and others (1976), and Tremain and others (1996). 

Laccoliths are also shown in the vicinity of the Somerset, Crested Butte, and southern part of the Carbondale coal fi elds.

O6 Geologic Assessment of Coal in the Colorado Plateau: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah
set, Crested Butte, Carbondale, and Grand Hogback coal fi elds 

(Landis, 1959). Coal-fi eld locations shown on fi gure 3 represent areas where the Mesaverde Group and Mesaverde Formation are exposed within the approximate coal-fi eld boundaries 

that were described by Landis (1959), Hornbaker and others 

(1976), and Tremain and others (1996). The Book Cliffs coal 

fi eld extends from the Colorado-Utah State line southeast to 

the Colorado River (Landis, 1959). The Grand Mesa coal 

fi eld is located on the western and southern edges of Grand 

Mesa and extends from the Colorado River eastward to Leroux 

Creek (fi gs. 2, 3), which is the last major tributary to the North 

Fork of the Gunnison River. The Somerset fi eld includes areas 

from Leroux Creek eastward through the valley cut by the 

North Fork of the Gunnison River and its tributaries (Tremain 

and others, 1996) and includes coal in the valley of Coal Creek 

(fi gs. 2, 3) located east of Mt. Gunnison (Landis, 1959). The 

eastern boundary of the Somerset fi eld is in the western part 

of T. 13 S., R. 88 W. (Landis, 1959), and we have included 

areas where the Mesaverde Formation is exposed along North 

Fork of the Gunnison River in the southwestern part of T. 

12 S., R. 88 W. The Crested Butte fi eld has been vaguely 

defi ned to occupy the southeastern end of the Piceance Basin 

(Landis, 1959) near the Crested Butte ski resort (Tremain and 

others, 1996). For the purpose of this report, we have extended 

the Crested Butte fi eld to include areas where the Mesaverde 

Formation is exposed along the valleys and tributaries of Slate 

River and Ohio Creek and to areas where the Mesaverde Formation is exposed along the headwaters of Anthracite Creek in 

T. 14 S., R. 87 W. (fi gs. 2, 3). The Carbondale fi eld extends 

northward from the divide between the Crystal River and Slate 

River to the locality where the Grand Hogback swings to the 

northwest near Glenwood Springs (Landis, 1959). The Grand 

Hogback coal fi eld extends northwestward along the Grand 

Hogback from near Glenwood Springs to about lat 40°N. 

(Landis, 1959); only the southern part of the Grand Hogback 

coal fi eld is located in the study area.

Previous Geologic Investigations

Numerous geologic investigations have been conducted in 

the southern part of the Piceance Basin, and, although it is 

beyond the scope of this report to provide a complete bibliography, publications pertinent to our study are referenced. 

Preliminary geologic and coal investigations were fi rst 

conducted in the Piceance Basin by Hayden (1878) and Hills 

(1893). More detailed investigations followed in the early 

1900’s as Gale (1910), Lee (1909, 1912), and Erdmann (1934) 

provided 1:125,000 scale geologic maps, coal measurements, 

and stratigraphic frameworks for the Grand Hogback, Grand 

Mesa and West Elk Mountains, and Book Cliffs regions, 

respectively. Their work formed the basis for numerous stratigraphic studies that ensued. More recent investigations regarding the stratigraphy and depositional systems of Upper Cretaceous rocks in the Book Cliffs region include those of Young 

(1955), Fisher and others (1960), Gill and Hail (1975), Johnson and others (1980), Kirschbaum and Hettinger (1998), and 

Van Wagoner (1991a, 1991b, 1991c, 1995). Summaries of 

the stratigraphic nomenclature in the Book Cliffs region were 

provided by Young (1955, 1983) and Franczyk (1989). More 

recent studies of Upper Cretaceous rocks along the Grand 

Hogback and Coal Basin areas have been published by Horn 

and Gere (1954), Donnell (1962), Warner (1964), Collins 

(1970, 1976, 1977), Kent and Arndt (1980a, 1980b), Johnson 

(1982), and Madden (1989).

Although the investigations of Lee (1909, 1912), Gale 

(1910) and Erdmann (1934) still provide the only geologic 

maps for some areas of the southern Piceance Basin, more 

recent geologic maps have been made for much of the study 

area. These include maps within (1) the Grand Hogback and 

Coal Basin areas by Donnell, (1962), Collins (1976), and 

Madden (1989); (2) the Elk and West Elk Mountains by Hanks 

(1962), Gaskill and Godwin (1966a, 1966b), Godwin (1968), 

Gaskill and others (1967, 1986), Gaskill and DeLong (1987); 

(3) the Paonia and Gunnison areas by Johnson (1948) and 

Dunrud (1989a); and (4) the Cedaredge and Hotchkiss areas 

by Hail, (1972a, 1972b) and Dunrud (1989b). Geologic maps 

from published and unpublished source maps were compiled 

and referenced on 1:250,000-scale geologic maps of the Grand 

Junction, Montrose, Leadville, and Moab 1°×2° quadrangles 

by Cashion (1973), Tweto and others (1976), Tweto and others 

(1978), and Williams (1964), respectively. Larger scale maps 

were compiled at a 1:100,000 scale for the Carbondale 30′×60′

quadrangle (Ellis and Freeman, 1984), parts of the Grand Junction and Delta 30′×60′ quadrangles (Ellis and Gabaldo, 1989), 

and the Gunnison and Paonia area (Ellis and others, 1987). 

Areas of geologic mapping used in this report are shown in 

fi gure 4. 

Previous subsurface geological investigations in the 

Piceance Basin include cross sections of Upper Cretaceous 

and Tertiary strata by Johnson (1979a, 1979b, 1979c, 1989b), 

Johnson and others (1979a, 1979b, 1979c), Ellis and Kelso 

(1987), and Nowak (1991). Subsurface coal-bed correlations 

have also been made along several cross sections in the southeastern part of the basin by Ellis and others (1988), Dunrud 

(1989a, 1989b), and Tyler and McMurry (1995). Results of 

exploratory coal drilling in the Grand Mesa, Coal Basin, 

and Book Cliffs areas have been reported by Eager (1978, 

1979), Kent and Arndt (1980a, 1980b) and Gualtieri (1979), 

respectively. Core of coal-bearing rocks in the Book Cliffs 

area was collected and described by Hobbs and others (1982) 

and McPhillips (1980), and core of coal-bearing rocks in the 

Paonia area was collected and described by Johnson (1948) 

and Toenges and others (1949, 1952).

Coal resources were evaluated for each coal fi eld in 

the Piceance Basin by Landis (1959), and coal-bed methane 

and natural gas potential have been evaluated by Johnson 

and others (1987), Johnson (1989a) and Tyler and McMurry 

(1995). Coal quality has been summarized for each coal fi eld 

in the southern part of the Piceance Basin by Hornbaker and 

others (1976), Murray and others (1977), and Tremain and 

others (1996). Additional coal-quality data was reported by 

Investigations of the Distribution and Resources of Coal in the Southern Part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado O7
Toenges and others (1949, 1952) for the Somerset coal fi eld 

and by Collins (1976) for the Carbondale and Grand Hogback 

coal fi elds.

Acknowledgments

We thank the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission for providing latitude and longitude locations for oil 

and gas holes used in this assessment and Wynn Eakins (Colorado Geological Survey) for providing some coal data used in 

the Somerset coal fi eld. We thank Gary Stricker (U.S. Geological Survey) for a creating a computer program to query data 

in the StratiFact database; Tracey Mercier (contractor) for 

compiling various geologic, physiologic, and geographic GIS 

coverages; Marin Popov, Allen Heinrich, and Jon Haacke (contractors) for their technical assistance using StratiFact software; and Bill Everham and Cindy Steuben for their technical 

support. We also thank William Keefer, Doug Nichols, Ron 

Johnson, Mark Kirschbaum, Rick Scott, and Katharine Varnes 

for their thorough reviews of the manuscript.

Geologic Setting

Paleogeography of the Southern Part 

of the Piceance Basin During the 

Late Cretaceous and Tertiary

During the Late Cretaceous (approximately 95–67 Ma) 

the region now occupied by the Piceance Basin was located 

at a paleolatitude of about 42°N. within the Cretaceous Rocky 

Mountain Foreland basin. Sediment was sourced from the 

Sevier highlands and deposited along the western margin of 

the Western Interior Seaway (fi g. 5). Structural development 

of the Piceance Basin began near the end of the Cretaceous 

Period as the Laramide orogeny partitioned the foreland basin 

into numerous smaller sedimentary basins and continued until 

the end of the Eocene Epoch (Johnson, 1989a). A detailed 

summary regarding sedimentary infi lling and structural development of the Piceance Basin is provided by Johnson (1989a).

0 10 20

Miles

6

6

6

39 

107 30'

39 45' 

109 108 30' 108

109

108 30'

108

107 30'

39 15' 

38 30' 

38 45' 

39 30' 

107 

107 106 50'

38 45'

10

14 11

5 7

9 9

8

12

13

16

18 19

19

17

Study area boundary

3

2

4

1

40 Miles

108o 110o 106o

39o

38o

40o

Inset

Study 

area

 1. Cashion (1973)

 2. Tweto and others (1978)

 3. Williams (1964)

 4. Tweto and others (1976)

 5. Erdmann (1934)

 6. Ellis and Gabaldo (1989)

 7. Gale (1910)

 8. Collins (1976)

 9. Ellis and Freeman (1984)

10. Dunrud (1989a)

11. Lee (1912)

12. Dunrud (1989b)

13. Ellis and others (1987)

14. Godwin (1966)

15. Gaskill and Godwin (1966a)

16. Gaskill and Godwin (1966b)

17. Gaskill and others (1967)

18. Gaskill and others (1987)

19. Gaskill and others (1986)

Primary source of geologic mapping

15

Figure 4. Index map showing primary sources of geologic data in relation to the study area. Inset shows location of 1°x2°quadrangle maps 

in which geology was complied at a scale of 1:250,000.

O8 Geologic Assessment of Coal in the Colorado Plateau: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah
Alluvial plain

and highlands

Coastal

plain

Peat

swamps

Marine

Thrust fault

30 ̊ Paleolatitude

45 ̊

30 ̊

30 ̊

45 ̊

Piceance 

Basin Sevier Highlands

Western

Interior

Seaway

Figure 5. Paleogeographic map of the central part of North America during the late part of the Campanian Stage (79–72 Ma) of 

the Cretaceous Period. The Piceance Basin is shown in relation to shorelines, coastal plains, and peat swamps associated with 

the Western Interior Seaway; deposits from these depositional systems are preserved in the Mesaverde Group and Mesaverde 

Formation. Map is modifi ed from Roberts and Kirschbaum (1995).

Investigations of the Distribution and Resources of Coal in the Southern Part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado O9
During the Late Cretaceous, fl uvial systems prevailed 

between the Sevier highlands and Western Interior seaway and 

coal-forming mires occupied the coastal plain. Fluctuations in 

sea level and sediment supply caused the shorelines to migrate 

back and forth throughout the Late Cretaceous. Shoreline positions and depositional systems of the Late Cretaceous are summarized in paleogeographic maps of North America by Roberts and Kirschbaum (1995). The seaway initially expanded 

westward across the study area during the Cenomanian Stage 

and reached its maximum size during the Turonian Stage. 

Paleoshorelines were located about 50 to 100 mi east of the 

Sevier highlands during the Turonian Stage and remained relatively stable until the beginning of the Campanian Stage, when 

the seaway began to retreat eastward. Shorelines slowly shifted 

eastward during the early Campanian and then rapidly shifted 

about 300 mi to the southeast during the late Campanian. 

Shorelines were oriented about N. 60° E. to N. 15° W. and 

migrated back and forth as they crossed the study area during 

the late Campanian (Johnson, 1989a).

Continental fl uvial and lacustrine conditions prevailed 

throughout the study area from the latest part of the Cretaceous 

Period to the middle part of the Eocene Epoch of the Tertiary 

Period. As tectonic activity increased during the Laramide 

orogeny, coarse-grained clastics were deposited in mountainfront environments along the basin’s margins, and fi ner grained 

sediment was deposited in lower energy fl uvial and fl ood-plain 

environments within the basin’s interior (Roehler, 1974; Johnson, 1985). By the middle Eocene, the area of the Piceance 

Basin was inundated by Lake Uinta, and sediment accumulated in saline to freshwater lacustrine environments (Donnell, 

1961; Roehler, 1974; Johnson, 1985). During the late Eocene, 

Lake Uinta was fi lled in by volcaniclastic sediment from the 

Absaroka volcanic fi eld in Wyoming and by locally derived 

sediment (Johnson, 1985).

The later part of the Tertiary Period was characterized by 

intrusive and extrusive volcanic activity. In the vicinity of Coal 

Basin and in the Elk and West Elk Mountains, Cretaceous and 

Tertiary strata were intruded by igneous stocks, dikes, sills, 

and laccoliths of Miocene and Oligocene age. Finally, during 

the Pliocene, basalt fl owed across areas of the Battlement and 

Grand Mesas. 

General Stratigraphy of Upper Cretaceous and 

Tertiary Strata in the Southern Part of the 

Piceance Basin

Isopach maps presented by Johnson and Finn (1986) indicate as much as 11,000 ft of Upper Cretaceous strata are 

preserved in the Piceance Basin. Cretaceous strata are assigned 

(in ascending order) to the Dakota Sandstone, Mancos Shale, 

Mesaverde Group and Mesaverde Formation (table 1). These 

rocks are exposed along the southern and eastern margin of the 

basin and are deeply buried in the basin’s interior (fi g. B on 

pl. 1). The Dakota Sandstone is Cenomanian in age (Johnson, 

1989a) and may be as old as Albian in age (Molenaar and 

Cobban, 1991; Molenaar and Wilson, 1993 ). The Dakota 

consists of about 40 to 225 ft of strata that were deposited in 

continental, coastal-plain, and nearshore marine environments 

during the initial expansion of the Western Interior Seaway. 

North of the study area, near the town of Rangely, the Dakota 

is overlain by about 300 ft of marine sandstone and shale that 

are within the Mowry Shale and superposed Frontier Formation (Molenaar and Wilson, 1993); these rocks thin and pinch 

out to the southeast in the basin’s subsurface. The Mancos 

Shale is about 4,000 to 5,000 ft thick and was deposited in 

offshore marine environments that prevailed during the Cenomanian through late Campanian Stages. The upper part of 

the Mancos Shale intertongues with and divides the overlying 

Mesaverde Group into its various formations and members 

(Warner, 1964). Prominent tongues of the Mancos include the 

Buck Tongue and Anchor Mine Tongue. The Mesaverde Group 

and Mesaverde Formation contain about 2,100 to 5,600 ft of 

strata that were deposited in a complex system of fl uvial, 

coastal-plain, paludal, estuarine, and shoreface environments 

that were associated with the shoreline regression during the 

late Campanian and Maastrichtian Stages; thicknesses were 

estimated from isopach maps in Johnson and Finn (1986, fi g. 

8). In the study area, the upper part of the Mesaverde Group 

and Mesaverde Formation consists primarily of continental 

strata that was deposited after the seaway had completely 

withdrawn from the region.

More than 10,000 ft of lower Tertiary strata have been 

deposited in the Piceance Basin (Johnson, 1985, fi g. 4). Tertiary strata in the study area are assigned (in ascending order) 

to the Wasatch, Green River, and Uinta Formations (table 1) 

and are exposed throughout the interior of the Piceance Basin 

(fi g. B on pl. 1). The Wasatch Formation is as much as 5,800 ft 

thick (Tweto and others, 1978) several miles north of the study 

area (in T. 2 S., R. 95 W.) and includes rocks deposited in 

fanglomerate, fl uvial, and fl ood-plain environments during the 

early and early middle Eocene (Roehler, 1974). Cross sections 

in Roehler (1974, fi gs. 1 and 2) indicate that the Green River 

Formation is about 1,500 to 3,000 ft thick in the study area 

and consists of strata that were deposited in lacustrine environments of Lake Uinta during the early and middle Eocene. The 

Green River Formation contains vast quantities of oil shale and 

is preserved in the central region of the Piceance Basin. Rocks 

of middle Eocene age in the Uinta Formation are the youngest 

strata preserved in the Piceance Basin (Roehler, 1974). The 

Uinta Formation intertongues with the Green River Formation 

and has a maximum preserved thickness in the study area 

of about 1,000 ft on Battlement Mesa (Tweto and others, 

1978); and it is 1,600 ft thick north of the study area in T. 

1 N., R. 98 W. (R.C. Johnson, oral commun., 1999). The 

Uinta is comprised of volcaniclastic sedimentary rock that was 

deposited in Lake Uinta (Johnson, 1985). 

O10 Geologic Assessment of Coal in the Colorado Plateau: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah
Detailed Stratigraphy of Upper 

Cretaceous Mesaverde Formation and 

Mesaverde Group in the Southern Part 

of the Piceance Basin

In the southern part of the Piceance Basin, the Upper 

Cretaceous Mesaverde Group and Mesaverde Formation were 

deposited in continental, nearshore, and offshore environments 

as shorelines migrated back and forth during an overall regression to the southeast. Paleoshorelines were oriented about N. 

60° E. to N. 15° W. during the late Campanian (Johnson, 

1989a), and the associated shoreface strata rise stratigraphically to the southeast and pinch out into offshore marine 

strata. The shoreface strata grade into continental beds to the 

northwest. Nomenclature used for these rocks is complex and 

has been used inconsistently by previous investigators. The 

Mesaverde has been assigned Group status in the Book Cliffs, 

Grand Hogback, and Carbondale coal fi elds but is considered 

a Formation in the Crested Butte and Grand Mesa coal fi elds. 

Lithologic descriptions and nomenclature for the Mesaverde 

Group and Mesaverde Formation are summarized in table 2 

and stratigraphic correlations are shown in fi gure 6. 

The Mesaverde Group in the Book Cliffs coal fi eld is 

divided into (from oldest to youngest) the Castlegate Sandstone, Sego Sandstone, Mount Garfi eld Formation, and Hunter 

Canyon Formation (Erdmann, 1934; Fisher and others, 1960). 

The lower part of the Mount Garfi eld Formation is divided 

into the Corcoran, Cozzette, and Rollins Sandstone Members 

(Young, 1955; Gill and Hail, 1975). In the Grand Hogback 

and Carbondale coal fi elds, the Mesaverde Group was split 

into the Iles and Williams Fork Formations by Collins (1976). 

Warner (1964) demonstrated that the Iles Formation along the 

Grand Hogback includes the equivalent of the Sego, Corcoran, 

Cozzette, and Rollins Sandstone Members in the Book Cliffs 

Table 1. Stratigraphic summary of Cretaceous and Tertiary strata in the southern part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado. 

[Lithologic descriptions and depositional interpretations are compiled from Hail (1972a, 1972b), Cashion (1973), Roehler (1974), Gill and Hail (1975), 

Collins (1976), Tweto and others (1978), Kent and Arndt (1980a, 1980b), Johnson (1982), Ellis and Freeman (1984), Ellis and others (1987), Dunrud 

(1989a, 1989b), and Ellis and Gabaldo (1989). Stratigraphy of the Upper Cretaceous Mesaverde Group and Mesaverde Formation are provided in 

table 2] 

Age Group or 

Formation 

Thickness 

(ft) 

Description and depositional interpretation 

Pliocene 

and or 

Miocene 

Extrusive 

igneous 

rock 

5-4,000 

Black basalt in lava flow layers (5-250 ft thick and as much as 800 ft thick on Grand 

Mesa). Includes andesitic breccia, lava, and volcaniclastic debris of the West Elk breccia 

in the West Elk mountain area which are as much as 4,000 ft thick. Volcanic. 

Pliocene, 

Miocene, 

and 

Oligocene 

Intrusive 

igneous 

rock 

tens to 

thousands 

of ft 

Rhyolite and basaltic stocks, plugs, and sills; and granodioritic and quartz monzonite 

stocks, dikes, sills, and laccoliths. Volcanic. 

Eocene Unita 

Formation 

1,000 

(max.) 

Sandstone, mudstone, siltstone, and marlstone. 

Eocene Green 

River 

Formation 

3,400 

(max.) 

Gray and yellow-brown marlstone, oil shale, siltstone, and sandstone, with minor tuff and 

limestone. Fluvial and lacustrine. 

Eocene and 

Paleocene 

Wasatch 

Fm 

5,800 

(max.) 

Variegated mudrock with local lenses of sandstone, volcanic sandstone, and basal 

conglomerate. Separated from underlying strata by an unconformity. Fluvial and 

lacustrine. 

Mesaverde 

Group and 

Mesaverde 

Formation 

2,150-

5,600 

In the Book Cliffs coal field, the Mesaverde Group is divided into the Hunter Canyon 

Formation, Mount Garfield Formation, Sego Sandstone, and Castlegate Sandstone. In the 

Grand Hogback and Carbondale coal fields, the Mesaverde Group is divided into the Iles 

and Williams Fork Formations. Coeval strata are assigned to the Mesaverde Formation 

and upper part of the Mancos Shale in the Grand Mesa and Crested Butte coal fields. 

Late Details are provided in table 2. 

Cretaceous Mancos 

Shale 

4,000-

5,000 

(max.) 

Dark-gray shale with minor sandstone and siltstone; includes thin lenses of limestone, 

sandy limestone, and limy shale. Intertongues with the lower part of the Mesaverde 

Group or Formation. Marine. 

Early(?) to 

Late 

Cretaceous 

Dakota 

Formation 40-225 

Light-gray and tan, fine- to coarse-grained sandstone or quartzite; minor interbeds of dark 

gray shale, shaley sandstone, conglomeratic sandstone, and thin lenticular beds of coal. 

Fluvial and marginal marine. 

Investigations of the Distribution and Resources of Coal in the Southern Part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado O11
Book Cliffs coal field Grand Mesa and Somerset coal fields Carbondale coal field

Mesaverde Fm.

(part)

Mesaverde Fm.

(part)

Coal-bearing 

Mbr.

Barren Mbr. (part)

Castlegate Ss.

Upper part of the Sego Ss. Sego 

Ss. Anchor Mine Tongue of Mancos Shale

Buck Tongue of Mancos Shale

Corcoran Mbr.

Cozzette Mbr. 

Rollins Ss. Mbr.

Rollins Ss. Mbr.

middle ss.

upper ss.

Cameo cz

Carbonera cz

Coal Ridge cz

South Canyon cz

Wheeler cz

Anchor cz

Palisade cz

Chesterfield cz 

Mancos Sh. 

(part)Mount Garfield and Hunter Canyon Formations (part)

Measverde Gp. (pt) and tongues of the Mancos Shale

West East

Lower part of the Sego Ss.

Bowie 

Shale 

Mbr.

Paonia 

Shale 

Mbr. 

(part)

Williams Fork Fm. (part) Iles Formation

Mancos 

Shale 

(part)

Rollins 

Ss. Mbr.

Cozzette Ss. Mbr.

tongue of Mancos 

Shale

Mesaverde Group

Grand Hogback coal field (southern part) Carbondale coal field Crested Butte coal field

 Sego Ss. Mbr.

Corcoran Ss. Mbr.

Cozzette Ss. Mbr. 

middle ss.

Coal Ridge cz

South Canyon cz

Wheeler-Fairfield cz

Northwest Southeast

upper ss.

Trout 

Creek 

Ss.Williams Fork Formation (part) Iles Formation

Mesaverde Group (part)

Mancos Sh. 

(part)

Bowie 

Shale 

Mbr.

Williams Fork Fm. (part) Iles Formation

Rollins 

Ss.

Mancos 

Shale 

(part)

Paonia 

Sh. Mbr. 

(pt)

tongue of Mancos Sh.

Cozzette Ss. Mbr.

Bowie 

Shale 

Mbr.

Paonia 

Sh. Mbr. 

(part)

Mancos 

Shale 

(part)

Rollins 

Ss. Mbr.

Mesaverde Formation (part)

lower coal zone

Kmva

Kmvb

middle coal zone

upper coal zone

A

B

Alluvial, coastal plain and mire; 

coal zones are in dark gray Upper shoreface 

and estuarine

Lower shoreface and 

offshore marine Depositional environments

Figure 6. Stratigraphic correlations and facies relationships in the Mesaverde Group and Mesaverde Formation, southern part of 

the Piceance Basin, Colorado. A, Line of section drawn perpendicular to depositional strike; stratigraphy is based on Gill and Hail 

(1975), Dunrud (1989a, 1989b), and Kirschbaum and Hettinger (1998). B, line of section subparallel to depositional strike; stratigraphy 

in the Grand Hogback and Carbondale coal fi elds is based on Collins (1976), and in the Crested Butte coal fi eld it is based on 

Gaskill and Godwin (1966b) and Gaskill and others (1967, 1986, 1987); coal zone nomenclature in the Crested Butte area refers only 

to its usage in this report. Abbreviations include: Sandstone (Ss), sandstone (ss.), Member (Mbr.), coal zone (cz), Shale (Sh.), Group 

(Gp.), Formation (Fm.), and part (pt.).

O12 Geologic Assessment of Coal in the Colorado Plateau: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah
area. The Rollins Sandstone was traced north along the Grand 

Hogback into the Trout Creek Sandstone near the town of 

Meeker (Warner, 1964; Collins, 1976). The overlying Williams 

Fork Formation has been divided into (in ascending order) the 

Bowie Shale Member (which contains the informally named 

middle and upper sandstones), Paonia Shale Member, and 

upper “undifferentiated” Williams Fork Formation by Collins 

(1976).

The Mesaverde Formation in Grand Mesa coal fi eld has 

been divided (from oldest to youngest) into the Cozzette 

Member, Rollins Sandstone Member, and an unnamed upper 

part (Gill and Hail, 1975). The Cozzette Member pinches 

out into the Mancos Shale to the southeast and only the Rolllins Sandstone Member and unnamed upper part remains in 

the western part of the Somerset fi eld (Hail, 1972a, 1972b). 

Dunrud (1989a, 1989b) subsequently divided the upper part 

(from oldest to youngest) into the informally named coalbearing and barren members and the formally named Ohio 

Creek Member of the Mesaverde Formation. The Mesaverde 

Formation in the Crested Butte coal fi eld was initially undivided, although a basal marine sandstone (Kmva) and second 

marine sandstone (Kmvb) were mapped throughout the area 

by Gaskill and Godwin (1966a, 1966b) and Gaskill and others 

(1967, 1986, 1987). Later, Gaskill and DeLong (1987) divided 

the Mesaverde Formation into the Rollins Sandstone, Bowie 

Shale Member, Paonia Shale Member, and an undifferentiated 

upper part; the previously named Kmva sandstone was correlated to the Rollins Sandstone Member, and the top of the 

Bowie Shale Member was placed at the top of the Kmvb 

sandstone.

The Castlegate, Sego, Corcoran, Cozzette, and Rollins 

have been interpreted as successively higher stratal units that 

were deposited during successive regressive marine cycles 

(Johnson, 1989a). Each regressive cycle was separated by a 

marine tongue of the Mancos Shale that had a basal transgressive component and regressive upper component that graded 

into the overlying regressive cycle. The transgressive limits 

of the marine shale tongues and the regressive limits of the 

Castlegate, Sego, Corcoran, and Cozzette are shown by Johnson (1989a); the regressive limit of the Rollins Sandstone was 

mapped in the vicinity of Crested Butte by Gaskill and others 

(1986). The Castlegate Sandstone is a complex fl uvial and 

deltaic deposit that reached its seaward limit in the western 

part of the Piceance Basin (Johnson, 1989a). The Sego, Corcoran, and Cozzette Members are also complex and consist of 

marginal-marine and continental strata, whereas the Rollins 

Member simply consists of nearshore marine strata (Johnson, 

1989a). Although stratal successions in the Mesaverde Group 

and Mesaverde Formation have been associated with regressive marine cycles, the more recent identifi cation of estuarine 

valley-fi ll complexes in the Castlegate and Sego Sandstones 

(Van Wagoner, 1991a, 1991b, 1991c) and Corcoran, Cozzette, 

and Rollins Sandstone Members (Kirschbaum and Hettinger, 

1998) indicates that these formations and members contain 

transgressive deposits as well.

Coal-bearing coastal-plain and continental strata above 

the Rollins Sandstone Member in the Mount Garfi eld and 

Mesaverde Formations in the Book Cliffs and Grand Mesa 

coal fi elds intertongue to the southeast with coal-bearing 

coastal-plain and marine rocks in the coal-bearing member 

in the Somerset coal fi eld and Bowie Shale Member of the 

Mesaverde Formation in the Grand Hogback, Carbondale, and 

Crested Butte coal fi elds. The Bowie Shale Member contains 

two thick tongues of nearshore marine strata in the Grand 

Hogback and Carbondale coal fi elds (Collins, 1976); however, 

only one thin tongue of nearshore marine strata has been 

described in the Crested Butte coal fi eld (Gaskill and DeLong, 

1987), and precise correlations of these marine facies have not 

been resolved. Shoreface deposits at the top of each marine 

tongue in the Grand Hogback and Carbondale coal fi elds were 

named the middle and upper sandstone, respectively (Collins, 

1976), and the shoreface deposit at the top of the only marine 

tongue in the Crested Butte area was named the Kmvb sandstone (Gaskill and DeLong, 1987). The upper sandstone and 

Kmvb sandstone mark the last episode of marine deposition in 

the study area and overlying Cretaceous strata were deposited 

in coastal-plain, fl uvial, and alluvial-plain environments. 

Structure

The Piceance Basin is an elongate basin that has gently 

dipping western and southwestern fl anks and a steeply dipping 

eastern fl ank. The synclinal axis of the basin trends to the 

northwest from near Redstone to near Meeker, and although 

strata are gently inclined toward the axis, dips of strata are 

locally steep on the limbs of folds and near laccoliths located 

along the southern and eastern fl anks of the basin. Steeply dipping strata are particularly common in the West Elk Mountains 

and along the limb of the Grand Hogback monocline (fi gs. 2; 

7A). Strata are generally not faulted at the surface except at 

localities along the Douglas Creek arch and in the West Elk 

Mountains (fi gs. 2, 7A). However, a system of blind thrust 

faults has been identifi ed beneath the Divide Creek and Wolf 

Creek anticlines and Grand Hogback monocline (fi g. 7A) by 

Grout and Verbeek (1992).

Outcrops of Upper Cretaceous coal-bearing strata are 

inclined from less than 5° to more than 90° within the various 

coal fi elds (fi g. 3) of the study area. Upper Cretaceous coalbearing rocks in the Book Cliffs and Grand Mesa coal fi elds 

generally dip less than 6° to the north and northeast but are 

inclined by as much as 9° to 18° along the southwest limb of 

the Garmesa anticline, and 10° to 27° on the northeast-dipping 

limb of the Book Cliffs monocline (fi g. 7A) (Lee, 1912; Erdmann, 1934; Hail 1972a, 1972b). Cretaceous beds in the western part of the Somerset coal fi eld are also inclined less than 

5° in northerly directions but are more steeply inclined (14°

to 55°) along the eastern margin of the coal fi eld, where they 

are folded over the fl anks of laccolith intrusions (fi g. 7A) (Lee, 

1912; Dunrud, 1989a, 1989b). The Crested Butte and southern 

part of the Carbondale coal fi elds are structurally complex 

and the reader is referred to the geologic maps of Godwin 

Investigations of the Distribution and Resources of Coal in the Southern Part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado O13
Table 2. Stratigraphic summary of the Upper Cretaceous Mesaverde Group and Mesaverde Formation in 

the Book Cliffs, Grand Mesa, Somerset, Crested Butte, Carbondale, and Grand Hogback coal fields in the 

Piceance Basin, Colorado. 

Age Group or 

Formation 

Thickness (ft) Description and depositional interpretation 

Book Cliffs coal field

The Mesaverde Group in the Book Cliffs coal field is divided (in descending order) into the Hunter Canyon Formation, Mount 

Garfield Formation, Sego Sandstone, and Castlegate Sandstone. Thickness is about 1,500 to 2,450 ft. Descriptions are compiled

from Erdmann (1934), Cashion (1973), Gill and Hail (1975), Fisher and others, (1960), Johnson and May (1980), Ellis and 

Gabaldo (1989), and Van Wagoner (1991a, 1991b, 1991c; 1995). 

Hunter 

Canyon 

Formation 

375-1,400 

Buff to gray, medium- to coarse-grained cliff-forming sandstone, and gray to greenishgray shale; Locally contains Ohio Creek Member; alluvial plain. 

Ohio Creek Member (155-370 ft) Located in upper part of Hunter Canyon Formation. 

Coarse-grained sandstone, conglomeratic sandstone, and conglomerate with interbeds of 

gray mudstone and siltstone. Fluvial. 

Mount 

Garfield 

Formation 

970-1,070 

Buff and gray, fine- to medium-grained sandstone, gray shale, and coal. The lower part 

of the formation contains the Rollins Sandstone and Cozzette and Corcoran Members, 

which are separated by tongues of the Mancos Shale. The Carbonera, Cameo, Palisade, 

and Anchor coal zones are in the lower 300-660 ft of the formation. Continental in 

upper part and nearshore marine and coastal-plain in lower part of formation. 

Rollins Sandstone Member (0-120 ft) White, fine- to coarse-grained, cliff-forming 

sandstone. Marginal marine and tidal, grades to nonmarine sandstone in western part of 

area. The Carbonera and Cameo coal zones overlie the Rollins Sandstone Member and 

equivalent strata. 

Cozzette Member (0-230 ft) Fine to very fine grained sandstone, siltstone, and shale, 

contains thin coal beds in the Chesterfield coal zone. Marginal marine, coastal-plain, 

and tidal. 

Corcoran Member (0-100 ft) Fine- to very fine-grained sandstone, siltstone, and shale; 

contains coal in the Palisade coal zone. Marginal marine, coastal-plain and tidal. 

The Anchor coal zone is located between the Corcoran Member and underlying Sego 

Sandstone (as redefined by Young, 1955, p. 189-191). 

Sego 

Sandstone 0-300 

Buff and light-gray, fine-grained sandstone and gray shale. Upper and lower parts are 

sandstone and are separated by 20-200 ft of marine mudrock assigned to the Anchor 

Mine Tongue of the Mancos Shale. Nearshore marine and tidal. 

Late 

Cretaceous 

Castlegate 

Sandstone 

0-20 Buff and light-gray, very fine- and fine-grained sandstone and gray shale. Separated 

from the Sego Sandstone by 400 ft of marine mudrock assigned to the Buck Tongue of 

the Mancos Shale. Fluvial to marginal marine. 

Grand Mesa and Somerset coal fields

Upper Cretaceous rocks are assigned to the Mesaverde Formation. Descriptions are from Ellis and others (1987), Dunrud (1989a, 

1989b), and Hail (1972a, 1972b). 

Late 

Cretaceous 

Mesaverde 

Formation 

2,800 

(maximum) 

Gray to brown sandstone, siltstone, shale, and coal. The formation has been divided into 

(from upper to lower) the Ohio Creek Member, barren member, coal-bearing member, 

and Rollins Sandstone Member. 

Ohio Creek Member (50-900 ft) Interbedded fine- to coarse-grained and locally 

conglomeratic sandstone, siltstone, and shale; kaolinitic in upper part. Fluvial. 

barren member (250-1,000 ft) Fine- to very fine-grained sandstone, siltstone, mudstone, 

shale, and a few thin beds of coal. Continental. 

coal-bearing member (350-700 ft) Very fine- to fine-grained sandstone interbedded with 

and siltstone, mudstone, shale, and thick beds of coal. Coastal-plain and nearshore 

marine. 

Rollins Sandstone Member (80-200 ft) Tan, light-gray, and white, very fine- to finegrained, cliff-forming sandstone. Nearshore marine. 

Cozzette Member (less than 35 ft) Fine- to very fine-grained sandstone, siltstone, and 

shale. Separated from the overlying Rollins sandstone by a tongue of the Mancos shale 

that thickens to the east. Present in eastern part of coal field. Nearshore marine. 

O14 Geologic Assessment of Coal in the Colorado Plateau: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah
Table 2. Stratigraphic summary of the Upper Cretaceous Mesaverde Group and Mesaverde Formation in 

the Book Cliffs, Grand Mesa, Somerset, Crested Butte, Carbondale, and Grand Hogback coal fields in the 

Piceance Basin, Colorado—Continued. 

Age Group or 

Formation 

Thickness (ft) Description and depositional interpretation 

Crested Butte coal field 

Upper Cretaceous rocks are assigned to the Mesaverde Formation. Descriptions are from Gaskill and DeLong (1987)

Late 

Cretaceous 

Mesaverde 

Formation 1,600-2,400 

Ohio Creek Member (90-400 ft) Interbedded light-gray to white, fine- to coarse-grained 

and locally conglomeratic sandstone, siltstone, and shale; kaolinitic in upper part. 

Fluvial. 

undifferentiated upper part (650-800 ft) Light-gray, medium- to coarse-grained 

sandstone interbedded with light to dark and greenish gray shale, carbonaceous shale 

and a few thin beds of coal. Continental. 

Paonia Shale Member (450 ft) Fine- to coarse-grained, lenticular fluvial sandstone 

interbedded with gray shale, carbonaceous shale and coal. Nonmarine, deltaic plain. 

Bowie Shale Member (160-250 ft) Interbedded sandstone, siltstone, shale, 

carbonaceous shale, and coal. Transitional upward through coastal-plain, offshore 

marine, and shoreface deposits. Top of member contains a 30- to 50-ft-thick marine 

sandstone called the Kmvb sandstone. 

Rollins Sandstone Member (30-120 ft) Gray to white, fine- to medium-grained, cliffforming sandstone. Previously referred to as the Kmva sandstone. Nearshore marine. 

Carbondale and Grand Hogback coal fields

Tweto and others (1978) placed Upper Cretaceous rocks in the Grand Hogback coal field into the Mesaverde Group, and coeval 

rocks in the Carbondale coal field were placed into the Mesaverde Formation and Mancos Shale. We used the stratigraphy of 

Collins (1976) that placed Upper Cretaceous rocks in both coal fields into (in ascending order) the Iles Formation or Williams Fork 

Formation of the Mesaverde Group. The Ohio Creek Member was placed into the upper “undifferentiated” Williams Fork 

Formation based on its reassignment by Johnson and May (1980) to the Mesaverde and Hunter Canyon Formations in the southern 

and western parts of the Piceance Basin. The Mesaverde Group is about 4,660-6,070 ft thick. Descriptions of the Mesaverde 

Group are based on Collins (1976), Tweto and others (1978), Kent and Arndt (1980a, 1980b), Johnson (1982), and Ellis and 

Freeman (1984), Ellis and others (1988). 

Late 

Cretaceous 

Williams 

Fork 

Formation 

3,600- 5,155 

Light-brown to white sandstone, conglomeratic sandstone, mudstone, gray to black 

shale, and coal. The Williams Fork Formation is divided into (in ascending order) the 

Bowie Shale Member, Paonia Shale Member, and upper “undifferentiated” Williams 

Fork Formation. 

upper Williams Fork Formation (2,000-4,000 ft) Fluvial sandstone, conglomeratic 

sandstone, and conglomerate, siltstone, shale, and coal. The Keystone coal group is 

about 800 ft above the base of the formation near New Castle. The Ohio Creek Member 

is at the top of the formation; it is 50-400 ft thick and composed of sandstone, 

conglomeratic sandstone, and conglomerate and includes thin interbeds of silty shale. 

Most sediment in the upper part of the Williams Fork is nonmarine. 

Paonia Shale Member (560 ft) Sandstone, siltstone, shale, and coal. The basal 400 ft 

contains the Coal Ridge coal group. Coastal plain and continental. 

 Bowie Shale Member (680-1,000 ft) The Bowie consists of (in ascending order) (1) 

fresh to brackish-water deposits of sandstone, siltstone, shale, and coal; (2) marine shale; 

(3) a marginal marine sandstone named the “middle sandstone”; (4) marine shale; and 

(5) a marginal marine sandstone named the “upper sandstone”. The Fairfield and South 

Canyon coal groups overlie the Rollins Sandstone and middle sandstone, respectively. 

Marginal marine and coastal plain. 

Investigations of the Distribution and Resources of Coal in the Southern Part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado O15
(1968), Gaskill and Godwin (1966a, 1966b), and Gaskill and 

others (1967, 1986, 1987) for details. Strata are highly faulted, 

steeply folded, and intruded by numerous Tertiary laccoliths 

(fi g. 7A). Coal-bearing strata are inclined by 5° to more than 

90° as they extend under and are draped onto the fl anks of the 

wedge-shaped laccoliths. Strata in the Carbondale coal fi eld 

and Grand Hogback coal fi elds are steeply inclined to the west 

and southwest along the Grand Hogback monocline. Upper 

Cretaceous rocks located north of the town of Marble in the 

Carbondale coal fi eld are inclined by about 10° to 40°, and 

strata in the Grand Hogback coal fi eld are inclined 30° to 70°

and are locally overturned (Collins, 1976).

The structure in the subsurface of the Piceance Basin was 

mapped on the top of the Rollins Sandstone Member by Johnson (1983). A modifi ed version of his structure map (fi g. 7B) 

indicates that there is as much as 16,000 ft of structural relief 

on this datum within the study area. The Rollins Sandstone 

Member is about 6,000 to 7,500 ft above sea level where it is 

exposed along the Book Cliffs and Grand Hogback and rises 

gently to 11,000 ft above sea level where it is exposed near 

the town of Crested Butte. The maximum deformation of the 

Rollins in the study area is along the western limb of the Grand 

Hogback monocline where the member plunges as much as 

12,000 ft, to a depth of 4,500 ft below sea level, within a 

distance of 4 mi.

Coal Distribution, Quality, and 

Resources in the Mesaverde Group 

and Mesaverde Formation

Several laterally persistent coal zones have been identifi ed 

and mapped in the Mesaverde Group and Mesaverde Formation in the southern part of the Piceance Basin. Coal-bearing 

strata below the Rollins Sandstone and Trout Creek Sandstone 

Members are within the Anchor, Palisade, and Chesterfi eld 

coal zones (fi gs. 6, 8; table 2). These coal-bearing intervals 

extend northeastward through the subsurface and become part 

of the Black Diamond coal group (fi g. 8), which was named 

for coal-bearing strata in the lower part of the Iles Formation 

in the northern Piceance Basin by Hancock and Eby (1930). 

A thick coal-bearing interval above the Rollins Sandstone 

Member has been referred to as the Cameo-Fairfi eld coal zone 

by Johnson (1989a) and is referred to as the Cameo-Fairfi eld 

coal group (fi g. 8) in this report.

The Cameo-Fairfi eld contains the most extensively mined 

coals in the Piceance Basin and is an important source for 

natural gas (Johnson, 1989a). The Cameo-Fairfi eld crops out 

along the study areas southern and eastern boundaries and 

extends through its subsurface (fi g. 9). The Cameo-Fairfi eld 

coal group includes the Cameo and Carbonera coal zones 

Table 2. Stratigraphic summary of the Upper Cretaceous Mesaverde Group and Mesaverde Formation in 

the Book Cliffs, Grand Mesa, Somerset, Crested Butte, Carbondale, and Grand Hogback coal fields in the 

Piceance Basin, Colorado—Continued. 

Age Group or 

Formation 

Thickness (ft) Description and depositional interpretation 

Carbondale and Grand Hogback coal fields—Continued

Late 

Cretaceous 

Iles 

Formation 

890- 

1,175 

Light-brown to white sandstone and interbedded siltstone, mudstone, and shale. The 

Iles is divided into (in ascending order) the Sego Sandstone Member, Corcoran 

Sandstone Member, Cozzette Sandstone Member, an upper tongue of the Mancos Shale, 

and the Rollins Sandstone Member. The Sego, Corcoran, and Cozzette members are 

divided by tongues of the Mancos Shale that are about 100 ft thick each. Marine, 

marginal marine, and coastal-plain. 

Rollins Sandstone Member (90-140 ft) Light- to medium-gray and white, fine- to 

medium-grained, includes thin interbeds of marine shale in lower part of unit. The 

Rollins is equivalent to the Trout Creek Sandstone Member north of the town of New 

Castle. Marginal marine and nonmarine. 

Upper tongue of Mancos Shale (270-970 ft) Dark-gray, clayey and silty shale. Marine. 

Cozzette Sandstone Member (30-200 ft) Gray, very fine- to fine-grained sandstone 

interbedded with medium- to dark-gray, clayey and silty shale. 

Corcoran Sandstone Member (0-130 ft) Buff to gray, very fine- to fine-grained 

sandstone, interbedded gray clayey and silty shale; upper part contains coal in the Black 

Diamond coal group. The Corcoran pinches out in T. 9 S., R. 89 W. (Donnell, 1962). 

Marginal marine and coastal-plain. 

Sego Sandstone Member (0-40 ft) The Sego sandstone is poorly described in the area 

and pinches out in T. 5 S., R 91 W. (Collins, 1976). 

O16 Geologic Assessment of Coal in the Colorado Plateau: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah
 6 S

7 S

2 N

1 N

2 E

 5 S

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89 

 90 W

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103 W 102 101 100 99 98 97 96 95 94 93 92

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1 W 1 E

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13

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4 2 

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area with many faults

area 

 with 

 many 

 faults

Fault, ball and bar on downthrown side

Laccolith

Study area Anticline

Monocline

Syncline

Thrust fault, sawteeth on upper plate

10 Miles

39 ̊45'

109 ̊ 108 ̊ 

39 ̊

109 ̊

Figure 7A. Faults and folds in the southern part of the Piceance Basin. The study area represents areas that are underlain by the Rollins Sandstone Membe

strata. Geology is modifi ed from Cashion (1973), Murray and Haun (1974), Tweto (1979), and Grout and Verbeek (1992). Small structural features are not shown.
● Data point

Study areaIntrusion

5000 Isoline showing elevation (in ft) at top of the Rollins Sandstone Member. Contour interval is 500 ft

Outcrop of top of Rollins Sandstone Member

39 ̊45'

109 ̊ 108 ̊ 

39 ̊ 

109 ̊

108 ̊30' 107 ̊30'

10 0 10 Miles

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Figure 7

B. Structure contour map of the top of the Rollins Sandstone Member of the Mount Garfi eld, Mesaverde, and Iles Formations in the southern part o

Colorado. The map was constructed using elevations at each data point for the top of the Rollins Sandstone Member and modifi ed according to Johnson (1983on fi gure A of plate 1, and elevations at the top of the Rollins Sandstone Member are provided in Appendix 1.
(Book Cliffs coal fi eld), the Cameo coal zone (Grand Mesa 

coal fi eld), the coal-bearing member (Somerset coal fi eld), 

and the Wheeler-Fairfi eld, South Canyon, and Coal Ridge coal 

zones (Grand Hogback and Carbondale coal fi elds) (fi gs. 6, 

8). Also included in the Cameo-Fairfi eld coal group are the 

informally named lower, middle, and upper coal zones in the 

Crested Butte coal fi eld (fi gs. 6, 8). Coal zones in the Crested 

Butte area were not correlated west of long 107°15′W. because 

of structural and stratigraphic complexities and a lack of data.

The upper “undifferentiated” Williams Fork Formation 

contains several thin beds of coal that are stratigraphically 

about 700 ft above the Coal Ridge coal zone. These coal beds 

are exposed in the northeastern part of the study area near 

the town of New Castle and were assigned to the Keystone 

coal group by Gale (1910). Coal beds in the Keystone are 

thin and poorly exposed along the Grand Hogback south of 

New Castle and are not considered to be economical to mine 

(Collins, 1976).

Coal Distribution in Outcrops

Black Diamond Coal Group (Anchor, Palisade, 

and Chesterfi eld Coal Zones)

The Anchor and Palisade coal zones were identifi ed and 

mapped in the Book Cliffs coal fi eld by Erdmann (1934) 

and were refi ned by Young (1955). The Anchor coal zone 

includes coal-bearing strata in the Mount Garfi eld Formation 

that overlie the upper part of the Sego Sandstone, and the 

Palisade coal zone is restricted to coal-bearing strata within 

the Corcoran Member (Young, 1955). In the Grand Hogback 

coal fi eld, the Corcoran Member is overlain by coal beds that 

were correlated into the Black Diamond coal group by Collins 

(1976); we consider these coals to be within the Palisade coal 

zone based on their stratigraphic position. The Chesterfi eld 

coal zone was defi ned along the Book Cliffs in Utah by Fisher 

Sego Ss.

Corcoran Ss. Mbr.

Cozzette Ss. Mbr. 

Rollins Ss. Mbr.

middle ss.

upper ss.

Cameo cz

Carbonera cz

Coal Ridge cz

South Canyon cz

Wheeler cz

Anchor cz

Palisade cz

Chesterfield cz 

Mancos Shale (part)

Measverde Gp. (pt.) or Formation (pt.) and tongues of the Mancos Sh.

Crested Butte

lower coal zone

Rollins Sandstone Mbr.

(Kmva)

Kmvb

middle coal zone

upper coal zone

Mesaverde Formation (part)

Mancos Shale (part)

Black Diamond 

coal group Cameo-Fairfield coal group

Cameo-Fairfield 

coal group

Inset

Book Cliffs Coal Basin 

Book Cliffs Coal Basin

Crested 

Butte

Line of section

Alluvial, coastal plain and mire; 

coal zones are in dark gray Upper shoreface 

and estuarine

Lower shoreface and 

offshore marine

Study 

area

Figure 8. Schematic diagram showing the stratigraphic position and nomenclature used in this report for coal groups and coal zones in 

the southern part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado. The Black Diamond coal group includes all coal in the Mesaverde Group and Mesaverde 

Formation below the Rollins Sandstone Member. The Cameo-Fairfi eld coal group includes all coal in and between the Cameo, Carbonera, South 

Canyon, and Coal Ridge coal zones, and the lower, middle, and upper coal zones in the Crested Butte area. Stratigraphy of the Mesaverde Group 

and Mesaverde Formation provided in fi gure 6. Abbreivations include: Sandstone (Ss), sandstone (ss.), Shale (Sh), Member (Mbr.), coal zone 

(cz), Group (Gp.), part (pt.). Line of section is shown in the inset.

Investigations of the Distribution and Resources of Coal in the Southern Part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado O19
Tertiary laccolith or stock

Outcrop of Cameo-Fairfield coal group

1000 Isoline showing thickness (in ft) of Cameo-Fairfield coal group; contour interval is 200 ft

Range in thickness (in ft) of Cameo-Fairfield coal group: < 400 400 - 800 800 - 1200 >1200

10 0 10 Miles

200

200

200

200

200

200

400

200 200

200

200

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200

200

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600

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1000

600

1000 800 1000

1000 1000 1200

12001400 200

200

200

1000

1200

DELTA

MESA 

GARFIELD

RIO BLANCO

PIT

600

39 45' o

109 o 108 o 

39 o

109 o

108 30' o 107 30' o

 6 S

7 S

2 N

1 N

2 E

 5 S

 4 S

89 88 

 90 W

 89 W

 91

103 W 102 101 100 99 98 97 96 95 93 92

 94 93 92 91

104 W 103

 96 W 95

 97 W

100 W

1 W 1 E

3 W 2 W

1 S

 94

Figure 9. Isopach map showing the thickness of the Cameo-Fairfi eld coal group in the southern part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado. The coal group overli

and includes coal in the Cameo-Wheeler, South Canyon, and Coal Ridge coal zones, and coeval coal-bearing strata in the Crested Butte–West Elk Mountains 

coal group is about 4 to 1,400 ft thick.
(1936) and was traced eastward into the Cozzette Member in 

the study area by Kirschbaum and Hettinger (1998). The Chesterfi eld contains only one or two thin beds of coal that pinch 

out near East Salt Creek in T. 7 S., R. 102 W. (Kirschbaum 

and Hettinger, 1998). 

The Anchor coal zone, as defi ned by Young (1955), 

extends eastward from the State line and pinches out near 

Hunter Canyon (sec. 5, T. 9 S., R. 100 W.) (Kirschbaum and 

Hettinger, 1998). It includes coals that Erdmann (1934) previously mapped in the Anchor coal zone and as well as coals that 

he mapped in the Palisade coal zone in areas west of Big Salt 

Wash (sec. 12, T. 8 S., R. 102 W.). Where exposed, the Anchor 

coal zone is generally less than 60 ft thick (Young, 1955). 

Descriptions by Erdmann (1934) indicate that the Anchor contains several beds of coal that are generally less than 2 ft thick 

and one bed that is between 3.0 and 5.4 ft thick in T. 8 S., 

Rs. 101 and 102 W. The main coal is the Anchor coal bed as 

redefi ned by Young (1955, p. 190).

The Palisade coal zone, as defi ned by Young (1955), 

extends approximately 32 mi along the Book Cliffs from Big 

Salt Wash (sec. 12, T. 8. S, R. 102 W.) to the vicinity of the 

Colorado River. It includes coals that Erdmann (1934) previously mapped in the Palisade coal zone in areas east of Big 

Salt Wash. The Palisade coal zone is generally less than 40 

ft thick along the Book Cliffs, and descriptions by Erdmann 

(1934) indicate that it contains one to four coal beds that range 

from 1 to 6 ft in thickness; net-coal accumulations vary from 2 

to 10 ft. Laterally equivalent coals in the Black Diamond coal 

zone extend southeast along the Grand Hogback and pinch out 

near the town of New Castle (Collins, 1976). Johnson (1982) 

measured about 12 ft of net coal in a 60-ft-thick interval within 

the Corcoran Member at Rifl e Gap; the interval contains six 

coal beds that range from 1 to 6 ft in thickness. The main 

coal is the Palisade coal bed as redefi ned by Young (1955, p. 

190–191). 

Cameo-Fairfi eld Coal Group West of 

Long 107°15′W. (Cameo-Wheeler, South Canyon, 

and Coal Ridge Coal Zones)

Cameo-Wheeler Coal Zone

The Cameo-Wheeler coal zone, as used in this report, 

contains coal-bearing strata within an 100- to 450-ft-thick 

interval that overlies and intertongues with the Rollins Sandstone Member and laterally equivalent strata. The CameoWheeler is restricted to areas west of long 107°15′W. and 

is within the Mount Garfi eld Formation in the Book Cliffs 

coal fi eld, the coal-bearing member in the Grand Mesa and 

Somerset coal fi elds, and the lower part of the Bowie Shale 

Member in the Carbondale and Grand Hogback coal fi elds. 

The Cameo-Wheeler contains coal previously described in the 

Cameo and Carbonera coal zones (Erdmann, 1934), Fairfi eld 

coal zone (Collins, 1976), and Wheeler coal zone (Fender and 

Murray, 1978; Ellis and others, 1988).

The Cameo coal zone (fi gs. 6, 8) has been mapped in 

the Book Cliffs coal fi eld by Erdmann (1934), and he measured the coal zone at 46 localities. Surface measurements are 

limited because the coal zone is burned extensively burned 

along outcrop and is not accessible in many areas where it 

overlies shear cliffs of the Rollins Sandstone Member. Based 

on Erdmann’s measurements, the Cameo coal zone contains 

one to three coal beds in a 10- to 50-ft-thick interval; the coal 

beds are 1 to 15 ft thick and net coal is generally less than 16 

ft. The Cameo zone has only one or two thin beds of coal near 

the State line; elsewhere Erdmann recorded at least one coal 

bed that was more than 6 ft thick at each measured locality.

The Carbonera coal zone (fi gs. 6, 8) lies about 60 ft 

above the base of the Cameo coal zone and is exposed in the 

Book Cliffs coal fi eld near the State line in Tps. 6 and 7 S., 

Rs. 103 and 104 W. The Carbonera was mapped throughout 

the exposed area and measured at 19 localities by Erdmann 

(1934). Coal beds were reported to be lenticular and diffi cult 

to measure because the beds were commonly burned or were 

inaccessible due to cliffs formed in underlying strata (Erdmann, 1934). Measured sections by Erdmann demonstrate that 

the Carbonera coal zone is about 20 to 80 ft thick and has one 

to fi ve lenticular coal beds that generally range from 1 to 5 ft in 

thickness. Thicker coals were measured by Erdmann at several 

localities; these include two beds in sec. 31, T. 6 S., R. 103 W. 

that were about 7 and 13 ft thick, and two beds in secs. 3 and 

14, T. 7 S., R. 104 W. that were about 7 ft thick.

The Wheeler coal zone was named by Fender and Murray 

(1978) and used by Ellis and others (1988) to describe coalbearing strata in the lower part of the Bowie Shale Member 

along the Grand Hogback and Carbondale coal fi elds between 

Glenwood Springs and Coal Basin (fi gs. 6, 8). The coalbearing interval has also been referred to as the lower coal 

zone (Donnell, 1959, 1962; Kent and Arndt, 1980a, 1980b), 

the Fairfi eld coal group (Collins, 1976), and the Songer coalbearing unit (Madden, 1989). Collins (1976) correlated the 

coal-bearing interval to the lower part of the Fairfi eld coal 

group, which is about 30 mi northwest of the study area. The 

Wheeler coal zone is about 350 to 450 ft thick and contains 

at least 40 ft of net coal at Rifl e Gap (secs. 7 and 8, T. 5 

S., R. 92 W.); it thins to the southeast and contains less than 

10 ft of net coal in a 70-ft-thick interval a few mi south of 

Coal Basin (Ellis and others, 1988). This zone contains the 

most economically important coal beds in the Grand Hogback 

and Carbondale area (Collins, 1976). Signifi cant coal beds 

include the Wheeler, Coal Basin A and B, Diamond, Somerset, 

Pocahontas, Black Diamond, Bear, and A, B, C, and D (Ellis 

and others, 1988). However, attempts by Collins (1976) to 

correlate individual beds were unsuccessful as beds rapidly 

split and pinch out. The Wheeler bed is 30 ft thick at Rifl e Gap 

(Gale, 1910) and 50 ft thick in the New Castle area (Collins, 

1976). Twenty-seven mi southeast, near the Black Diamond 

mine (sec. 8, T. 7 S., R. 89 W.), the coal zone is about 200 ft 

thick and contains about 40 ft of net coal in fi ve coal beds that 

range from 4 to 15 ft in thickness; these include the A, B, C, 

Investigations of the Distribution and Resources of Coal in the Southern Part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado O21
D, and Pocahontas beds (Ellis and others, 1988). Still farther 

southeast at Coal Basin, the coal zone is about 50 to 65 ft thick 

and contains about 7 to 27 ft of net coal in one to three beds 

that range from 3 to 18 ft in thickness; these include the Coal 

Basin A, B (Somerset), and C (Bear) beds (Dunrud, 1989a; 

Ellis and others, 1988). The A and B beds merge into a single 

bed in sec. 5, T. 10 S., R. 89 W. that contains 27 ft of coal 

(Ellis and others, 1988).

Approximately 50 to 300 ft of coal-bearing strata overlie 

the Rollins Sandstone Member in the Grand Mesa and Somerset coal fi elds. This coal-bearing interval is included in the 

Cameo-Wheeler coal zone in this report. These coal-bearing 

strata were described by Lee (1912) and were included in the 

lower part of the coal-bearing member by Dunrud (1989a, 

b); they were traced westward to the Cameo coal zone by 

Erdmann (1934) and eastward to the Wheeler coal zone by 

Ellis and others (1988). Coal exploration holes reported by 

Eager (1978, 1979) show that the Cameo-Wheeler is about 

200 ft thick along the southern fl ank of Grand Mesa and has 

as many as 15 beds of coal that range from 1 to 30 ft in 

thickness; net-coal ranges from 15 to 65 ft and increases to the 

east. Farther east, drill-hole data reported by Dunrud (1989a, 

1989b), Johnson (1948), and Toenges and others (1949, 1952) 

show that the Cameo-Wheeler is about 250 ft thick a few miles 

north of the town of Paonia and contains as many as 10 beds 

of coal that range from 1 to 30 ft in thickness and has net-coal 

thickness values that range from 40 to 60 ft. Principal coals 

in the Somerset coal fi eld include the Old King Coal (A) bed, 

Somerset (B) bed, Bear (C) bed, and Orchard Valley (D) bed 

(Dunrud, 1989a, 1989b). Some coals have been intruded by 

mafi c sills and dikes in sec. 34, T. 11 S., R. 94 W. and secs. 4 

and 5, T. 13 S., R. 91 W. (Dunrud, 1989a, 1989b). The CameoWheeler thins to the east and is only 50 ft thick where it was 

drilled about 15 mi southeast of Paonia in sec. 35, T. 14 S., R. 

89 W.; at that location it contains only three beds of coal that 

range from 1 to 9 ft thick, and the net-coal thickness is only 

12 ft (Dunrud, 1989a).

South Canyon Coal Zone

The South Canyon coal zone (fi gs 6, 8), as used in 

this report, includes coal-bearing strata located west of long 

107°15′W. that overlie and intertongue with the middle sandstone in the Bowie Shale Member of the Williams Fork Formation (Carbondale and Grand Hogback coal fi elds) and laterally 

equivalent strata in the coal-bearing member of the Mesaverde 

Formation (Somerset coal fi eld). The coal zone was named 

by Ellis and others (1988) for South Canyon Creek near New 

Castle where the coals are best developed (Collins, 1976) and 

includes coals previously described in the South Canyon coal 

group (Collins, 1976), middle coal zone (Donnell, 1959, 1962; 

Kent and Arndt, 1980a, 1980b).

In outcrops along the Grand Hogback, the South Canyon 

coal zone is 10 to about 200 ft thick and contains one to six 

beds of coal that range from 1 to 20 ft in thickness. Coals in 

the South Canyon group are less continuous along the Grand 

Hogback than are those in the underlying Wheeler coal zone 

(Fairfi eld group) (Collins, 1976). The coal zone contains the 

Allen (Nu Gap No. 3 bed) and Anderson beds near New 

Castle; the Allen bed is as much as 14 ft thick (Collins, 1976). 

Madden (1989) measured two coal beds at Harvey Gap (sec. 

24, T. 5 S., R. 92 W.) that are 20 and 25 ft thick each; although 

Madden placed the coals into the Songer coal-bearing unit, 

our regional correlations show the coals are more likely to be 

in the South Canyon coal zone. At Coal Basin the coal zone 

contains the Dutch Creek bed, which varies from 3 to 20 ft 

in thickness (Collins, 1976; Dunrud, 1989a). The Dutch Creek 

was apparently referred to as the Huntsman coal bed by Ellis 

and others (1988) and extends for 10 mi from the northern 

part of Coal Basin south to sec. 5, T. 11 S., R. 88 W. near 

the Crystal River.

The South Canyon coal zone was extended into the subsurface by Ellis and others (1988) and the Dutch Creek bed 

was correlated from Coal Basin southwest to the Somerset coal 

fi eld by Dunrud (1989a). Our interpretations of drill-hole data 

by Dunrud (1989a), Johnson (1948), and Toenges and others 

(1949, 1952) indicate that the South Canyon is about 50 to 130 

ft thick in Tps. 12, 13, and 14 S., R. 90 W. and T. 13 S., R. 91 

W. near the town of Paonia. In those townships, the coal zone 

contains 15 to 35 ft of net coal in two to fi ve beds that are 1 

to 25 ft thick; important beds include the Oliver (D), and D-1, 

and D-2 coal beds (Dunrud 1989a). The laterally extensive 

Oliver bed is 6 to 30 ft thick and correlates to the Dutch Creek 

bed at Coal Basin (Dunrud 1989a). The D-1 and D-2 beds are 

2 to 13 ft thick and were described only in parts of T. 13 S., Rs. 

90 and 91 W. The South Canyon coal zone thins to the south 

and is less than 50 ft thick in Tps. 13 and 14 S., R. 89 W., and 

the coal zone also thins to the west and pinches out near sec. 

15, T. 13 S., R. 92 W.

Coal Ridge Coal Zone

The Coal Ridge coal zone is in the lower part of the 

Paonia Shale Member of the Williams Fork Formation in the 

Grand Hogback and Carbondale coal fi elds (fi gs. 6, 8). As used 

in this report, it includes coal-bearing strata located west of 

long 107°15′W. that overlie and intertongue with the upper 

sandstone in the Bowie Shale Member of the Williams Fork 

Formation. It includes equivalent strata in the coal-bearing 

member of the Mesaverde Formation in the Somerset coal 

fi eld. The Coal Ridge zone is located in approximately the 

same part of the study area as the underlying South Canyon 

coal zone. The coal zone was named by Ellis and others 

(1988) for Coal Ridge near New Castle where its coals are 

best developed. The zone includes coals previously described 

in the Coal Ridge coal group (Collins, 1976), and the upper 

coal zone (Donnell, 1959, 1962; Kent and Arndt, 1980a, 

1980b).

The Coal Ridge coal zone is about 100 to 350 ft thick 

in outcrops in the Grand Hogback and Carbondale coal fi elds 

and contains 2 to 10 beds of coal that range from 1 to 23 

ft in thickness (Collins, 1976; Ellis and others, 1988). The 

O22 Geologic Assessment of Coal in the Colorado Plateau: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah
coal zone contains (in ascending order) the Placita, Sunshine, 

Anderson, North Rim, Lake Ridge, and Thompson beds that 

were described by Gale (1910) and correlated and mapped by 

Ellis and others (1988). Coal beds in the Coal Ridge were 

considered to be less persistent than those in the underlying 

South Canyon and Wheeler coal zones (Collins, 1976; Ellis 

and others, 1988). The Placita and Sunshine beds are at the 

base of the coal zone. The Placita bed extends more than 10 

mi from Coal Basin south to the northwest fl ank of Chair 

Mountain in sec. 26, T. 11 S., R. 89 W; it averages about 5 

ft in thickness but is locally as much as 23 ft thick in the 

southern part of Coal Basin. The Sunshine bed is about 4 to 9 

ft thick and extends more than 13 mi from Coal Basin north 

to Fourmile Creek (sec. 33, T. 7 S., R. 89 W.). The Anderson 

coal bed varies from 4 to 14 ft in thickness; it is about 70 

ft above the base of the coal zone and extends 16 mi from 

North Thompson Creek (sec. 34, T. 8 S., R. 89 W.) northwest 

to South Canyon Creek (sec. 14, T. 6 S., R. 90 W.). The North 

Rim, Lake Ridge, and Thompson coal beds are in the middle 

and upper part of the Coal Ridge coal zone. They are lenticular 

beds that vary from 1 to 5 ft in thickness and are located 

between the northern part of Coal Basin and South Canyon 

Creek.

The Coal Ridge coal zone was extended into the subsurface by Ellis and others (1988), and the Placita coal bed was 

correlated from Coal Basin southwest to the Somerset coal 

fi eld by Dunrud (1989a). Our interpretations of drill-hole data 

by Dunrud (1989a), Johnson (1948), and Toenges and others 

(1949, 1952) indicate that the Coal Ridge coal zone is about 60 

to 160 ft thick in Tps. 13 and 14 S., R. 90 W. near the town 

of Paonia. In those townships, the coal zone contains 10 to 26 

ft of net coal in two to seven beds that are 1 to 10 ft thick; 

important beds include the Hawksnest (E) and E-2 coal beds 

(Dunrud 1989a). The laterally continuous Hawksnest (E) bed 

is about 5 to 10 ft thick and correlates to the Placita bed 

at Coal Basin (Dunrud 1989a). The coal zone thins to the 

southeast and is generally less than 50 ft thick in Tps. 13 and 

14 S., R. 89 W. It also thins to the west and pinches out near 

sec. 20, T. 13 S., R. 92 W. The E-2 bed is about 2 to 6 ft thick 

and was traced about 3 mi in the subsurface in T. 13 S., R. 92 

W. by Dunrud (1989a). 

Cameo-Fairfi eld Coal Group East of 

Long 107°15′W. in the Crested Butte Coal Field 

(Lower, Middle, and Upper Coal Zones)

The Cameo-Fairfi eld coal group is poorly exposed, 

steeply folded, and split and concealed by Tertiary intrusions 

in parts of the study area that are located east of long 

107°15′W. Because of the structural and stratigraphic complexities and paucity of data, we did not attempt to correlate 

coal zones in the southern part of the Carbondale (south of 

Coal Basin) and Crested Butte coal fi elds to those described 

west of long 107°15′W. Coal beds in the Mesaverde Formation 

were initially measured and described in the Crested Butte 

coal fi eld–West Elk Mountain region by Lee (1912), and the 

geology has been mapped in detail in various quadrangles by 

Hanks (1962), Gaskill and Godwin (1966a, 1966b), Godwin 

(1968), Gaskill and others (1967, 1986), and Gaskill and 

DeLong (1987). These geologic maps show that the Mesaverde 

Formation is generally covered, steeply inclined, displaced by 

numerous faults, and intruded by multiple sills, dikes, and 

laccoliths throughout the West Elk Mountains. Coal beds in the 

Mesaverde Formation underlie parts of the Mt. Carbon, Mt. 

Axtell, and Anthracite Range laccoliths (Gaskill and others, 

1987); the Whetstone Mountain laccolith (Gaskill and others, 

1986); Raspberry Creek phacolith and Snowmass stock (Gaskill and Godwin, 1966a); and igneous intrusions that form 

East Beckwith Mountain and West Beckwith Peak (Lee, 1912). 

The Mesaverde Formation contains coal in three zones in the 

Crested Butte coal fi eld, which we informally refer to as the 

lower, middle, and upper coal zones (fi gs. 6, 8; table 2). Coal 

in the lower zone is in the Bowie Shale Member, and coal in 

the middle and upper zones are in the Paonia Shale Member of 

the Mesaverde Formation. 

Lower Coal Zone

The lower coal zone overlies a basal marine sandstone 

(Kmva) that was considered to be equivalent to the Rollins 

Sandstone Member by Gaskill and Godwin (1966a, 1966b), 

Godwin (1968), Gaskill and others (1967, 1986), and Gaskill 

and DeLong (1987). The lower coal zone contains only one 

or two beds of coal that were measured locally along outcrops 

in the West Elk Mountains. The coal beds are as thick as 1.6 

and 3.2 ft in sec. 25, T. 11 S., R. 89 W. in the Chair Mountain 

quadrangle (Godwin, 1968) and 0 to 4 ft thick in sec. 9, T. 

15 S., R. 86 W. in the Mt. Axtell quadrangle (Gaskill and 

others, 1987); the beds thin and pinch out a few miles east of 

those localities. The only important coal is the A bed, which is 

located in T. 15 S., R. 86 W. in the Mt. Axtell quadrangle; the 

A bed is 0 to 4.0 ft thick. 

Middle Coal Zone

The middle coal zone overlies a second marine sandstone 

(Kmvb) that is about 100 to 200 ft stratigraphically above 

the basal Kmva sandstone (Rollins Sandstone Member equivalent). The Kmvb sandstone was previously mapped as the Rollins Sandstone by Lee (1912). The middle coal zone contains 

two to six beds of coal that are generally between 1 and 25 ft 

thick. Coal beds in the middle zone thicken to the southeast, 

and four beds were described near the town of Crested Butte; 

these include bed I (1.5 to 6.5 ft thick), II (5.0 to 10.0 ft thick), 

III (2.0 to 25.0 ft thick), and IV (0 to 6.0 ft thick) (Gaskill and 

others, 1986). Other important beds in the middle zone include 

the B bed, which is 5.6 to 8.6 ft thick in the Ohio Creek district 

(Gaskill and others, 1987) and several unnamed beds that were 

mined on Anthracite Mesa (T. 13 S., R. 86 W.) (Gaskill and 

others, 1967). 

Investigations of the Distribution and Resources of Coal in the Southern Part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado O23
Upper Coal Zone

The upper zone contains several lenticular coal beds in 

the Mt. Axtell quadrangle; important coal beds include the C 

bed, which is about 5 to 6 ft thick in the southeastern part of 

the quadrangle, and an anthracite bed which is 3.5 to 4.5 ft 

thick in the northeastern part of the quadrangle (Gaskill and 

others, 1987). The upper coal zone is located about 300 ft 

stratigraphically above the Rollins Sandstone Member equivalent and is described only in the Mt. Axtell quadrangle.

Subsurface Distribution of Coal in the 

Cameo-Fairfi eld Coal Group

The distribution of coal in the Cameo-Fairfi eld coal group 

is demonstrated by a series of isopach maps that show the 

thickness and net coal of the Cameo-Fairfi eld coal group and 

for each coal zone in the group. The isopach maps were 

constructed using data from 627 drill holes and measured 

sections, which are identifi ed in Appendix 1 and located on 

fi gure A on plate 1. Criteria used to determine coal thicknesses 

is provided in the Methods section of this report. Net-coal 

thickness maps were made for specifi ed stratigraphic intervals 

by summing the thickness of coal at each data point and 

contouring the summed values. The distribution of coal is 

also demonstrated on a correlation diagram shown on cross 

section A-A′ (fi g. C on pl. 1). Cross section A-A′ is oriented 

approximately perpendicular to paleoshorelines of the Cretaceous Western Interior Seaway and extends about 115 mi 

southeastward from near the Colorado-Utah State line to Coal 

Basin located along the eastern margin of the Piceance Basin 

in T. 10 S., R. 89 W. (fi g. C on pl. 1). Stratigraphic sections by 

Kirschbaum and Hettinger (1998) were used for stratigraphic 

control in the Book Cliffs area, and a section described by 

Collins (1976) was used for stratigraphic control in the Coal 

Basin area. The datum used for most of the cross section is 

a bentonite bed located near the base of a tongue of Mancos 

Shale that is located between the Cozzette Sandstone and Rollins Sandstone Members. The bentonite extends westward to 

the maximum transgression of the Rollins Sandstone Member 

and is interpreted to refl ect the surface of maximum marine 

fl ooding.

Correlations shown on cross section A-A′ indicate that the 

top of the Rollins Sandstone Member is about 80 ft above the 

datum at locality 94 (fi g. C on pl. 1) and nearly 800 ft above 

the datum at locality 525 (fi g. C on pl. 1) and therefore has 

a stratigraphic rise of about 720 ft to the southeast across a 

distance of 87 mi. Thick coal beds at the base of the CameoWheeler coal zone pinch out to the southeast into successively 

higher shoreface wedges of the Rollins Sandstone Member; 

the same thick beds of coal thin and pinch out to the northwest 

and are represented by thin coal beds in the upper part of the 

Cameo-Wheeler coal zone.

The Cameo-Fairfi eld group has one to 26 beds of coal that 

are distributed throughout a stratigraphic interval that varies 

from about 4 to 1,400 ft thick (fi g. 9). The coal group is 1,000 

to 1,400 ft thick in the northeastern part of the study area 

where the Cameo-Wheeler, South Canyon, and Coal Ridge 

coal zones are separated by thick clastic wedges of shoreface 

sandstone and mudrock. The coal group thins as the South 

Canyon and Coal Ridge coal zones and shoreface wedges 

pinch out to the southwest and is less than 400 ft thick in the 

western half of the study area. The coal group also thins to the 

southeast and is less than 400 ft thick in the Paonia area and 

less than 200 ft thick in the Crested Butte area.

The Cameo-Fairfi eld coal group has as much as 140 ft 

of net coal in beds that are greater than 1 ft thick (fi g. 10). 

Net-coal thicknesses exceed 70 ft in a 15- to 30-mi-wide 

beltway that extends about N. 15° W. across the eastern part 

of the study area. The beltway is approximately parallel to 

paleoshorelines of the Cretaceous seaway and occurs in the 

area where the Cameo-Wheeler, South Canyon, and Coal 

Ridge coal zones are all well developed. Net-coal thicknesses 

decrease to less than 60 ft in the western part of the study 

area where only the Cameo-Wheeler coal zone is present. The 

net-coal accumulation also decreases rapidly to the southeast 

and is generally less than 50 ft thick in the Coal Basin and 

West Elk Mountains.

Cameo-Wheeler Coal Zone

The Cameo-Wheeler coal zone underlies approximately 

3,880 mi2 of the study area in areas west of long 107°15′W.; 

it is generally 100 to 450 ft thick but thins to less than 50 

ft near outcrops in the Book Cliffs area and it pinches out 

beneath the West Elk Mountains (fi gs. 2B and 11). The CameoWheeler contains from 1 to 87 ft of net coal (fi g. 12) in 1 to 

21 beds that range from 1 to 44 ft in thickness. The maximum 

accumulation of net coal is located in T. 6 S., R. 94 W., about 

12 mi southwest from the Grand Hogback (fi gs. 2B and 12). 

Net coal thickness exceeds 50 ft in an approximate 1,000-mi2

area located in the central part of the study area and is less than 

30 ft throughout much of the western and southeastern part of 

the study area. Coal beds are generally thinner in the upper 

part of the coal zone. The thinner beds may extend eastward 

into thicker coals that are in the lower part of the coal zone. 

The relative change in stratigraphic position is the result of the 

stratigraphic rise of the eastwardly prograding shoreline.

A series of isopach maps show the distribution of net 

coal in the Cameo-Wheeler coal zone and net coal in bedthickness categories that range from 1–2.3, 2.3–3.5, 3.5–7, 

7–14, and greater than 14 ft in thickness (fi gs. 13, 14, 15, 16, 

and 17, respectively). The net coal and number of beds in each 

category are shown for each data point in Appendix 1. Coal 

beds less than 7.0 ft thick are widely distributed throughout the 

study area and account for a signifi cant portion of the net coal 

in the western part of the study area (fi gs. 13, 14, and 15). As 

much as 34 ft of net coal is in as many as 16 beds that are 

less than or equal to 3.5 ft thick, and as much as 29 ft of net 

O24 Geologic Assessment of Coal in the Colorado Plateau: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah
● Drill hole

▼ Measured section

Outcrop of Cameo-Fairfield coal group

Tertiary laccolith or stock

Thickness of net coal (in ft) in the Cameo-Fairfield coal group: no coal 50-100 100-140 1- 50

100 Isoline showing thickness (in ft) of net coal in the 

Cameo-Fairfield coal group; contour interval is 25 ft

10 0 10 Miles

25

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125

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25

DELTA

MESA 

GARFIELD

RIO BLANCO

PIT

39 ̊45'

109 ̊ 108 ̊ 

39 ̊ 

109 ̊

108 ̊30' 107 ̊30'

 6 S

7 S

2 N

1 N

2 E

 5 S

 4 S

89 88 

 90 W

 89 W

 91

103 W 102 101 100 99 98 97 96 95 93 92

 94 93 92 91

104 W 103

 96 W 95

 97 W

100 W

1 W 1 E

3 W 2 W

1 S

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Figure 10. Isopach map of net coal in the Cameo-Fairfi eld coal group in the southern part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado. Net-coal values represent all bed

ft thick and are determined from 627 data points listed in Appendix 1; data points are identifi ed on fi gure A of plate 1.
39 ̊45'

109 ̊ 108 ̊

39 ̊

109 ̊

108 ̊30' 107 ̊30' 10

300 Isoline showing thickness (in ft) of Cameo-Wheeler coal zone

Boundary of Cameo-Wheeler coal zone

0-100 100-200 200-300 300-400 400-500 > 500

● Data point

Area of coal zone thickness (in ft):

Tertiary laccolith or stock

10 0 10 Miles

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DELTA

MESA 

RIO BLANCO

GUNNISON

PIT

GARFIELD

 6 S

7 S

2 N

1 N

2 E

 5 S

 4 S

89 

 90 W

 89 W

 91

103 W 102 101 100 99 98 97 96 95 93 92

 94 93 92 91

104 W 103

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100 W

1 W 1 E

3 W 2 W

1 S

 94

500

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100

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100

100

100

100

400

Figure 11. Isopach map showing thickness of Cameo-Wheeler coal zone. Thickness is based on 627 data points identifi ed on fi gure A of plate 1 and in Appe
● Data point

Tertiary laccolith or stock

Range of net coal thickness (in ft): 1-20 20-40 40-60 60-80 80-90

40 Isoline showing net thickness (in ft) of coal beds greater than 1 ft thick in the Cameo-Wheeler coal zone. Contour interval is 10 ft

Boundary of Cameo-Wheeler coal zone

10 0 10

Miles

30

40

10

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10

30 2020

20

40 40

50

60

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50 40

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DELTA

MESA 

GARFIELD

RIO BLANCO

GUNNISON

PIT

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 6 S

7 S

2 N

1 N

2 E

 5 S

 4 S

89 

 90 W

 89 W

 91

103 W 102 101 100 99 98 97 96 95 93 92

 94 93 92 91

104 W 103

 96 W 95

 97 W

100 W

1 W 1 E

3 W 2 W

1 S

 94

39 ̊45'

109 ̊ 108 ̊ 

39 ̊

109 ̊

108 ̊30' 107 ̊30' 107 ̊

Figure 12. Isopach map of net coal in the Cameo-Wheeler coal zone in the southern part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado. Net coal values represent all coa

thick and are determined from 627 data points that are identifi ed on fi gure A of plate 1 and in Appendix 1.
Tertiary intrusive

● Data point

Range of net coal thickness (in ft) for beds that are 1.0 to 2.3 ft thick: no coal 1-5 5-10 10-15 15-20 20-25

10 Isoline showing thickness of net coal in bed thickness category. Contour interval is 5 ft; the 1-ft isoline line is also shown

Boundary of Cameo-Wheeler coal zone

10 0 10

Miles

10

10

5

10

5

5

1

1

1

1

1

1 1

1

1

1

1

1

1 1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1 1

1 1

1 1

1

1

5

1

5 5

5

5

5 5

5

5

5

5

5 5

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5

5

5 5

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5

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5 5

5

5 5

10

15 10

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15

10 15

15

20

15

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15

10

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10 10

5 1

5

5

5

5

5 5

10

15

DELTA

MESA 

RIO BLANCO

GUNNISON

PIT

GARFIELD

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39 45' o

109 o 108 o

39 o

109 o

108 30' o 107 30' o 107 

 6 S

7 S

2 N

1 N

2 E

 5 S

 4 S

89 

 90 W

 89 W

 91

103 W 102 101 100 99 98 97 96 95 93 92

 94 93 92 91

104 W 103

 96 W 95

 97 W

100 W

1 W 1 E

3 W 2 W

1 S

 94

Figure 13. Isopach map showing distribution of net coal in beds that are 1.0–2.3 ft thick in the Cameo-Wheeler coal zone in the southern part of the Piceanc
Tertiary intrusive

● Data point

Range of net coal thickness (in ft) for beds that are 2.3 to 3.5 ft thick: no coal 2.3-5 5-10 10-15 15-20 

Boundary of Cameo-Wheeler coal zone

10 Isoline showing thickness of net coal in bed thickness category. Contour interval is 5 ft; the 2.3-ft isoline is also shown

10 0 10 Miles

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15

15

10

10

10

10

2.3

2.3

2.3

2.3

2.3

5 2.3

5

5

5

5

5 5

5

5

5

2.3

2.3

5

2.3

2.3

5

2.3 5

5 10

10

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5 5

5

2.3

2.3

5

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2.3 5 5

10

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5

2.3

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10

5

5

10

2.3

2.3

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10 10 10 10

2.3

10

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5

5

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5 5

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15

10

5

10

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2.3 5

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2.3

2.3

DELTA

MESA 

RIO BLANCO

GUNNISON

PITK

GARFIELD

39 ̊45'

109 ̊ 108 ̊

39 ̊

109 ̊

108 ̊30' 107 ̊30' 107 ̊

 6 S

7 S

2 N

1 N

2 E

 5 S

 4 S

89 

 90 W

 89 W

 91

103 W 102 101 100 99 98 97 96 95 93 92

 94 93 92 91

104 W 103

 96 W 95

 97 W

100 W

1 W 1 E

3 W 2 W

1 S

 94

10

Figure 14. Isopach map showing distribution of net coal in beds that are 2.3–3.5 ft thick in the Cameo-Wheeler coal zone in the southern part of the Piceanc
Tertiary intrusive

● Data point

Range of net coal thickness for beds that are 3.5 to 7.0 ft thick:

10 Isoline showing thickness of net coal in bed thickness category. Contour interval is 10 ft; the 3.5-ft isoline is also shown

Boundary of Cameo-Wheeler coal zone

no coal 3.5-10 10-20 20-30 30-40

10 0 10 Miles

30

20

20

20

20

20

20

20

20 3.5

3.5

3.5

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20 20

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DELTA

MESA 

GARFIELD

RIO BLANCO

GUN

PIT

 6 S

7 S

 5 S

 4 S

 90 W

 89 W

 91

103 W 102 101 100 99 98 97 96 95 94 93 92

2 N

1 N

2 E

104 W 103

100 W

1 W 1 E

3 W 2 W

1 S

89 

 96 W 95 94 93 92 91

 97 W

39 ̊45'

109 ̊ 108 ̊ 

39 ̊

109 ̊

108 ̊30' 107 ̊30' 107

Figure 15. Isopach map showing distribution of net coal in beds that are 3.5–7.0 ft thick in the Cameo-Wheeler coal zone in the southern part of the Piceanc
Data point

Tertiary intrusive

Range of net coal thickness for beds that are 7.0 to 14.0 ft thick: no coal 20-40 7-20 40-60 60-70 

Boundary of Cameo-Wheeler coal zone

10 Isoline showing thickness of net coal in bed-thickness category. Contour interval is 10 ft; the 7.0-ft isoline is also shown

10 0 10 Miles

50

50

50

60

40

40

40

40

40

40

30

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30

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30 30

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20

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20

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20

10

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7

7

7 7

7 7

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7

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10

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10

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7

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10

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10

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 6 S

7 S

2 N

1 N

2 E

 5 S

 4 S

89 

 90 W

 89 W

 91

103 W 102 101 100 99 98 97 96 95 93 92

 94 93 92 91

104 W 103

 96 W 95

 97 W

100 W

1 W 1 E

3 W 2 W

1 S

 94

DELTA

MESA 

RIO 

BLANCO

GUNNISON

PITK

GARFIELD

108 ̊

39 ̊

109 ̊

107 ̊30' 107 ̊

39 ̊45'

109 ̊ 108 ̊30'

Figure 16. Isopach map showing distribution of net coal in beds that are 7.0–14.0 ft thick in the Cameo-Wheeler coal zone in the southern part of the Picean

points with less than 7 ft of net coal in this bed-thickness category are not shown.
● Data point

Tertiary intrusive

10 0 10 Miles

Range of net coal thickness (in ft) for beds that are more than 14 ft thick: no coal 14-30 30-45 45-60 60-75 75-90

Boundary of Cameo-Wheeler coal zone

10 Isoline showing thickness of net coal in bed-thickness category. Contour interval is 15 ft; the 14.0-ft isoline is also shown

75

60

60

60

60

45 45

45

45

45

45 45

45

45

45 45

45

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

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30

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15 14

15

15

14

15

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39 ̊45'

109 ̊ 108 ̊30'

39 ̊

109 ̊ DELTA

MESA 

RIO BLANCO

GUNNISON

PITKI

GARFIELD

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Figure 17. Isopach map showing distribution of net coal in beds that are more than 14 ft thick in the Cameo-Wheeler coal zone in the southern part of the P

maximun net-coal thickness is 77 ft. Data points with less than 14 ft of net coal in this bed-thickness category are not shown.
0-100

100-200

200-300

300- 330

● Data point

Tertiary intrusive

outcrop of Rollins 

Sandstone Member

outcrop of top of Rollins 

Sandstone Member

outcrop of base 

of South Canyon 

coal zone

107 ̊15' 

longitudinal

line

northern boundary 

of study area

western edge

of South Canyon 

coal zone

outcrop of base of 

South Canyon coal zone

100

Isoline showing 

thickness of coal zone. 

Contour interval is 100 

ft

Outcrop of base of 

South Canyon coal 

zone

Range of thickness (in ft) of the 

South Canyon coal zone:

10 0 10 Miles

0 0

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89 88

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 95 94 93 92

95 94 93 92 91

108 ̊

39 ̊

107 ̊

107 ̊30' 107 ̊15' 107 ̊

109 ̊ 107 ̊ 39 ̊45' 

39 ̊

Location of South Canyon coal zone 

(green area) in the southern part of 

the Piceance Basin, Colorado.

20 Miles

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Figure 18. Isopach map showing thickness of the South Canyon coal zone. Data points are identifi ed on fi gure A of plate 1 and in Appendix 1.

Investigations of the Distribution and Resources of Coal in the Southern Part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado O33
1-10

10-20

20-30

30- 40

40- 50

● Data point

Tertiary intrusive

107 ̊15' 

longitudinal line

outcrop of top of Rollins 

Sandstone Member

outcrop of top of Rollins 

Sandstone Member

outcrop of base of South 

Canyon coal zone

northern boundary 

of study area

Range of thickness (in ft) of net coal 

in the South Canyon coal zone:

Outcrop of South Canyon 

coal zone

10

Isoline showing thickness 

of net coal. Contour interval 

is 10 ft; 1-ft contour is also 

shown

109 ̊ 107 ̊ 39 ̊45' 

39 ̊

Location of South Canyon coal zone 

(green area) in the southern part of 

the Piceance Basin, Colorado.

10 0 10 Miles

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 6 S

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 5 S

 4 S

89 88 W

 91 90 W

 89 W

 95 94 93 92

95 94 93 92 91

108 ̊ 107 ̊30' 107 ̊15' 107 ̊

39 ̊

107 ̊

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Figure 19. Isopach map of net coal in the South Canyon coal zone. Net-coal values represent all coal beds that are more than 1 ft thick. Data 

points are identifi ed on fi gure A of plate 1 and in Appendix 1.

O34 Geologic Assessment of Coal in the Colorado Plateau: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah
coal is in as many as six beds that are between 3.5 to 7.0 ft 

thick. Coal beds that are between 7 and 14 ft thick are also 

widely distributed but are absent in many areas in the western 

and eastern parts of the study area (fi g. 16). As much as 64 ft 

of net coal is contained in six beds that are between 7.0 and 

14.0 ft thick (fi g. 16). Coal beds more than 14 ft thick are 

concentrated in an irregularly shaped 6- to 16-mi-wide beltway 

that extends north-south across the eastern part of the study 

area (fi g. 17). The beltway contains 14 to 77 ft of net coal in 

one to three beds that are 14 to 44 ft thick. Several isolated 

pods in the central and western part of the study area also 

contain 14 to 35 ft of net coal in beds that are 14 to 35 ft 

thick (fi g. 17).

South Canyon Coal Zone

The South Canyon coal zone underlies approximately 

1,500 mi2 in the eastern part of the study area and pinches out 

to the west along a sinuous line that trends N. 20° W. from sec. 

22, T. 13 S., R. 92 W. to sec. 10, T. 4 S., R. 95 W. (fi g. 18). The 

South Canyon zone is 0 to 330 ft thick (fi g. 18) and contains 

1 to 48 ft of net coal (fi g. 19) in 1 to 11 beds that range from 

1 to 29 ft thick. The coal zone is more than 100 ft thick and 

contains 20 to 48 ft of net coal in a 6- to 20-mi-wide area that 

extends about N. 15° W. through the central part of the region 

where the zone occurs.

Coal Ridge Coal Zone

The Coal Ridge coal zone underlies 1,520 mi2 in the 

eastern part of the study area and occupies approximately the 

same region as the underlying South Canyon coal zone (fi g. 

20). The Coal Ridge is 200 to 500 ft thick along the Grand 

Hogback and Coal Basin area (fi g. 20), and the zone is less 

than 100 ft thick throughout most of its western half. The coal 

zone pinches out along a line that trends N. 20° W. from sec. 

27, T. 13 S., R. 92 W. to sec. 9, T. 4 S., R. 95 W. (fi g. 20). 

The thickness of the Coal Ridge varies considerably due to 

the lenticular nature of coal beds within the zone. The zone 

contains 1 to 44 ft of net coal (fi g. 21) in 1 to 14 beds that 

range from 1 to 23 ft thick. The Coal Ridge coal zone generally has less than 10 ft of net coal, but the net coal exceeds 

20 ft along the steeply dipping limb of the Grand Hogback 

monocline and in small pods located south of Coal Basin (sec. 

10, T. 10 S., R. 89 W.) and northeast of Paonia (secs. 2 and 

3, T. 13 S., R. 89 W.).

Coal in the Cameo-Fairfi eld Coal Group East 

of Long 107°15′W.

The Cameo-Fairfi eld coal group underlies about 260 mi2

in areas located east of long 107°15′W. (fi g. 22). The coal 

group is about 800 to 1,000 ft thick in the northern and western 

part of the area but thins to the southeast and is only about 

200 to 250 ft thick near the town of Crested Butte (fi gs. 2 

and 9). Coal-bed distribution in this region is largely unknown 

owing to the paucity of outcrop and drill-hole data. Based on 

available data, the Cameo-Fairfi eld coal group has 1 to 30 ft 

of net coal in one to fi ve beds east long 107°15′W. (fi g. 22), 

and the beds range from 1 to 25 ft in thickness. As previously 

stated, throughout much of the area the coal is buried beneath 

numerous sills and laccoliths and is steeply folded and faulted.

Coal Quality

Coal in the southern part of the Piceance Basin varies 

from subbituminous A to anthracite in apparent rank (Hornbaker and others, 1976). Coal with coking properties has been 

identifi ed in the eastern part of the Somerset coal fi eld, southern part of the Carbondale coal fi eld, and in the Crested Butte 

coal fi eld (Hornbaker and others, 1976; Murray and others, 

1977). The coal’s apparent rank increases toward the trough 

of the basin (Johnson, 1989a), owing to depth of burial and 

heating from intrusions (Hornbaker and others, 1976). The 

apparent rank of coal along the basin’s southern fl ank is subbituminous A to high-volatile B bituminous and generally 

increases to the southeast. Some beds in the Crested Butte area 

have been metamorphosed to low-volatile bituminous coal, 

semianthracite, and anthracite. The apparent rank of coal along 

the basin’s eastern fl ank also increases to the southeast and 

ranges from high-volatile C bituminous to medium-volatile 

bituminous; some coal in Coal Basin and Crested Butte areas 

has been metamorphosed to semianthracite and anthracite.

Ash, sulfur, and calorifi c values have been summarized 

for prominent coal fi elds in the Piceance Basin by Hornbaker 

and others (1976), Murray and others (1977), and Tremain 

and others (1996) (Appendix 2). We have also summarized 

ash, sulfur, and calorifi c values from the southern Piceance 

Basin that were compiled from the U.S. Geological Survey 

USCHEM database by R.H. Affolter (written commun., 1998) 

(Appendix 2). Additional coal-quality data were also reported 

by Toenges and others (1949, 1952) for cores of coal retrieved 

from 25 holes drilled in the eastern part of the Somerset coal 

fi eld (Appendix 2). A synthesis of these data shows that coal 

in the southern part of the Piceance Basin has an ash yield 

ranging from 1.9 to 29.9 percent, sulfur content from 0.3 to 3.2 

percent, and calorifi c values of 8,160–15,190 Btu/lb (table 3). 

Ash yield, sulfur content, and calorifi c values are summarized 

by coal fi eld in table 4 and by coal zone in table 5. Calorifi c 

values of some coal beds exceed 14,000 Btu/lb in the southern 

part of the Carbondale coal fi eld, eastern part of the Somerset 

coal fi eld, and in the Crested Butte coal fi eld. Additional tables 

in Appendix 2 provide ranges of ash yield, sulfur content, 

and calorifi c values for each coal zone within the various coal 

fi elds in the southern part of the Piceance Basin.

Investigations of the Distribution and Resources of Coal in the Southern Part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado O35
10 0 10 Miles

● Data point

Tertiary intrusive

Range in thickness (in ft) of the

 Coal Ridge coal zone:

107 ̊15' 

longitudinal line

outcrop of top of Rollins 

Sandstone Member

outcrop of top of 

Rollins Sandstone Member

outcrop of base of 

Coal Ridge coal zone

northern boundary 

of study area

0-200

200-400

400-600

western edge

of Coal Ridge 

coal zone

100

Isoline showing 

thickness of Coal Ridge 

coal zone. Contour 

interval is 100 ft

Outcrop of base of Coal 

Ridge coal zone

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 91 90 W

 89 W

 95 94 93 92

109 ̊ 107 ̊ 39 ̊45' 

39 ̊ 

Location of Coal Ridge coal zone 

(green area) in the southern part of 

the Piceance Basin, Colorado.

108 ̊ 107 ̊30' 107 ̊15' 107 ̊

39 ̊ 

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Figure 20. Isopach map showing thickness of the Coal Ridge coal zone. Data points are identifi ed on fi gure A of plate 1 and in Appendix 1.

O36 Geologic Assessment of Coal in the Colorado Plateau: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah
Isoline showing thickness of 

net coal. Contour interval is 

10 ft; the 1-ft contour is also 

shown

10

● Data point

Tertiary intrusive

Range of thickness (in ft) of net 

coal in the Coal Ridge coal zone:

107 ̊15' 

longitudinal line

outcrop of top of Rollins 

Sandstone Member

outcrop of top of Rollins 

Sandstone Member

outcrop of base of Coal 

Ridge coal zone

northern boundary 

of study area

no coal

1-10

10-20

20-30

30-40

40-50

Outcrop of base of Coal 

Ridge coal zone

109 ̊ 107 ̊ 39 ̊45' 

39 ̊

Location of Coal Ridge coal zone 

(green area) in the southern part of 

the Piceance Basin, Colorado.

10 0 10 Miles

108 ̊ 107 ̊30' 107 ̊15' 107 ̊

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Figure 21. Isopach map of net coal in the Coal Ridge coal zone. Net-coal values represent all coal beds that are more than 1 ft thick. Data 

points are identifi ed on fi gure A of plate 1 and in Appendix 1.

Investigations of the Distribution and Resources of Coal in the Southern Part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado O37
● Data point

Tertiary intrusive

1-10

no coal

10-20

20-30

30-35

Range of net coal (in ft): 

Isoline showing thickness of net coal. 

Contour interval is 5 ft; the 1-ft isoline is 

also shown 

10

Outcrop of base of Cameo-Fairfield coal 

group east of long 107 ̊15' W.

10 0 10

Miles

109 ̊ 107 ̊ 39 ̊45' 

39 ̊

Location of Cameo-Fairfield coal group east of 

long 107 ̊15' W. (green area) in the southern part of 

the Piceance Basin, Colorado.

38 ̊45' 

39 ̊

107 ̊

107 ̊15' 

10

5

5 1

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13 S

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88 W 87 W 86 W

Beveled edge of 

Mesaverde Formation

627

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Figure 22. Isopach map of net coal in the Cameo-Fairfi eld coal group east of long 107°15′W. in the Piceance Basin, 

Colorado. Net-coal values represent all coal beds that are more than 1 ft thick. Data points are identifi ed in fi gure A of 

plate 1 and in Appendix 1.

Table 3. Range of ash yield, sulfur content, and calorific values for coal in the Mesaverde Group and 

Mesaverde Formation in the southern part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado, reported by various authors. 

[The range of values are based on summaries of proximate and ultimate analyses by Toenges and others (1949, 1952), Hornbaker and 

others (1976), Murray and others (1977), Tremain and others (1996), and values in the U.S. Geological Survey USCHEM database 

provided by R.H. Affolter (written commun., 1998)] 

Source of data Ash (%) Sulfur (%) Btu/lb 

U.S. Geological Survey USCHEM database 2.7-29.9 0.3-2.2 8,300-15,090 

Tremain and others (1996) 2.1-23.3 0.3-2.2 8,300-15,190 

Murray and others (1977) 3.1-14.1 0.4-1.7 10,170-14,680 

Hornbaker and others (1976) 1.9-17.4 0.3-2.1 8,160-15,190 

Toenges and others (1949, 1952) (Somerset coal field) 2.4-19.6 0.3-3.2 10,230-14,380 

O38 Geologic Assessment of Coal in the Colorado Plateau: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah
Coal Resources

The southern part of the Piceance Basin has an original 

resource of 120 billion short tons of coal in the CameoFairfi eld coal group. That resource number was calculated for 

all beds of coal that are greater than 1 ft thick and under less 

than 6,000 ft of overburden; the beds are distributed across a 

2,930-mi2 area. The resource does not include coal that might 

be folded over the fl anks of laccoliths or buried beneath laccoliths that are located in the region. The Cameo-Fairfi eld group 

contains an additional 100 billion short tons of non-resource 

coal that is covered by 6,000 to 14,000 ft of overburden; 

those deeper beds are distributed across a 1,210-mi2 area in 

the basin’s central region. Coal beds deeper than 6,000 ft are 

not considered to be a resource using criteria of Wood and 

others (1983, p. 30). Speltz (1976) reported that the southern 

Piceance Basin does not have any signifi cant coal deposits 

that are susceptible to strip mining, and, although underground 

mining is the most likely method for extracting coal in the 

southern part of the Piceance Basin, much of the coal is too 

deep or too thin to be economically mined in the foreseeable 

future.

Resources of the Cameo-Fairfi eld group are distributed 

throughout the Cameo-Wheeler, South Canyon, Coal Ridge 

coal zones (located west of long 107°15′W.) and the lower, 

middle, and upper coal zones (located east of long 107°15′W.). 

Resources in the Cameo-Wheeler, South Canyon, and Coal 

Ridge coal zones are reported by overburden and reliability 

categories, and by county in tables 6, 7, and 8; and by 7.5′

quadrangle, township, and areas of land and coal ownership in 

Appendix 3. For the area east of long 107°15′W., the resources 

of the lower, middle, and upper coal zones are combined 

and reported by overburden and reliability categories and by 

county in table 9; and by 7.5′ quadrangle, township, and areas 

of land ownership in Appendix 3. Townships, 7.5′ quadrangles, 

and areas of land and coal ownership are shown in fi gures 

provided in Appendix 4.

Methods used to determine overburden, reliability, and 

coal resources are based on Wood and others (1983). The 

methodology is described in the Methods section of this report 

and in chapter C of this CD-ROM; specifi c details are summarized below:

 1. Original resources represent coal that was in the 

ground prior to production. Resource fi gures do not 

indicate the amount of coal that can be economically 

mined. Reported resources are rounded to two signifi -

cant fi gures; some categories in the resource tables 

do not equal the sum of their components because of 

independent rounding.

 2. Resources were calculated by multiplying the volume 

of coal by the average density of coal. The volume 

of coal in the Cameo-Fairfi eld group is the product of 

its net-coal thickness and areal distribution as shown 

Table 4. Range of ash yield, sulfur content, and calorific 

values in the Mesaverde Group and Mesaverde Formation for 

coal fields in the southern part of the Piceance Basin, 

Colorado. 

[Values are based on ranges of proximate and ultimate analyses summarized 

by Hornbaker and others (1976), Murray and others (1977), Tremain and 

others (1996), values in the U.S. Geological Survey USCHEM database 

provided by R.H. Affolter (written commun., 1998), and include values 

summarized by Toenges and others (1949, 1952) for the Somerset coal field. 

Coal from the C.M.C. mine has an ash yield of 23.3 percent and was included 

in the Book Cliffs coal field by Tremain and others (1996); we included that 

ash value in the Grand Mesa coal field because the C.M.C mine was located 

on the east bank of the Colorado River and is in the Grand Mesa coal field as 

defined by Landis (1959)]

Coal field Ash (%) Sulfur (%) Btu/lb 

Book Cliffs 4.9-23.3 0.4-1.7 9,830-13,560 

Grand Mesa 2.1-23.3 0.4-2.2 8,300-13,490 

Somerset 2.4-29.9 0.3-3.2 8,160-14,380 

Crested Butte 3.2-9.1 0.4-1.9 11,080-14,440 

Carbondale 1.9-16.2 0.3-2.1 10,160-15,190 

Grand Hogback 3.1-11.3 0.3-0.9 11,020-13,270 

Table 5. Range of ash yield, sulfur content, and calorific values for coal zones in the Mesaverde Group and 

Mesaverde Formation in the southern part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado. 

[Values are based on ranges of proximate and ultimate analyses summarized by Toenges and others (1949, 1952), Hornbaker and 

others (1976), Murray and others (1977), Tremain and others (1996), and values in the U.S. Geological Survey USCHEM database 

provided by R.H. Affolter (written commun., 1998). The Coal ridge and South Canyon coal zones were reported separately where 

possible and combined when previously reported values were grouped or where the zone could not be identified from the reported coal 

-bed nomenclature] 

Coal zone (this report) Ash (%) Sulfur (%) Btu/lb 

Keystone 5.4-9.2 0.3-0.4 11,020-13,120 

Coal Ridge 6.0-8.3 0.5-0.7 13,030-14,310 

South Canyon 3.4-10.0 0.3-1.5 11,290-15,190 

Combined Coal Ridge and South Canyon (Somerset coal field) 2.7-29.9 0.3-1.7 8,160-13,450 

Cameo-Wheeler 2.1-25.9 0.3-3.2 8,300-15,090 

Anchor and Palisade 2.1-17.4 0.4-1.7 10,360-13,560 

Middle and upper zones (Crested Butte area) 3.2-9.1 0.4-1.9 11,080-14,440 

Investigations of the Distribution and Resources of Coal in the Southern Part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado O39
on its net-coal isopach map (fi g. 10). Volumes of netcoal in the Cameo-Wheeler, South Canyon, and Coal 

Ridge zones were calculated using data shown in their 

respective net-coal isopach maps (fi gs. 12, 19, and 21). 

Coal density in the study area varies from 1,700 short 

tons per acre-ft for subbituminous coal to 2,000 short 

tons per acre-ft for anthracite. We used an average 

density of 1,800 short tons per acre-ft for bituminous 

coal.

 3. Resources were determined for all net coal in beds 

greater than 1 ft thick and under less than 6,000 ft of 

overburden. Reported coal tonnages do not include the 

weight of partings in the coal beds. Coal that is deeper 

than 6,000 ft is not considered to be a resource but is 

reported as “other occurrences of non-resource coal.”

 4. Maximum overburden (overburden on the base of a 

coal zone) was determined by subtracting elevations at 

the base of the specifi ed coal zone from surface elevations; maximum overburden lines are shown on resultant maps at 500-; 1,000-; 2,000-; 3,000-; 6,000-; and 

10,000-ft intervals. The base of the Cameo-Wheeler 

coal zone was portrayed by the structure contour map 

shown in fi gure 7B. Similar maps (not shown) were 

made for the base of the South Canyon and Coal Ridge 

coal zones, and they were used to determine overburden on those zones.

 5. Identifi ed resources reside within 3 mi from a data 

point, and hypothetical resources reside more than 3 mi 

from a data point; therefore, hypothetical resources are 

considered to be less geologically assured.

Cameo-Wheeler Coal Zone

The Cameo-Wheeler zone has an original resource of 95 

billion short tons of coal (table 6 A) that are distributed across 

a 2,668-mi2 area where the coal is covered by less than 6,000 

ft of overburden (fi g. 23) . Approximately 37 billion short tons 

of the resource are under less than 3,000 ft of overburden and 

22 billion short tons are under less than 2,000 ft of overburden 

(table 6A); an isopach map of overburden is shown in fi gure 

23. About 84 billion short tons (88 percent) are an identifi ed 

resource, and 11 billion short tons (12 percent) are a hypothetical resource; areas of identifi ed and hypothetical resources are 

shown in fi gure 24. Approximately 79 percent (75 billion short 

tons) of the resource is federally owned, and 21 percent (20 

billion short tons) is either State or privately owned (Appendix 

3). The Cameo-Wheeler contains an additional 78 billion short 

tons of coal that are covered by 6,000 to about 14,000 ft 

of overburden (table 6B). These deeper volumes of coal are 

distributed across a 1,212-mi2

 area shown on fi gure 23.

Table 6A. Original coal resources (in millions of short tons) in the Cameo-Wheeler coal zone, southern part 

of the Piceance Basin, Colorado. 

[Coal under less than 6,000 ft of overburden is considered a resource using criteria of Wood and others (1983). Coal covered by more 

than 6,000 ft of overburden is not considered a resource but is reported as other occurrences of coal in table 6B. Coal resources were 

calculated for all beds more than 1 ft thick and were reported by reliability and overburden categories and by county. Resources were 

not calculated for coal that might be folded over the flanks of laccoliths or that might be buried beneath laccoliths. Coal resources 

were rounded to two significant figures, and categories showing total resources might not equal the sum of the components because of 

independent rounding] 

County Reliability 

Overburden 

(ft) TOTAL 

 0-500 500-1,000 1,000-2,000 2,000-3,000 3,000-6,000 

Delta Identified 1,300 1,600 2,800 2,400 4,800 13,000 

 Hypothetical 0.00 0.00 0.00 170 3,700 3,900 

Delta Total 1,300 1,600 2,800 2,600 8,500 17,000 

 

Garfield Identified 1,300 1,300 3,800 3,400 19,000 29,000 

 Hypothetical 120 70 70 110 2,700 3,000 

Garfield Total 1,400 1,400 3,900 3,500 22,000 32,000 

Gunnison Identified 590 610 1,200 1,440 4,000 7,900 

 Hypothetical 42 7.5 4.9 170 100 320 

Gunnison Total 640 620 1,220 1,600 4,100 8,200 

Mesa Identified 490 630 2,900 6,200 19,000 29,000 

 Hypothetical 120 140 370 470 1,900 3,000 

Mesa Total 610 770 3,300 6,700 21,000 32,000 

Pitkin Identified 73 72 170 140 1,500 2,000 

Pitkin Total 73 72 170 140 1,500 2,000 

Rio Blanco Identified 1.0 230 1,400 580 980 3,200 

 Hypothetical 0.00 0.00 0.00 5.1 680 690 

Rio Blanco Total 1.0 230 1,400 580 1,700 3,900 

TOTAL 4,000 4,600 13,000 15,000 58,000 95,000 

O40 Geologic Assessment of Coal in the Colorado Plateau: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah
1000

Tertiary laccolith or stock

Range of overburden (in ft): 0-1000 1000-3000 3000-6000 6000-10,000 >10,000

● Data point

Boundary of area underlain by Cameo-Wheeler coal zone west of long 107 ̊15' W.

Isoline showing thickness of overburden. Isolines are labeled at 0-, 500-, 1000-, 2000-, 3000-, 6000-, and 10,000-ft intervals

10 0 10 Miles

DELTA

MESA 

GARFIELD

RIO 

BLANCO

GUNNISON

PITKIN

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7 S

2 N

1 N

2 E

 5 S

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89 

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 91

103 W 102 101 100 99 98 97 96 95 93 92

 94 93 92 91

104 W 103

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100 W

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3 W 2 W

1 S

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10,000

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Figure 23. Isopach map of overburden on base of the Cameo-Wheeler coal zone in the southern part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado. Data points are ident
Boundary of area underlain by Cameo-Wheeler 

coal zone west of long 107 ̊15' W.

Area of identified resourceArea of hypothetical resource

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DELTA

MESA 

GARFIELD

RIO BLANCO

P

 6 S

7 S

2 N

1 N

2 E

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89 

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103 W 102 101 100 99 98 97 96 95 93 92

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104 W 103

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100 W

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3 W 2 W

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39 ̊45'

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Figure 24. Map showing areas of reliability for coal resources in the Cameo-Wheeler coal zone, southern part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado. Areas havin

are within 3 mi of a data point, and areas having hypothetical resources are more than 3 mi from a data point; areas are based on 627 data points that are iden

1 and fi gure A on plate 1.
Coal resources in the Cameo-Wheeler coal zone were 

also determined by bed-thickness categories. The resources 

within various bed-thickness categories are reported in table 

6C and have been determined by integrating data shown in 

net-coal isopach maps for each bed-thickness category (fi gs. 

13–17) with overburden data for the Cameo-Wheeler coal zone 

(fi g. 23). The resource fi gures reported for each bed-thickness 

category were normalized (adjusted) to match the resource 

fi gure reported for the Cameo-Wheeler coal zone in table 6A. 

Of the approximate 37 billion short tons of coal that are under 

less than 3,000 ft of overburden, about 27 percent is in beds 

that are less than 3.5 ft thick, 30 percent is in beds that are 3.5 

to 7 ft thick, 25 percent is in beds that are 7 to 14 ft thick, and 

18 percent is in beds that are thicker than 14 ft thick.

South Canyon Coal Zone

The South Canyon zone has an original resource of 

approximately 13 billion short tons of coal (table 7 A) that is 

distributed across an 856-mi2 area where the coal is covered 

by less than 6,000 ft of overburden (fi g. 25). Approximately 

5.1 billion short tons are under less than 3,000 ft of overburden, and 3 billion short tons are under less than 2,000 ft 

of overburden (table 7A); areas of overburden are shown in 

fi gure 25. About 12 billion short tons (94 percent) are an 

identifi ed resource, and 890 million short tons (6 percent) are 

a hypothetical resource; areas of identifi ed and hypothetical 

resources are shown in fi gure 26. Approximately 79 percent 

(10 billion short tons) of the resource is federally owned, and 

21 percent (2.8 billion short tons) is either State or privately 

owned (Appendix 3). The South Canyon zone contains an 

additional 16 billion short tons of coal that are covered by 

6,000 to nearly 14,000 ft of overburden (table 7B). These 

deeper beds of coal are distributed across a 644-mi2 area 

shown on fi gure 25.

Table 6B. Other occurrences of coal (in millions of short tons) at 

depths greater than 6,000 ft in the Cameo-Wheeler coal zone, 

southern part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado.

[Coal covered by more than 6,000 ft of overburden is not considered a resource 

using criteria of Wood and others (1983). Tonnage was calculated for all coal beds 

more than 1 ft thick and was reported by reliability and overburden categories and 

by county. Tonnage was not calculated for coal that might be folded over the flanks 

of laccoliths or that might be buried beneath laccoliths. Coal tonnage was rounded 

to two significant figures, and categories showing total tonnage might not equal the 

sum of the components because of independent rounding] 

County Reliability Overburden (ft) TOTAL 

 6,000-10,000 >10,000 

Delta Identified 4,200 0.00 4,200 

 Hypothetical 1,500 0.00 1,500 

Delta Total 5,700 0.00 5,700 

 

Garfield Identified 28,000 1,500 29,000 

 Hypothetical 6,600 7,500 14,000 

Garfield Total 35,000 9,000 44,000 

 

Gunnison Identified 390 0.00 390 

 Hypothetical 99 0.00 99 

Gunnison Total 490 0.00 490 

 

Mesa Identified 22,000 500 23,000 

 Hypothetical 3,700 480 4,100 

Mesa Total 26,000 980 27,000 

 

Pitkin Identified 200 0.00 200 

Pitkin Total 200 0.00 200 

Rio Blanco Identified 260 0.00 260 

 Hypothetical 220 340 570 

Rio Blanco Total 480 340 820 

TOTAL 67,000 10,000 78,000 

Table 6C. Estimated coal (in millions of short tons) in bed-thickness categories in the Cameo-Wheeler coal zone, 

southern part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado. 

[Coal tonnage is reported by bed-thickness and overburden categories as suggested for bituminous coal by Wood and others (1983)] 

Coal bed 

thickness 

category 

Overburden category (ft) 

TOTAL 

(ft) 0- 

500 

500- 

1,000 

1,000- 

2,000 

2,000- 

3,000 

3,000- 

6,000 

6,000- 

10,000 

>10,000 

1-2.3 480 630 2,500 2,800 8,100 6,200 960 22,000 

>2.3-3.5 340 300 1,000 1,600 4,400 2,400 150 10,000 

>3.5-7.0 1,000 1,400 4,100 4,800 17,000 12,000 1,100 41,000 

>7.0-14.0 1,100 1,300 3,000 3,800 19,000 19,000 6,600 54,000 

>14.0 1,000 1,100 2,300 2,000 10,000 27,000 1,200 45,000 

TOTAL 4,000 4,600 13,000 15,000 58,000 67,000 10,000 170,000 

Coal tonnages were rounded to two significant figures and categories showing total tonnages might not equal the sum of the 

components because of independent rounding. 

Coal tonnages were normalized to 100 percent of the total for each overburden category shown in tables 6A, 6B. 

Investigations of the Distribution and Resources of Coal in the Southern Part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado O43
northern 

boundary 

of study area

● Data point

Tertiary intrusive

107 ̊15' 

longitudinal line

outcrop of base of 

South Canyon coal zone

0-1000

1000-3000

3000-6000

6000-10,000

>10,000

western limit of 

South Canyon 

coal zone.

outcrop of base 

of South Canyon 

coal zone

1000

Isoline showing thickness of 

overburden. Isolines are labeled 

at 0-, 500-, 1000-, 2000-, 3000-, 

6000-, and 10,000-ft intervals.

Outcrop of base of South 

Canyon coal zone

Range in thickness of 

overburden (in ft) on 

base of the South Canyon 

coal zone:

10 0 10 Miles

109 ̊ 107 ̊ 39 ̊45' 

39 ̊ 

Location of South Canyon coal zone 

(green area) in the southern part of 

the Piceance Basin, Colorado.

0

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108 ̊ 107 ̊30' 107 ̊15' 107 ̊

39 ̊ 

107 ̊ 

39 ̊ 

Figure 25. Isopach map of overburden on the base of the South Canyon coal zone in the southern part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado. Data

points are identifi ed in fi gure A on plate 1 and in Appendix 1.

O44 Geologic Assessment of Coal in the Colorado Plateau: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah
● Data point

Tertiary intrusive

outcrop of top of Rollins 

Sandstone Member

western limit of 

South Canyon coal zone

107 ̊15' 

longitudinal line

outcrop of Rollins 

Sandstone Member

outcrop of base of 

South Canyon 

coal zone

northern boundary 

of study area

10 0 10 Miles

Area of identified resource

Area of hypothetical resource

Outcrop of base of South 

Canyon coal zone.

109 ̊ 107 ̊ 39 ̊45' 

39 ̊

Location of South Canyon coal zone 

(green area) in the southern part of 

the Piceance Basin, Colorado.

20 Miles

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95 W 94 93 92 91

89 88 W

13 S

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 6 S

7 S

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 5 S

 4 S

 91 90 W

 89 W

 95 94 93 92

108 ̊ 107 ̊30' 107 ̊15' 107 ̊

39 ̊

107 ̊

Figure 26. Map showing areas of reliability for coal resources in the South Canyon coal zone, southern part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado. 

Areas having identifi ed resources are less than 3 mi from a data point, and areas having hypothetical resources are more than 3 mi from a data 

point. Data points are identifi ed in fi gure A on plate 1 and in Appendix 1.

Investigations of the Distribution and Resources of Coal in the Southern Part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado O45
Coal Ridge Coal Zone

The Coal Ridge coal zone has an original resource of 

approximately 9.1 billion short tons of coal (table 8A) that is 

distributed across a 911-mi2 area where the coal is covered by 

less than 6,000 ft of overburden (fi g. 27). Approximately 4.5 

billion short tons of the resource are under less than 3,000 ft of 

overburden, and 2.7 billion short tons are under less than 2,000 

ft of overburden (table 8A); areas of overburden are shown 

in fi gure 27. About 8.2 billion short tons (91 percent) are an 

identifi ed resource, and 850 million short tons (9 percent) are 

a hypothetical resource; areas of identifi ed and hypothetical 

resources are shown in fi gure 28. Approximately 82 percent 

(7.5 billion short tons) of the resource is federally owned, and 

18 percent (1.6 billion short tons) is either State or privately 

owned (Appendix 3). The Coal Ridge coal zone contains an 

additional 7.6 billion short tons of coal that are covered by 

6,000 to about 14,000 ft of overburden (table 8B). These 

deeper beds of coal are distributed across a 611-mi2

 area 

shown on fi gure 27.

Coal Resources in the Cameo-Fairfi eld Coal Group 

East of Long 107°15′ W.

The Crested Butte–West Elk Mountains area east of long 

107°15′W. is estimated to have an original resource of 1.3 

billion short tons of coal (table 9) distributed across a 261-mi2

area. This resource fi gure is tenuous because of the complex 

geology and paucity of coal measurements in the area. Additionally, the resource fi gure does not include coal that is folded 

over the fl anks of laccoliths, or which is buried beneath outcrops of laccoliths that are located in the region. The coal is in 

the lower, middle, and upper coal zones in the Cameo-Fairfi eld 

coal group as defi ned in this report. Net coal in the Crested 

Butte–West Elk Mountains area east of long 107°15′W. is 

shown in fi gure 10. Approximately 1.2 billion short tons of 

coal are under less than 3,000 ft of overburden, and 1.1 billion 

short tons are under less than 2,000 ft of overburden (table 

9); areas of overburden are shown in fi gure 29. About 740 

million short tons (57 percent) are an identifi ed resource, and 

570 million short tons (43 percent) are a hypothetical resource; 

areas of identifi ed and hypothetical resources are shown in 

Table 7A. Original coal resources (in millions of short tons) in the South Canyon coal zone, southern part of 

the Piceance Basin, Colorado. 

[Coal under less than 6,000 ft of overburden is considered a resource using criteria of Wood and others (1983). Coal covered by more 

than 6,000 ft of overburden is not considered a resource but is reported as other occurrences of coal in table 7B. Coal resources were 

calculated for all beds more than 1 ft thick and were reported by reliability and overburden categories and by county. Resources were 

not calculated for coal that might be folded over the flanks of laccoliths or that might be buried beneath laccoliths. Coal resources 

were rounded to two significant figures, and categories showing total resources might not equal the sum of the components because of 

independent rounding] 

County Reliability 

Overburden 

(ft) TOTAL 

 

0-500 500-1,000 1,000-2,000 2,000-3,000 3,000-6,000 

Delta Identified 129 160 340 280 910 1,800 

 Hypothetical 0.00 0.00 0.06 18 400 420 

Delta Total 129 160 340 300 1,300 2,200 

 

Garfield Identified 120 130 240 440 2,800 3,700 

 Hypothetical 9.4 9.5 27 39 210 300 

Garfield Total 130 140 270 480 3,000 4,000 

Gunnison Identified 310 470 870 1,100 2,000 4,700 

 Hypothetical 0.20 2.9 23 44 39 110 

Gunnison Total 310 470 890 1,100 2,100 4,800 

Mesa Identified 0.00 0.00 0.00 170 1,400 1,600 

 Hypothetical 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 36 36 

Mesa Total 0.00 0.00 0.00 170 1,400 1,600 

Pitkin Identified 22 26 47 23 400 520 

 Hypothetical 0.00 0.00 0.20 0.96 12 13 

Pitkin Total 22 26 47 24 410 530 

Rio Blanco Hypothetical 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.06 0.06 

Rio Blanco Total 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.06 0.06 

TOTAL 590 790 1,600 2,100 8,200 13,000 

O46 Geologic Assessment of Coal in the Colorado Plateau: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah
Table 7B. Other occurrences of coal (in millions of short tons) at 

depths greater than 6,000 ft in the South Canyon coal zone, 

southern part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado. 

[Coal covered by more than 6,000 ft of overburden is not considered a resource 

using criteria of Wood and others (1983). Coal tonnage was calculated for all 

beds more than 1 ft thick and was reported by reliability and overburden 

categories and by county. Tonnage was not calculated for coal that might be 

folded over the flanks of laccoliths or that might be buried beneath laccoliths. 

Coal tonnages were rounded to two significant figures, and categories showing 

total coal might not equal the sum of the components because of independent 

rounding] 

County Reliability 

Overburden 

(ft) TOTAL 

 6,000-10,000 >10,000 

Delta Identified 1,000 0.00 1,000 

 Hypothetical 150 0.00 150 

Delta Total 1,200 0.00 1,200 

 

Garfield Identified 6,900 600 7,500 

 Hypothetical 820 2,200 3,000 

Garfield Total 7,700 2,800 10,000 

 

Gunnison Identified 81 0.00 81 

 Hypothetical 24 0.00 24 

Gunnison Total 100 0.00 100 

 

Mesa Identified 3,700 84 3,800 

 Hypothetical 350 56 400 

Mesa Total 4,100 140 4,200 

 

Pitkin Identified 19 0.00 19 

Pitkin Total 19 0.00 19 

Rio Blanco Hypothetical 51 166 220 

Rio Blanco Total 51 166 220 

TOTAL 13,000 3,100 16,000 

Table 8A. Original coal resources (in millions of short tons) in the Coal Ridge coal zone, southern part of the 

Piceance Basin, Colorado. 

[Coal under less than 6,000 ft of overburden is considered a resource using criteria of Wood and others (1983). Coal covered by more 

than 6,000 ft of overburden is not considered a resource but is reported as other occurrences of coal in table 8B. Coal resources were 

calculated for all beds more than 1 ft thick and were reported by reliability and overburden categories and by county. Resources were 

not calculated for coal that might be folded over the flanks of laccoliths or that might be buried beneath laccoliths. Coal resources 

were rounded to two significant figures, and categories showing total resources might not equal the sum of the components because of 

independent rounding] 

County Reliability Overburden (ft) TOTAL 

 0-500 500-1,000 1,000-2,000 2,000-3,000 3,000-6,000 

Delta Identified 88 98 220 240 540 1,200 

 Hypothetical 0.0 0.00 1.4 40 350 390 

Delta Total 88 98 230 280 890 1,600 

 

Garfield Identified 130 120 260 360 1,600 2,500 

 Hypothetical 31 30 67 64 240 430 

Garfield Total 160 160 330 430 1,900 2,900 

Gunnison Identified 230 280 660 690 990 2,800 

 Hypothetical 0.96 0.82 0.10 6.3 12 20 

Gunnison Total 230 280 660 690 1,000 2,900 

Mesa Identified 0.00 0.00 7.7 230 420 660 

 Hypothetical 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 7.7 7.7 

Mesa Total 0.00 0.00 7.7 230 430 670 

Pitkin Identified 99 90 230 210 410 1,000 

Pitkin Total 99 90 230 210 410 1,000 

Rio Blanco Hypothetical 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.22 0.22 

Rio Blanco Total 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.22 0.22 

TOTAL 580 620 1,500 1,800 4,600 9,100 

Table 8B. Other occurrences of coal (in millions of short tons) at 

depths greater that 6,000 ft in the Coal Ridge coal zone, southern 

part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado. 

[Coal covered by more than 6,000 ft of overburden is not considered a resource 

using criteria of Wood and others (1983). Coal tonnage was calculated for all 

beds more than 1 ft thick and was reported by reliability and overburden 

categories and by county. Tonnage was not calculated for coal that might be 

folded over the flanks of laccoliths or that might be buried beneath laccoliths. 

Coal tonnages were rounded to two significant figures, and categories showing 

total resources might not equal the sum of the components because of independent 

rounding] 

County Reliability Overburden 

(ft) 

TOTAL 

 6,000-10,000 >10,000 

Delta Identified 230 0.00 230 

 Hypothetical 31 0.00 31 

Delta Total 260 0.00 260 

 

Garfield Identified 3,700 220 3,900 

 Hypothetical 600 650 1,300 

Garfield Total 4,300 870 5,100 

 

Gunnison Identified 1.7 0.00 1.7 

 Hypothetical 1.1 0.00 1.1 

Gunnison Total 2.8 0.00 2.8 

 

Mesa Identified 1,700 15 1,700 

 Hypothetical 320 11 330 

Mesa Total 2,000 26 2,100 

 

Pitkin Identified 32 0.00 32 

Pitkin Total 32 0.00 32 

Rio Blanco Hypothetical 19 51 70 

Rio Blanco Total 19 51 70 

TOTAL 6,600 950 7,600 

Investigations of the Distribution and Resources of Coal in the Southern Part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado O47
fi gure 30. Approximately 77 percent (1 billion short tons) of 

the resource is federally owned, and 23 percent (300 million 

short tons) of the resource is either State or privately owned 

(Appendix 3). The area does not have additional coal in the 

Cameo-Fairfi eld coal group that is deeper than 6,000 ft.

Coal Production

Coal has been produced from the southern part of the 

Piceance Basin since the late 1800’s, and about 110 mines 

have operated at various times along the margin of the study 

area (fi g. 31). Historic production compiled by the Colorado 

Geological Survey (Eakins and Coates, 1998) indicate that 

about 176 million short tons of coal have been mined from 

Gunnison (99), Pitkin( 30), Delta (21), Mesa (18), and Garfi eld 

(8) Counties; the cumulative production from each county is 

shown in millions of short tons in parentheses. These production fi gures refl ect the cumulative coal mined from the southern part of the Piceance Basin because no signifi cant amounts 

of coal have been mined elsewhere in the counties.

A summary of mining activity in the southern Piceance 

Basin prior to 1977 was compiled by Murray and others 

(1977). Their study indicates that about 84 million short tons 

of coal were mined from the southern Piceance Basin from 

1864 through 1976. Most of the coal was mined from the 

Cameo-Fairfi eld coal group. Mines that had a cumulative production greater than 1 million short tons prior to 1977 include: 

the King (2,996), New Castle (1,345), Alpine (2,135), Bear 

(2,871), Crested Butte No 1 and No. 2 (10,068), Hawk’s 

Nest West (1,279), Oliver #1 (1,155), Somerset (20,455), 

Coal Basin (1,330), Dutch Creek #1 (5,748), Dutch Creek 

#2 (1,011), L.S. Wood (3261), Spring Gulch (3,372), and the 

Thompson Creek #1 (1,079) (fi g. 31); the number in parentheses is the cumulative coal production (in thousands of short 

tons) prior to 1977 as reported by Murray and others (1977).

Our survey of production records indicates about 94.2 

million short tons of coal have been produced from 31 

mines between January 1977 and December 1997. Production 

records examined include (1) the September 1998 COALdat 

database (Resource Data International, Inc., 1998); (2) the 

Diskette user’s handbook (MSHA, 1996); (3) Keystone Coal 

Industry Manuals (1978 through 1998); and (4) summaries 

of mineral industry activities in Colorado (Colorado Division 

of Mines, 1977 through 1980). These sources indicate that 

between 1.9 and 8.6 million short tons of coal were produced 

annually from the southern part of the Piceance Basin during 

the period from 1/1977 to 12/1997. A compilation of production data is shown in table 10. Only six mines were producing coal at the end of 1997; these include the Bowie No. 1 

(Orchard Valley mine), Bowie No. 2 mine, McClane Canyon 

mine, Roadside North Portal, Sanborn Creek mine, and West 

Elk (Mt. Gunnison) mine. The Sanborn Creek and West Elk 

(Mt. Gunnison) mines produced 1.6 million and 5.6 million 

short tons of coal, respectively, in 1997.

Table 9. Original coal resources (in millions of short tons) in the Cameo-Fairfield coal group east of long 

107 ̊ 15′W., southern part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado. 

[The resources are calculated for coal beds more than 1 ft thick and under less than 6,000 ft of overburden, using criteria of Wood and 

others (1983). East of long 107 ̊15′W., the Cameo-Fairfield coal group includes the lower, middle, and upper coal zones as defined in 

this report, and these coal zones are less than 6,000 ft deep. The resource does not include coal that is folded over or located under 

laccoliths. Coal tonnage is reported by reliability and overburden categories and by county. Coal resources have been rounded to two 

significant figures, and categories showing total resources might not equal the sum of the components because of independent 

rounding] 

County Reliability 

Overburden (ft) 

TOTAL 

 0-500 500-1,000 1,000-2,000 2,000-3,000 3,000-6,000 

Gunnison Identified 310 210 150 55 2.8 730 

 Hypothetical 180 78 160 100 57 570 

Gunnison Total 480 290 310 160 60 1,300 

 

Pitkin Identified 1.4 5.0 2.7 0.00 0.00 9.0 

Pitkin Total 1.4 5.0 2.7 0.00 0.00 9.0 

TOTAL 480 300 310 160 60 1,300 

O48 Geologic Assessment of Coal in the Colorado Plateau: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah
northern 

boundary 

of study area

western limit of 

Coal Ridge 

coal zone

outcrop of base of 

Coal Ridge coal zone

107 ̊15' 

longitudinal line

outcrop of base 

of Coal Ridge 

coal zone

10 0 10 Miles

● Data point

Tertiary intrusive

0-1000

1000-3000

3000-6000

6000-10,000

>10,000

2000

Range in thickness of 

overburden (in ft) on base of 

the Coal Ridge coal zone:

Isoline showing overburden 

thickness. Isolines are labeled at 

0-, 500-, 1000-, 2000-, 3000-, 

6000-, and 10,000-ft intervals

Outcrop of base of Coal Ridge coal 

zone

109 ̊ 107 ̊ 39 ̊45' 

39 ̊ 

Location of Coal Ridge coal zone 

(green area) in the southern part of 

the Piceance Basin, Colorado.

 91 W

 95 W 94 W 93 W

95 94 93 92 91

89 88 W

13 S

14 S

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7 S

8 S

9 S

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 90 W

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39 ̊ 

107 ̊ 

Figure 27. Isopach map of overburden on the base of the Coal Ridge coal zone in the southern part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado. Data 

points are identifi ed in fi gure A on plate 1 and in Appendix 1.

Investigations of the Distribution and Resources of Coal in the Southern Part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado O49
● Data point

Tertiary intrusive

Area of identified resource

Area of hypothetical resource

outcrop of top of Rollins 

Sandstone Member

outcrop of base of 

Coal Ridge 

coal zone

107 ̊15' 

longitudinal line

10 0 10 Miles

western limit of 

Coal Ridge coal zone

outcrop of Rollins 

Sandstone Member

northern boundary 

of study area

Outcrop of base of Coal 

Ridge coal zone

109 ̊ 107 ̊ 39 ̊45' 

39 ̊

Location of Coal Ridge coal zone 

(green area) in the southern part of 

the Piceance Basin, Colorado.

 95 94 93

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39 ̊

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Figure 28. Map showing areas of reliability for coal resources in the Coal Ridge coal zone, southern part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado. 

Areas having identifi ed resources are less than 3 mi from a data point, and areas having hypothetical resources are more than 3 mi from a data 

point. Data points are identifi ed in fi gure A on plate 1 and in Appendix 1.

O50 Geologic Assessment of Coal in the Colorado Plateau: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah
39 ̊ 

107 ̊15' 

107 ̊ 

109 ̊ 107 ̊ 39 ̊45' 

39 ̊ 

Location of Cameo-Fairfield coal group east of 

long 107 ̊15' W. (green area) in the southern part of 

the Piceance Basin, Colorado.

● Data point

Tertiary intrusive

0-1000 1000-3000 3000-6000

Outcrop of base of Cameo-Fairfield coal 

group east of long 107 ̊15' W.

Isoline showing overburden thickness (in 

ft). Isolines are labeled at 0-, 500-, 1000-, 

2000-, and 3000-ft intervals

500

Range in thickness of overburden (in ft) on base of the 

Cameo-Fairfield coal group: 0 10 Miles

Beveled edge of Mesaverde Formation

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Figure 29. Isopach map 

of overburden on the base 

of the Cameo-Fairfi eld coal 

group east of long 107°

15′W., in the southern part 

of the Piceance Basin, Colorado. Data points are identifi ed in fi gure A of plate 1 and 

in Appendix 1. 

● Data point

Tertiary intrusive

0 10 Miles

Area of identified resource

Area of hypothetical resource

Outcrop of base of Cameo-Fairfield 

coal group east of long 107 ̊15' W.

39 ̊

107 ̊

107 ̊15' 

38 ̊45' 

109 ̊ 107 ̊ 39 ̊45' 

39 ̊

Location of Cameo-Fairfield coal group east 

of long 107 ̊15' W. (green area) in the 

southern part of the Piceance Basin, 

Colorado.

Beveled edge of 

Mesaverde Formation

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Figure 30. Map showing areas of reliability for coal resources in the Cameo-Fairfi eld coal group east of long 107°15′W., 

in the southern part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado. Areas having identifi ed resources are less than 3 mi from a data 

point, and areas having hypothetical resources more than 3 mi from a data point. Data points are identifi ed in fi gure A of 

plate 1 and in Appendix 1.

Investigations of the Distribution and Resources of Coal in the Southern Part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado O51
Coal-Bed Methane

Cretaceous rocks in the Piceance Basin hold large quantities of natural gas. Most of these resources are contained in 

tight sandstones and coals (Johnson and Rice, 1990). Thermal 

maturation is greatest in the southern and central parts of the 

basin and generally increases with depth (Nuccio and Johnson, 

1983; Johnson and Nuccio, 1986). Gas contents for coals in 

the Piceance Basin are as much as 604 cubic ft per short ton 

(Tremain, 1990; Reineck and others, 1991). Scott and others 

(1996) estimated that the deepest part of the Piceance Basin 

has a gas-in-place coal-bed methane resource that exceeds 

60 billion cubic ft of gas (BCFG) per square mile and that 

most of that resource is within the Cameo-Fairfi eld coal group. 

The potential for commercial production of natural gas in 

the Piceance Basin remains largely unproven; through 1994 

cumulative production of natural gas from coals approached 19 

BCFG (Scott and others, 1996).

Coal Resource Summary

Coal in the Upper Cretaceous Cameo-Fairfi eld coal group 

is distributed throughout a 4- to 1,400-ft-thick stratigraphic 

interval that covers a 4,140-mi2

 area in the southern part of the 

Piceance Basin, Colorado. Coal is concentrated in the CameoWheeler, South Canyon, and Coal Ridge coal zones, and, in 

the southeastern most part of the basin, the coal is included in 

the informally named lower, middle, and upper coal zones. The 

coal group has an original coal resource of about 120 billion 

short tons that was calculated for beds that are more than 1 

ft thick and covered by less than 6,000 ft overburden. The 

resource is distributed across a 2,930-mi2 area that is located 

along the basin’s outer region; the region does not contain 

signifi cant coal deposits that are susceptible to strip mining. 

The Cameo-Fairfi eld group contains an additional 100 billion 

short tons of non-resource coal that is covered by 6,000 to 

14,000 ft of overburden within a 1,210-mi2 area located in 

the central part of the basin. Coal deeper than 6,000 ft is not 

considered to be a resource using criteria of Wood and others 

(1983).

Although the coal resources in the Cameo-Fairfi eld group 

are signifi cant, the large 120-billion-short-ton fi gure must be 

regarded with caution because it does not refl ect economic, 

land-use, environmental, technological, and geologic restrictions that affect its availability and recoverability. Those 

restrictions may be signifi cant, as coal-production studies by 

Rohrbacher and others (1994) indicate that less than 10 percent 

of original coal resources in the central Appalachian region 

of the Eastern United States were mined and marketed at a 

profi t. Technological and economic constraints generally limit 

current longwall mining to depths of less than 3,000 ft, beds 

that are more than 3.5 ft thick, and strata that are inclined by 

less than 12°; additionally, only about 14 ft of coal can be 

mined from beds that exceed that thickness (T.J. Rohrbacher, 

oral commun., 1996). These overburden and bed-thickness 

limits are supported by a summary given for 81 current longwalls operated in the United States by 30 companies (Merritt 

and Fiscor, 1995, p. 32–38).

Technological limitations render at least 170 billion short 

tons of coal in the Cameo-Fairfi eld coal group to be economically unminable because the coal is in beds that are more than 

3,000 ft deep. These include approximately 71 billion short 

Table 10. Cumulative coal production (in short tons) for mines operating in the southern part of the 

Piceance Basin, Colorado, during the years from 1977 to 1997. 

Name of coal mine 

Cumulative 

production 1977- 

1997 

Name of coal mine 

Cumulative 

production 1977- 

1997 

Bear Creek 148,000 Munger 80,000 

Bear No. 3 6,394,000 Nu-Gap No. 3 400 

Blue Ribbon 445,000 O.C. Coal 28,000 

Bowie No.1 (Orchard Valley) 7,604,000 Ohio Creek No. 2 3,000 

Bowie No. 2 49,000 Orchard Valley 7,498,000 

Bowie (Orchard Valley) 2,859,000 Red Canon No. 1 303,000 

C.M.C. 300,000 Roadside North Portal 1,123,000 

Cameo and Roadside 6,830,000 Roadside South Portal 2,647,000 

Coal Basin 675,000 Sanborn Creek 6,116,000 

Cyprus Orchard Valley 2,084,000 Somerset 4,520,000 

Dutch Creek No. 1 4,528,000 Sunlight 2,000 

Dutch Creek No. 2 4,217,000 Thompson Creek No. 1 and No. 3 289,000 

Eastside 27,000 Tomahawk 136,000 

Fruita No. 2 12,000 West Elk (Mt. Gunnison) 30,287,000 

Hawk’s Nest East and West 2,800,000 

L.S. Wood 1,633,000 Grand total (1977-1997) 94,244,000 

McClane Canyon 607,000 

O52 Geologic Assessment of Coal in the Colorado Plateau: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah
Mine location

Approximate location of mine

Outcrop of Cameo-Fairfield coal groupArea underlain by the Cameo-Fairfield coal group

X

10 0 10 Miles

DELTA

MESA 

GARFIELD

RIO BLANCO

GUNNISON

39 ̊45'

109 ̊ 108 ̊ 

39 ̊

109 ̊

108 ̊30' 107 ̊30'

 6 S

7 S

1 N

2 E

 5 S

 4 S

89 

 90 W

 89 W

 91

103 W 102 101 100 99 98 97 96 95 93 92

 96 W 95 94 93 92 91

 97 W

100 W

1 E

1 S

 94

X

X

XX

X

X

X

X

XX

X

Garvey

Stove Canon

McClane Canyon

Munger Canyon

Lane

Johnson

Fruita No. 1

Farmers-nearing

Anchor No. 2

Anchor No. 1

Hunter

Mc Ginley No. 2

Mc Ginley No. 1

Hidden Treasure

Hi-grade

Black Diamond

Peacock 

Monarch

Book Cliff

Gearhart

Garfield

Palisade

Roadside

CMC

Cameo No. 1

Blue Flame

Go Boy

Riverside FarmersMt. Lincoln 

Stokes

Midwest

Kannah Creek

Rollins

Fairview

Tomahawk

Black Diamond

Coalby

Red Canon

Independent No. 1

Green Valley No. 2

Green Valley No. 1

Top

Cedaredge

States

Western Star

DeGraffenreid

Girling

Bennett

Burdick

Delta W

Black

Diamond

 Orchard

Valley

Jenkins 

and

Lewis

Farmers

Gelwick

King Blue Ribbon Somerset Bear No. 3

 Bear Oliver No. 3

 Oliver No. 1

Hawks Nest

Genter

Placita No. 1

Placita

Bear Creek

Coal Basin

T

T

S

U

M

M

Sunlight 

(Sunshine) P

P

Bellodi

Rex

Okraut

Zemlock

South Canon No. 2

South Canon No. 1

Red Ash

Newcastle Vulcan

Coryel

Newcastle

Atlas

Silt

Harvey Gap No. 2

Harvey Gap No. 3

Eastside

Nu Gap No. 3

Sunny Ridge

I.H.I. No. 3

Black Raven

Rauman I.H.I. No. 1

McLearn

North Canon

Rifle

Estes

L.S. Wood

Dutch Creek No. 1 and No. 2

West Elk 

(Mt. Gunnison)

Bowie 

No. 1

Cyprus Orchard Valley

Bowie 

Sanborn Creek

Figure 31. Locations of active and inactive coal mines in the southern part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado.
tons of resource coal that is 3,000 to 6,000 ft deep (tables 6A, 

7A, 8A, and 9) and 100 billion short tons of non-resource coal 

that is 6,000 to 14,000 ft deep (tables 6B, 7B, and 8B) (note: 

the numbers do not total 170 billion short tons because they 

have been rounded to two signifi cant fi gures). An additional 

13 billion short tons of resource coal is estimated to be under 

less than 3,000 ft of overburden but is economically unminable 

because the beds are less than 3.5 ft thick; these include 

approximately 9.7 billion short tons in the Cameo-Wheeler 

coal zone (table 6C) and an estimated 2.8 billion short tons 

in the remainder of the Cameo-Fairfi eld coal group (these 

estimates were made using ratios determined for the CameoWheeler coal zone). Although much of the coal in the CameoFairfi eld coal group is too deep to be economically mined, the 

methane stored in the coal may have economic signifi cance.

Only an estimated 34 billion short tons of coal in 

the Cameo-Fairfi eld coal group (28 percent of the original 

resource) meet favorable underground mining criteria regarding depth of burial (less than 3,000 ft) and bed thickness (more 

than 3 ft). However, only a fraction of that coal could be mined 

economically because many parts of the Grand Hogback, Carbondale, and Crested Butte coal fi elds are steeply inclined and 

many beds in the Cameo-Wheeler coal zone are more than 14 

ft thick. Additional coal could not be mined economically from 

discontinuous beds, from beds that would be disturbed while 

mining adjacent strata, or from beds that would be left in the 

ground for roof support.

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Investigations of the Distribution and Resources of Coal in the Southern Part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado O57
Appendix 1 provides a summary of information for each 

data point used in the coal assessment of the southern part 

of the Piceance Basin, Colorado. A printout of the complete 

database is provided in appendix 5 on disk 2 of this CD-ROM. 

Information includes data point identifi cation, location, kelly 

bushing elevation, coal thicknesses, and elevation at the top 

Rollins Sandstone Member that was used for the base of the 

Cameo-Fairfi eld coal group. Elevations that are preceded by a 

minus sign (–) are below sea level. Total coal thickness is provided for the Cameo-Fairfi eld coal group. The total coal and 

number of coal beds are also provided for Cameo-Wheeler, 

South Canyon, and Coal Ridge coal zones, which are within 

the Cameo-Fairfi eld group.

The net coal and number of coal beds are also shown 

within various bed-thickness categories in the Cameo-Wheeler 

coal zone; the categories are 1 to 2.3 ft, 2.3 to 3.5 ft, 3.5 to 7.0 

ft, 7.0 to 14 ft, and greater than 14 ft. Coal beds that are exactly 

2.3, 3.5, 7.0, or 14.0 ft thick are included in the preceding 

(thinner) bed-thickness category; for example, a 7.0-ft-thick 

coal bed is included in the 3.5 to 7.0 ft bed-thickness category. 

Coal-bed thicknesses were determined using the methodology 

of Wood and others (1983). According to that methodology, 

a bed includes all coal and partings (non-coal material) that 

lie between the roof and fl oor, and the net thickness of coal 

in a bed does not include the thickness of partings that are 

more than 3/8 inch thick (Wood and others, 1983, p. 5, 31). 

Furthermore, according to Wood and others, (1983, p. 36), 

separate benches of coal are considered to be part of the same 

bed when the intervening parting is thinner than either bench; 

when the parting exceeds the thickness of either bench, the 

bed is considered to have split into two beds. Based on these 

criteria, we reported the thickness of a bed to included the 

combined thicknesses of benches and partings; however, the 

net coal in the bed only included the combined thicknesses of 

the coal benches.

Surface elevations and elevations for the top of the Rollins Sandstone Member were not provided for measured sections. Blank spaces in the columns identifi ed as “top of the 

Rollins Sandstone Member” indicates that the drill hole was 

not deep enough to penetrate the Rollins Sandstone. Blank 

spaces in the column identifi ed as “total coal in the CameoFairfi eld coal group” indicate that the entire group was not 

drilled or that the total coal thickness was uncertain. Blank 

spaces in columns identifi ed as “net coal” and “number of 

beds” in the Cameo-Wheeler coal zone indicates that the data 

point had no coal beds within the specifi ed bed-thickness 

category. Blank spaces in columns identifi ed as “total coal” or 

“number of beds” for the South Canyon and Coal Ridge coal 

zones indicates that the zones were not present at the location 

of the data point.

Abbreviations include: feet (ft), oil and gas hole (O&G), 

measured section (MS), lithologic log (LL), number (#), 

rotary exploration hole (ROT), core and rotary exploration 

hole (R/C), undefi ned (UND), section (Sec.), elevation (elev.), 

and Kelly bushing (Kelly bsh.). There are also several abbreviations used in the source column, and these include (1) 

drill hole names for oil and gas holes, and (2) references to 

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and U.S. Bureau of Mines 

(USBM) publications. The type of publication is abbreviated 

as Open-File Report (OF), Bulletin (Bull), Professional Paper 

(PP), Geologic Quadrangle (GQ), and Technical Paper (TP). 

Specifi c data points within a USBM or USGS publication are 

listed after the reference to the publication, and reports by 

the USBM and USGS are referenced below (i.e., the source 

“USGS MAP C-97-B; 18, 34” refers to data points 18 and 

34 in the U.S. Geological Survey Map C-97-B by Ellis and 

others (1988)):

Appendix 1—Summary of Data Used for the Assessment of Coal 

in the Southern Part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado

Identification of publication 

in source column 

Reference to publication 

USGS OF 78-540 Eager (1978) 

USGS OF 79-327 Eager (1979) 

USGS OF 79-999 Gualtieri (1979) 

USGS OF 80-709 Kent and Arndt, (1980b) 

USGS OF 82-827 Hobbs and others (1982) 

USGS OF 82-590 Johnson (1982) 

USGS MAP C-97-B Ellis and others (1988) 

USGS MAP C-115 Dunrud (1989a) 

USGS MAP C-116 Dunrud (1989b) 

USGS Map GQ-1604 Gaskill and DeLong (1987) 

USGS BULL 415 Gale (1910) 

USBM BULL 501 Toenges and others (1952) 

USGS BULL 510 Lee (1912) 

USGS BULL 851 Erdmann (1934) 

USGS PP 1485 Madden (1989) 

USBM TP 721 Toenges and others (1949) 

O58 Geologic Assessment of Coal in the Colorado Plateau: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah
 Top Total coal Cameo/Wheeler coal zone

Rollins in CameoSandstone Fairfield

Map Kelly bsh Member coal group Total # # # # # 

No. Point ID Type Source Longitude Latitude Sec. Township Range elev. (ft) elev. (ft) (ft) coal beds 1.0-2.3 beds 2.3-3.5 beds 3.5-7 beds 7-14 beds >14 

1 05-103-08891 O&G COSEKA-COLUMB 6-23-4-104 -109.03914 39.69586 23 4 S 104 W 6538 4721 19.0 19 6 4 3 6 2 9 1

2 05-045-06157 O&G TAIGA-1-5-23 -109.03428 39.61406 23 5 S 104 W 8317 5347 13.0 13 4 4 2 3 1 6 13 05-045-06281 O&G COSEKA-CLMBN 16-2-5-104 -109.03258 39.65797 2 5 S 104 W 6798 5236 13.0 13 2 4 1 9 14 05-103-08662 O&G COSEKA-CLMBINE1-35-4-104 -109.03239 39.66331 35 4 S 104 W 6648 5046 17.0 17 5 6 3 3 1 8 1

5 ERD MS-2/19 MS USGS BULL 851 -109.02886 39.42828 30 7 S 104 W 14.2 14.2 7 5.6 4 8.6 3

6 CBBC 1 R/C USGS OF 79-999 -109.01667 39.45417 0 7 S 104 W 5950 5738.7 16.3 14 3 14 3

7 05-103-08933 O&G COSEKA-CLMBINE9-25-4-104 -109.01267 39.68356 25 4 S 104 W 6618 5072 17.0 17 7 5 4 12 38 05-045-06040 O&G FUEL RES-CARONERA #1-20 -109.00744 39.52311 20 6 S 104 W 7511 6190 8.0 85 4 4 41

9 05-045-07024 O&G AMOCO-SNO GR MES30-5-103 -108.99786 39.59308 30 5 S 103 W 8496 5494 15.0 15 4 4 2 11 2

10 05-103-08375 O&G COSEKA-GENTRY 8-31-4-103 -108.99225 39.66481 31 4 S 103 W 6563 5357 7.0 73 3 2 41

11 05-045-06212 O&G COSEKA-GENTRY 1-6-5-103 -108.99056 39.64667 6 5 S 103 W 6748 5556 4.0 42 1 1 3 1

12 CARBONERA 1C R/C USGS OF 82-827 -108.96736 39.46728 10 7 S 104 W 5808 5486 20.1 19.6 6 5 3 4.8 2 9.8 113 05-045-06297 O&G COSEKA-ARCOFED11-4-5-103 -108.96614 39.65528 4 5 S 103 W 6626 5601 13.0 13 7 9 6 4 114 ERD MS-5/22 MS USGS BULL 851 -108.96594 39.50081 34 6 S 104 W 5.1 3.2 1 3.2 1

15 05-103-08822 O&G COSEKA-ARCOFED3-28-4-103 -108.96489 39.67656 28 4 S 103 W 7038 5536 9.0 93 1 1 82

16 ERD MS-10/26 MS USGS BULL 851 -108.95161 39.45492 14 7 S 104 W 10.6 8.8 4 5.1 3 3.7 117 05-045-06394 O&G COSEKA-EVAC 13-10-5-103 -108.95153 39.64381 10 5 S 103 W 6802 5293 14.0 14 5 3 2 3 1 8 2

18 05-045-06246 O&G Fuelco-B-12-6-104S -108.94086 39.55892 12 6 S 104 W 6431 6011 12.0 12 3 2 1 10 219 ERD MS-11/30 MS USGS BULL 851 -108.93594 39.46353 12 7 S 104 W 12.9 12.9 6 5.4 4 7.5 220 ERD MS-7/24 MS USGS BULL 851 -108.93328 39.53067 24 6 S 104 W 9.1 8.2 3 1.6 1 2.6 1 4 1

21 ERD MS-35 MS USGS BULL 851 -108.93108 39.41897 25 7 S 104 W 5.1 5.1 3 2.6 2 2.5 122 05-103-08632 O&G COSEKA-BAXTR 13-35-4-103 -108.92883 39.67325 35 4 S 103 W 7078 5601 19.0 19 7 5 4 14 323 ERD MS-12/31 MS USGS BULL 851 -108.91078 39.49239 31 6 S 103 W 21.9 21.9 3 2 1 6.9 1 13 124 ERD MS-37 MS USGS BULL 851 -108.90972 39.42197 29 7 S 103 W 5.7 5.7 2 5.7 2

25 ERD MS-39 MS USGS BULL 851 -108.89575 39.39989 4 8 S 103 W 9.5 9.5 2 1.4 1 8.1 126 05-103-08679 O&G TENNECO GOVT 13-31-4 -108.89422 39.66292 31 4 S 102 W 8573 5979 22.0 22 4 3 2 6 1 13 27 05-103-08897 O&G TENNECO EVAC CRK 30-1202 -108.89325 39.67114 30 4 S 102 W 8436 5622 18.0 18 8 7 5 3 1 8 228 ERD MS-40 MS USGS BULL 851 -108.88717 39.40328 4 8 S 103 W 8.4 7.6 2 7.6 2

29 ERD MS-42 MS USGS BULL 851 -108.87458 39.41625 33 7 S 103 W 5.3 5.3 2 5.3 2

30 05-103-08576 O&G PROVIDENT GOVT5-32-4-102 -108.87333 39.65572 32 4 S 102 W 8145 6123 22.0 22 6 4 2 6 2 12 231 05-045-06427 O&G TENNECO-DGLS/YOUNG 32-3 -108.87103 39.58494 32 5 S 102 W 6913 6172 27.0 27 6 7 4 20 2

32 05-045-06408 O&G TENNECO-DGLS/YOUNG 29-10 -108.86711 39.59431 29 5 S 102 W 6994 6108 23.0 23 1 23 

33 05-045-06293 O&G TENNECO-DOUGLAS USA20-15 -108.86386 39.60553 20 5 S 102 W 7260 6276 21.0 21 2 7 1 14 34 05-103-08544 O&G PROVIDENT-GOVT7-29-4-102 -108.86261 39.66997 29 4 S 102 W 7197 6163 35.0 35 9 6 3 3 1 17 4 9 135 05-103-08510 O&G FEES-KIRBY EDISON 28-3 -108.85508 39.6775 28 4 S 102 W 7043 6245 26.0 26 6 5 3 3 1 6 1 12 1

36 05-045-06096 O&G PROVIDENT-GOVT3-16-5-102 -108.85092 39.61942 16 5 S 102 W 8794 6210 20.0 20 4 4 2 16 237 05-045-06274 O&G TENNECO-GOVT 2-33-5-102 -108.84667 39.57556 33 5 S 102 W 7933 6171 12.0 12 4 1 1 3 1 8 2

38 05-045-06169 O&G PRVDNT-YOUNG 11-27-5-102 -108.83153 39.59792 27 5 S 102 W 7764 6142 25.0 25 5 5 3 20 239 05-103-08196 O&G TAIGA FED 1-R-22 -108.82303 39.688 22 4 S 102 W 8046 6141 19.0 19 5 4 3 5 1 10 140 05-045-06082 O&G SWEET PEA-FED 5-2-5-102 -108.80597 39.64767 2 5 S 102 W 7435 6189 20.0 20 4 4 2 4 1 12 141 05-045-06294 O&G TENNECO-TENNECO USA 23-9 -108.80464 39.60853 23 5 S 102 W 7717 5974 26.0 26 2 4 1 22 42 05-045-06162 O&G PALMER-FEDERAL 6-8 -108.80189 39.57025 6 6 S 102 W 6680 5934 16.0 16 3 4 2 12 43 05-045-06291 O&G DEVON-FED 1-30 -108.80028 39.51 30 6 S 102 W 7395 5695 27.0 27 7 2 1 6 2 19 4

44 05-045-06962 O&G TRINITY-BS 23-17-6-102 -108.79172 39.53967 17 6 S 102 W 6238 5688 14.0 14 6 5 4 9 245 05-103-07971 O&G PROVIDENT K-R 9-36-4-102 -108.78503 39.65911 36 4 S 102 W 7041 6099 24.0 24 4 2 1 10 2 12 1

46 05-045-06090 O&G TIPPERARY-CALF CYN2-17-6 -108.78472 39.53403 17 6 S 102 W 6204 5600 13.0 13 3 2 1 3 1 8 1

47 05-045-06117 O&G COSEKA-1-A-24-5S-102W -108.78428 39.61642 24 5 S 102 W 7508 5918 22.0 22 2 2 1 20 48 ERD MS-45 MS USGS BULL 851 -108.78378 39.44183 20 7 S 102 W 10.3 10.3 1 10.3 149 05-103-08702 O&G TETON-RED RK CYN FED 7-4 -108.78222 39.71589 7 4 S 101 W 6703 6372 25.0 25 7 8 4 17 350 ERD MS-46 MS USGS BULL 851 -108.77447 39.46031 16 7 S 102 W 9.1 9.1 2 1.1 1 8 151 ERD MS-47 MS USGS BULL 851 -108.77131 39.44164 21 7 S 102 W 17.8 17.8 2 1 1 16.8 52 ERD MS-48 MS USGS BULL 851 -108.77106 39.44097 21 7 S 102 W 20.7 20.7 1 20.7 53 05-045-08371 O&G COSEKA-ROCK CANYON 9-31 -108.765 39.66833 31 4 S 101 W 7320 6036 31.0 31 5 2 1 11 2 18 254 05-045-60010 O&G AM RES MNGT- CC 10-1 -108.75747 39.55967 10 6 S 102 W 6544 5608 30.0 30 6 2 1 3 1 14 3 11 55 05-103-08513 O&G COSEKA-RK CYN 3-32-4-101 -108.75736 39.65214 32 4 S 101 W 8100 6006 36.0 36 6 5 3 3 1 8 1 20 

Net-coal thickness (ft) and number of coal beds in bed-thickness catego

Data point identification Data point location
 Top Total coal Cameo/Wheeler coal zone

Rollins in CameoSandstone Fairfield

Map Kelly bsh Member coal group Total # # # # # 

No. Point ID Type Source Longitude Latitude Sec. Township Range elev. (ft) elev. (ft) (ft) coal beds 1.0-2.3 beds 2.3-3.5 beds 3.5-7 beds 7-14 beds >14 

Net-coal thickness (ft) and number of coal beds in bed-thickness catego

Data point identification Data point location

56 ERD MS-49 MS USGS BULL 851 -108.75733 39.43469 22 7 S 102 W 10.7 10.2 3 1.9 1 3.1 1 5.2 1

57 05-045-06318 O&G ARM-CALF CNYN 34-2 -108.74564 39.49903 34 6 S 102 W 5822 5192 26.0 26 9 12 6 3 1 11 2

58 05-045-06336 O&G ARM-CALF CNYN 23-1A -108.74053 39.52956 23 6 S 102 W 6144 5400 11 11 4 6 3 5 1

59 05-045-06134 O&G TIPPERARY- 3-23G -108.73939 39.52928 23 6 S 102 W 6135 5396 26.0 26 10 8 5 6 2 12 3

60 05-045-06405 O&G AM RES MNGMT-CC-11-4A -108.73778 39.54722 11 6 S 102 W 6390 5414 26.0 26 2 9 1 17 

61 05-045-06334 O&G COSEKA-ROCKCYN 3-4-5-101 -108.73303 39.64886 4 5 S 101 W 7517 5817 37.0 37 8 6 4 15 3 16 

62 05-103-08748 O&G TETON-FEDERAL 9-4 -108.72919 39.7135 9 4 S 101 W 8250 6318 19.0 19 6 5 3 14 3

63 05-045-06385 O&G AM RES MNGMNT-CC 25-3 -108.70939 39.50481 25 6 S 102 W 5981 4930 37.0 37 7 4 2 6 2 5 1 8 1 14 

64 05-045-06069 O&G POTRERO-REYBOS FED 24-3 -108.70842 39.51972 24 6 S 102 W 6113 4991 26.0 26 8 4 3 3 1 19 4

65 05-045-06055 O&G POTRERO-REYBOS FED 12-1 -108.70806 39.555 12 6 S 102 W 6474 5319 23.0 23 9 9 6 3 1 4 1 7 1

66 05-045-06018 O&G POTRERO-REYBOS #13-1 -108.70694 39.53683 13 6 S 102 W 6275 5185 27.0 27 5 2 1 3 1 9 2 13 

67 05-045-06050 O&G POTRERO-REYBOS-FED 24-1 -108.70686 39.53217 24 6 S 102 W 6228 5108 19.0 19 5 2 1 17 4

68 05-045-06466 O&G AM RES MNGT-CC 19-1 -108.70428 39.52383 19 6 S 101 W 6167 5007 26.0 26 8 7 4 19 4

69 05-103-07968 O&G AM RES-GOVT 1-14 -108.70386 39.70669 14 4 S 101 W 6848 5992 26.0 26 8 5 3 6 2 9 2 6 1

70 05-045-06407 O&G AM RES MNGMT-BG 29-1 -108.69631 39.51117 29 6 S 101 W 6074 4875 19 19 4 4 2 6 1 9 1

71 05-045-06507 O&G DYCO-MESAGAR FED 8-1 -108.69142 39.46267 8 7 S 101 W 7335 4803 35.0 35 10 8 5 3 1 15 3 9 1

72 05-045-06478 O&G DYCO-MESAGAR FED 20-1 -108.68936 39.43425 20 7 S 101 W 6031 4892 40.0 40 5 5 3 3 1 32 

73 05-103-07842 O&G TIPPERARY-SOLDIER 2-36-C -108.686 39.66167 36 4 S 101 W 8062 5652 37.0 37 6 7 4 6 1 24 

74 05-103-09092 O&G AM RES-SOLDIER CANY#25-4 -108.68531 39.67108 25 4 S 101 W 8136 5704 41.0 41 12 9 5 9 3 14 3 9 1

75 05-045-06444 O&G DYCO-MESAGAR FED 17-1 -108.68381 39.44878 17 7 S 101 W 6281 4779 31.0 31 7 4 2 19 4 8 1

76 05-045-06061 O&G POTERERO REYBOS FED 1-1 -108.68236 39.64936 1 5 S 101 W 7896 5382 32.0 32 4 3 1 29 3

77 05-045-06450 O&G AM RES MNGMT-BG29-2 -108.68139 39.50778 29 6 S 101 W 6258 4746 25.0 25 7 8 5 7 1 10 1

78 05-045-06447 O&G DYCO-MESAGAR FED 21-1 -108.67508 39.43753 21 7 S 101 W 6131 4736 34.0 34 6 9 5 25 

79 05-045-06406 O&G ARM-BEAR GULCH 21-4 -108.67056 39.51861 21 6 S 101 W 6315 4783 32.0 32 8 4 3 18 4 10 1

80 05-045-06113 O&G TIPPERARY-4-24-E -108.668 39.60956 24 5 S 101 W 8858 5046 43.0 43 11 1 1 12 4 17 4 13 2

81 05-045-06239 O&G TETON-ALBERTSON 16-1 -108.66753 39.44403 16 7 S 101 W 6193 4640 43.0 43 5 6 3 4 1 33 

82 05-045-06492 O&G DYCO-MESAGAR FED 9-1 -108.66742 39.45803 9 7 S 101 W 7248 4498 40.0 40 8 5 4 16 3 19 

83 05-045-06017 O&G PETRO LWS-COAL GLCH 15-9 -108.66639 39.37 9 8 S 101 W 6560 5496 40.0 40 7 5 3 4 1 31 3

84 05-103-08212 O&G AM RES-SOLDIER CYN 30-3 -108.65572 39.66861 30 4 S 100 W 9006 5253 52.0 52 8 1 1 3 1 10 2 38 4

85 05-103-08053 O&G TIPPERARY-FED 1-19-D -108.65278 39.68072 19 4 S 100 W 8980 5150 55.0 55 9 4 2 3 1 14 3 34 3

86 05-045-06376 O&G DYCO-ALBERTSON 15-1 -108.64861 39.44756 15 7 S 101 W 6330 4366 45.0 45 11 12 8 3 1 6 1 24 

87 05-045-06076 O&G FUEL RES-FUELCO 1-2 FED -108.63344 39.47414 2 7 S 101 W 6798 4388 27.0 27 3 27 3

88 05-103-07747 O&G TIPPERARY-SLDIER1 33-0-1 -108.62656 39.65594 33 4 S 100 W 8847 4695 41.0 41 6 4 2 6 1 31 3

89 05-077-05165 O&G PURE-HUNTER CAN. GOVT 1 -108.61275 39.35114 24 8 S 101 W 6195 5160 26.0 26 3 2 1 3 1 21 

90 05-045-06296 O&G DYCO-MESAGAR FED 25-1 -108.61144 39.42092 25 7 S 101 W 7385 4273 34.0 34 5 4 3 4 1 26 

91 05-077-08506 O&G FEES-HUNTERS CNYN2-24-81 -108.61111 39.34639 24 8 S 101 W 6890 5160 35.0 35 7 7 4 8 2 20 

92 05-077-08505 O&G FEES-HUNTER CANYON 8 -108.594 39.33244 30 8 S 100 W 6772 5261 28.0 28 4 2 1 3 1 4 1 19 

93 05-045-06340 O&G DYCO-ALBERTSON RANCH 7-1 -108.59039 39.463 7 7 S 100 W 7123 3953 23.0 23 6 7 4 4 1 12 1

94 05-077-08551 O&G FEES-BELCO FED 19-1-800 -108.58975 39.34408 19 8 S 100 W 7115 5083 29.0 29 7 6 4 3 1 7 1 13 1

95 05-045-06262 O&G DYCO-MESAGAR 6-3 -108.58847 39.38406 6 8 S 100 W 7695 4483 20.0 20 10 12 8 8 2

96 05-045-06329 O&G DYCO-DOUGHERTY 1 -108.58056 39.45139 17 7 S 100 W 6953 3781 42.0 42 7 5 3 6 2 5 1 26 

97 ERD HUNTER MINE MS USGS BULL 851 -108.57514 39.30078 5 9 S 100 W 13.2 13.2 2 6.6 1 6.6 198 05-045-06750 O&G N AM RES-CEDAR BNCH32-29 -108.57422 39.50764 29 6 S 100 W 6758 3809 37.0 37 12 11 6 3 1 23 5

99 05-045-06688 O&G N AM RES-CEDAR BNCH40-17 -108.57358 39.52717 17 6 S 100 W 6721 3711 32.0 32 10 5 3 3 1 24 6

100 05-077-05122 O&G GRT BASIN-HUNTER CANYN 3 -108.57333 39.325 32 8 S 100 W 5838 5213 17.0 17 2 17 2

101 05-045-06320 O&G DYCO-MESAGAR FED 33-1 -108.55028 39.39711 33 7 S 100 W 7192 3886 32.0 32 10 8 6 16 3 8 1

102 05-077-08518 O&G KOCH-WINTER FLT 1-10-100 -108.54106 39.28589 10 9 S 100 W 7115 5431 14.0 14 5 8 4 6 1

103 05-077-08302 O&G COORS-USA 1-15-L.G. -108.53639 39.27283 15 9 S 100 W 6872 5648 18.0 18 4 3 1 15 3

104 05-045-05014 O&G GRT BASIN PETR-GOVT 1 -108.53297 39.37589 24 8 S 100 W 6989 3963 38.0 38 7 5 3 3 1 9 2 21 

105 05-077-08385 O&G COORS-USA 1-22LG -108.532 39.26383 22 9 S 100 W 7152 5733 15.0 15 5 6 3 9 2

106 05-077-08517 O&G KOCH-WINTER FLTS 1-2-100 -108.52625 39.29733 2 9 S 100 W 6747 4817 13.0 13 5 3 2 6 2 4 1

107 05-077-08442 O&G KOCH-WINTER FLTS1-14-100 -108.51825 39.27758 14 9 S 100 W 6862 5190 11.0 11 4 2 2 9 2

108 05-045-06341 O&G NUCORP-1-26 TATE FED G -108.51439 39.50594 26 6 S 100 W 6318 3028 33.0 33 9 8 6 7 1 18 2

109 05-045-06360 O&G DYCO-LATHAN 11-1 -108.50697 39.37364 11 8 S 100 W 6787 3779 36.0 36 13 10 7 9 3 17 3

110 05-077-08154 O&G KOCH-WINTER FLATS 2 -108.50694 39.28642 12 9 S 100 W 6615 4755 18.0 18 3 18 3
 Top Total coal Cameo/Wheeler coal zone

Rollins in CameoSandstone Fairfield

Map Kelly bsh Member coal group Total # # # # # 

No. Point ID Type Source Longitude Latitude Sec. Township Range elev. (ft) elev. (ft) (ft) coal beds 1.0-2.3 beds 2.3-3.5 beds 3.5-7 beds 7-14 beds >14 

Net-coal thickness (ft) and number of coal beds in bed-thickness catego

Data point identification Data point location

111 ERD MID-FARM 3 MS USGS BULL 851 -108.50061 39.22558 36 9 S 100 W 12.8 12.1 3 2.4 2 9.7 1112 05-045-06422 O&G NUCORP-TATE 1-25 -108.50022 39.50892 25 6 S 100 W 6224 2817 24.0 24 6 6 3 3 1 7 1 8 1113 05-077-08540 O&G DYCO-MESAGER FED 13-1 -108.49869 39.35858 13 8 S 100 W 6709 3850 28.0 28 12 13 9 3 1 4 1 8 1114 05-045-06728 O&G NARCO CEDAR BENCH UN33-1 -108.49844 39.56208 1 6 S 100 W 6267 2529 40.0 40 8 6 3 13 3 21 2115 05-045-06445 O&G DYCO-LATHAM 12-1 -108.49222 39.37083 12 8 S 100 W 6727 3641 36.0 36 9 10 6 3 1 4 1 19 116 05-045-06739 O&G NARCO-CEDAR BENCH 32-7 -108.48033 39.55122 7 6 S 99 W 6222 2267 44.0 44 14 14 9 3 1 13 3 14 1117 05-045-05075 O&G EL PASO-STANDARD SHALE -108.47742 39.48189 6 7 S 99 W 8256 2650 31.0 31 10 10 5 6 2 15 3118 05-045-06347 O&G NUCORP ENRGY G-1-30 TATE -108.47611 39.51117 30 6 S 99 W 6090 2450 40.0 40 9 3 2 12 4 4 1 21 2119 05-077-08317 O&G DYCO-LATHAM 18-1 -108.47564 39.361 18 8 S 99 W 6495 3591 30.0 30 8 6 4 14 3 10 1

120 05-077-05141 O&G F.L.COOPER-GOV'T 1 -108.47531 39.33678 30 8 S 99 W 6350 3815 13.0 13 4 6 3 7 1

121 05-077-08502 O&G KOCH-WINTER FLTS 1-18-99 -108.47397 39.27728 18 9 S 99 W 6316 4591 27.0 27 10 6 5 12 4 9 1122 ERD MS-53 MS USGS BULL 851 -108.47128 39.198 7 10 S 99 W 29.2 29.2 2 7.9 1 21.3 123 05-045-06332 O&G NUCORP-SHEFFIELD 1-17 -108.46608 39.53286 17 6 S 99 W 6080 2180 43.0 43 11 6 4 3 1 24 5 10 1

124 ERD MS-54 MS USGS BULL 851 -108.46475 39.18364 3 1 N 001 E 3.8 32 1 1 2 1

125 05-045-06218 O&G COORS-ACCO 1-29 USA-DF -108.46217 39.41783 29 7 S 99 W 6516 2816 23.0 23 4 2 1 6 2 15 126 ERD MS-55 MS USGS BULL 851 -108.45811 39.17956 2 1 N 001 E 3.8 3.8 1 3.8 1

127 05-077-08415 O&G COORS-USA 1 8 MR -108.45764 39.20422 8 10 S 99 W 6472 5024 12.0 12 4 6 3 6 1128 05-077-07334 O&G SUNRAY-RED ROCK PT 1 -108.455 39.28586 8 9 S 99 W 6269 4259 17.0 17 4 2 1 6 2 9 1129 ERD MS-56 MS USGS BULL 851 -108.45164 39.17358 11 1 N 001 E 2.5 21 2 1

130 ERD MS-57 MS USGS BULL 851 -108.44969 39.17133 11 1 N 001 E 13.6 13.6 2 6.4 1 7.2 1

131 05-045-06373 O&G COORS-USA 1-33 -108.44864 39.40978 33 7 S 99 W 6581 2687 30.0 30 11 13 8 9 2 8 1

132 05-045-06593 O&G CHEVRON-CHEVRON 1-25A -108.44667 39.67661 25 4 S 99 W 8443 1533 35.0 35 12 9 6 3 1 23 5

133 05-045-06608 O&G CHEVRON CHEVRON 65-12D -108.44567 39.63292 12 5 S 99 W 8190 1162 31.0 31 10 9 5 9 3 13 2134 05-077-08457 O&G KOCH-WINTER FLTS 1-16-99 -108.44022 39.27553 16 9 S 99 W 6070 4278 25.0 25 7 7 5 4 1 14 1135 ERD MS-58 MS USGS BULL 851 -108.4375 39.16383 13 1 N 001 E 6.3 6.3 1 6.3 1

136 05-045-06616 O&G AA PROD-2A-27 TEXACO FEE -108.43503 39.50469 27 6 S 99 W 5839 1949 41.0 41 11 10 6 6 2 12 2 13 1137 05-077-08455 O&G KOCH-WINTER FLTS 1-10-99 -108.42914 39.285 10 9 S 99 W 6187 3987 31.0 31 8 7 5 4 1 20 2

138 ERD MS-59 MS USGS BULL 851 -108.42606 39.15678 13 1 N 001 E 1.0 11 1 1

139 ERD MS-60 MS USGS BULL 851 -108.42397 39.15472 13 1 N 001 E 9.6 9.6 1 9.6 1

140 05-045-06757 O&G AA PRODUCTION-FED 10-1 -108.42064 39.55433 10 6 S 99 W 6087 1427 51.0 51 12 10 5 9 3 15 3 17 141 05-077-65350 O&G MARATHON-DEBEQUE UNIT 2 -108.42042 39.32128 34 8 S 99 W 7276 3726 29.0 29 11 10 6 6 2 13 3

142 05-077-08596 O&G ANADARKO-WINTER FED 2-14 -108.41342 39.29736 2 9 S 99 W 6151 3681 33.0 33 9 7 4 3 1 15 3 8 1

143 05-077-08464 O&G KOCH-WINTER FLATS1-11-99 -108.41147 39.285 11 9 S 99 W 7005 4770 29.0 29 9 13 7 3 1 13 

144 05-077-08301 O&G COORS-USA 1-26 HG -108.40547 39.32878 26 8 S 99 W 7024 3480 30.0 30 9 10 6 3 1 5 1 12 1145 05-045-06705 O&G AA PROD-SAVAGE 1-25 -108.40419 39.50461 26 6 S 99 W 5766 1536 44.0 44 14 13 8 6 2 17 3 8 1

146 05-045-06756 O&G AA PRODUCTION FED 14-1 -108.40314 39.53497 14 6 S 99 W 5920 1334 42.0 42 12 15 8 10 2 17 2147 05-077-08373 O&G DOME-CAMEO FED 3-36 -108.39614 39.22761 36 9 S 99 W 6388 4793 20.0 20 9 11 7 9 2148 05-045-06310 O&G COORS-SPEARS 2-36 DF -108.39275 39.40389 36 7 S 99 W 5961 2381 49.0 49 15 14 10 20 4 15 

149 05-045-06303 O&G TETON-ALBERTSON RNCH13-4 -108.38814 39.44503 13 7 S 99 W 5874 1908 42.0 42 14 14 9 13 3 15 2150 05-077-08155 O&G KOCH-HANCOCK GULCH #1 -108.3875 39.36425 13 8 S 99 W 5800 2753 36.0 36 7 4 3 10 2 22 2

151 05-045-06621 O&G AA PROD-1-25 TEXACO FEE -108.38733 39.50689 25 6 S 99 W 5794 1324 40.0 40 11 11 6 12 3 17 2152 05-077-05045 O&G UNITED-FED 5-6 -108.37739 39.22075 6 10 S 98 W 6200 4392 15.0 15 3 3 1 4 1 8 1153 05-077-05058 O&G UNITED-FED 3-31 -108.37344 39.22808 31 9 S 98 W 6680 4602 14.0 14 4 6 2 8 2154 05-077-08493 O&G COORS-USA1-18JACKSON CYN -108.3715 39.26986 18 9 S 98 W 6023 3829 31.0 31 11 12 8 3 1 7 1 9 1

155 05-045-06743 O&G CONQUEST-S.SHALE RDG10-7 -108.36733 39.37297 7 8 S 98 W 5658 2421 35.0 35 11 8 6 3 1 12 3 12 1156 05-077-05114 O&G PHILLIPS-DEBEQUE 1 -108.36133 39.31703 31 8 S 98 W 5869 3519 43.0 43 10 6 4 3 1 16 3 18 2157 05-077-08314 O&G COORS-USA 1-17 JC -108.35764 39.27458 17 9 S 98 W 5829 3599 35.0 35 10 10 6 8 2 17 2158 05-077-08386 O&G DOME-DOME ALBERTSON 1-32 -108.35564 39.2335 32 9 S 98 W 6350 4378 20.0 20 8 4 4 3 1 13 3159 05-077-08371 O&G COORS-1-20 JC -108.35031 39.26311 20 9 S 98 W 5932 3702 28.0 28 8 4 3 6 2 9 2 9 1160 05-077-05056 O&G UNITED-FED 4-32 -108.35003 39.22856 32 9 S 98 W 6283 4407 15.0 15 5 2 1 9 3 4 1161 05-045-06609 O&G CELSIUS-MCLISH FED 8-1 -108.34794 39.37586 8 8 S 98 W 5590 2275 48.0 48 16 10 9 3 1 24 5 11 1162 05-045-05201 O&G CHEVRON CHEV-PACIFIC 1 -108.34489 39.61533 13 5 S 98 W 7815 500 24.0 24 5 2 1 3 1 11 2 8 1

163 05-077-08610 O&G CONQUEST-S.SHALE RDG9-17 -108.34372 39.35586 17 8 S 98 W 6448 2565 46.0 46 12 5 5 9 3 12 2 20 2

164 05-045-06727 O&G BARRETT-1-36 TOM CREEK -108.34228 39.57425 36 5 S 98 W 6060 322 43.0 43 8 6 3 4 1 33 4

165 05-077-08510 O&G COORS-USA 1-9C -108.34114 39.20439 9 10 S 98 W 5926 4011 22.0 22 6 6 4 6 1 10 1
 Top Total coal Cameo/Wheeler coal zone

Rollins in CameoSandstone Fairfield

Map Kelly bsh Member coal group Total # # # # # 

No. Point ID Type Source Longitude Latitude Sec. Township Range elev. (ft) elev. (ft) (ft) coal beds 1.0-2.3 beds 2.3-3.5 beds 3.5-7 beds 7-14 beds >14 

Net-coal thickness (ft) and number of coal beds in bed-thickness catego

Data point identification Data point location

166 05-045-06581 O&G CHEVRON-CHEVRON 4-28H -108.33922 39.49844 28 6 S 98 W 6269 858 55.0 55 14 9 7 6 2 13 3 8 1 19 

167 05-077-05065 O&G UNITED-U CARBN 1-34 GOVT -108.31792 39.23242 34 9 S 98 W 5702 4020 25.0 25 8 7 4 6 2 12 2

168 05-077-07230 O&G MCAULIFFE-WILDCAT 1 -108.31708 39.32144 34 8 S 98 W 5100 2642 33.0 33 7 1 1 6 2 10 2 16 2169 05-077-08614 O&G CONQUEST-S.SHALE RDG5-23 -108.30281 39.34519 23 8 S 98 W 6258 2433 39.0 39 12 10 8 10 2 19 2

170 05-077-05079 O&G UNITED-FED 2-23 -108.29947 39.25767 23 9 S 98 W 5657 3389 38.0 38 9 2 1 6 2 24 5 6 1

171 05-077-08420 O&G TETON-FED 35-2 -108.29761 39.31722 35 8 S 98 W 5297 2733 48.0 48 11 8 6 4 1 36 4172 05-077-08673 O&G MARALEX-SUL GUL9-98-14-1 -108.29547 39.27392 14 9 S 98 W 5306 2988 44.0 44 16 13 9 12 4 9 2 10 1

173 CA-77-1 ROT USGS OF 78-540 -108.2945 39.16997 23 10 S 98 W 4800 4235 26.0 26 8 7.5 5 11 2 7.5 1

174 05-077-08606 O&G DEKALB-WAGON TR FED44-11 -108.29225 39.28267 11 9 S 98 W 5156 2822 39.0 39 12 10 5 12 4 8 2 9 1

175 05-077-08601 O&G CONQUEST-S.SHALE RDG4-13 -108.28753 39.36592 13 8 S 98 W 5418 1995 55.0 55 18 13 10 6 2 19 4 17 2

176 05-077-08249 O&G TETON-HARVEY/FED36-3COON -108.28264 39.31144 36 8 S 98 W 5186 2464 50.0 50 14 11 8 3 1 18 3 18 2

177 05-045-06442 O&G COORS-USA 1-12LW -108.28175 39.37811 12 8 S 98 W 5381 1789 61.0 61 18 11 9 6 2 16 4 28 3178 05-077-08410 O&G TETON-ROAN CRK FED 25-3 -108.28011 39.32503 25 8 S 98 W 5268 2542 53.0 53 12 7 6 3 1 10 2 19 2 14 179 05-045-06435 O&G COORS-USA 1-1LW -108.27889 39.38894 1 8 S 98 W 5360 1704 59.0 59 12 6 3 9 3 13 3 31 3

180 05-077-08613 O&G CONQUEST-S.SHALE RDG7-24 -108.27603 39.34892 24 8 S 98 W 5790 2184 40.0 40 10 5 4 6 2 10 2 19 2181 PA-77-1 ROT USGS OF 78-540 -108.27483 39.01336 18 12 S 97 W 6840 6710.5 3.0 31 3 1

182 CA-77-2 ROT USGS OF 78-540 -108.27167 39.18011 13 10 S 98 W 4840 3952 28.5 28.5 9 5.5 4 5.5 2 8.5 2 9 1

183 05-045-06305 O&G COORS-COWPERTHWAITE2-6LS -108.26544 39.39033 6 8 S 97 W 5150 1542 41.0 41 10 12 6 3 1 26 3184 05-045-06362 O&G COORS-USA 1-31LW -108.25417 39.4015 31 7 S 97 W 5408 1230 37.0 37 10 4 3 12 4 10 2 11 1185 05-077-08520 O&G KOCH-HORSESHOE CNYN 2-31 -108.25278 39.22719 31 9 S 97 W 5662 3580 15.0 15 10 12 9 3 1186 05-077-05038 O&G BIGHORN PDR RIV-FED A 1 -108.25169 39.20747 7 10 S 97 W 5288 3484 38.0 38 10 5 3 12 4 13 2 8 1187 05-077-05054 O&G TEXACO-MEFFELMIRE GOVT 1 -108.24789 39.22489 32 9 S 97 W 5648 3598 16.0 16 5 4 2 6 2 6 1188 05-077-08408 O&G ALTA-FED 32-1 -108.24775 39.23194 32 9 S 97 W 5748 3506 33.0 33 11 13 7 20 4189 IP-77-1 ROT USGS OF 78-540 -108.24233 38.99503 21 12 S 97 W 7230 6683 31.0 31 8 5.5 4 5 2 3.5 1 17 

190 05-077-08483 O&G COORS-DEBEQUE 1-8 -108.24081 39.28653 8 9 S 97 W 4881 2367 61.0 61 11 9 5 3 1 9 2 16 2 24 191 05-045-06326 O&G COORS-USA 1-5-LW -108.23889 39.38889 5 8 S 97 W 5395 1329 46.0 46 8 6 3 3 1 15 3 22 192 05-077-05041 O&G TEXACO-ROBERTS CANYN U1 -108.23875 39.21386 5 10 S 97 W 5755 3610 28.0 28 9 10 5 3 1 15 3193 05-077-08143 O&G KOCH-HORSESHOE CYN FED 1 -108.23803 39.24803 29 9 S 97 W 5387 3091 36.0 36 14 15 11 3 1 4 1 14 1194 05-077-08335 O&G KOCH-SILVEY FLATS 1-8` -108.23761 39.19786 8 10 S 97 W 5338 3458 40.0 40 14 13 10 15 3 12 

195 05-077-08549 O&G KOCH-HORSHU 1-17 -108.23639 39.27083 17 9 S 97 W 5442 2600 52.0 52 10 6 4 6 2 7 1 17 2 16 

196 05-077-08459 O&G COORS-PRATHER 1-5 -108.23583 39.29694 5 9 S 97 W 4951 2151 52.0 52 11 5 4 6 2 10 2 16 2 15 

197 05-077-05139 O&G GULF-MULROONEY 1 -108.23519 39.33631 29 8 S 97 W 5014 2100 39.0 39 7 4 2 17 3 18 2198 05-077-08232 O&G KOCH-HORSESHEO CYN UNIT3 -108.22958 39.23914 28 9 S 97 W 5616 3231 40.0 40 14 14 9 6 2 12 2 8 1199 05-077-05055 O&G TEXACO-ROBERTS CANYON 2 -108.22503 39.22653 33 9 S 97 W 5664 3448 37.0 37 11 7 4 9 3 14 3 7 1200 05-077-08486 O&G KOCH-HORSESHOE CNYN 4-21 -108.21986 39.262 21 9 S 97 W 5351 2651 44.0 44 13 14 9 10 2 20 2

201 05-077-08231 O&G KOCH-HORSESHOE CANYON 4 -108.21553 39.23361 33 9 S 97 W 5597 3287 32.0 32 12 12 6 12 4 8 2

202 05-077-08361 O&G COORS-USA 1-34-CM -108.206 39.14936 34 10 S 97 W 7147 3847 27.0 27 8 3 3 6 2 9 2 9 1203 05-077-08393 O&G COORS-USA 1-27 CM -108.20278 39.16167 27 10 S 97 W 6685 3610 27.0 27 8 6 3 6 2 15 3204 05-077-08338 O&G COORS-NICHOLS 1-15 CM -108.20075 39.18767 15 10 S 97 W 5938 3210 35.0 35 8 2 1 9 3 24 4205 05-077-08271 O&G DYCO-SOMERVILLE #1 -108.2 39.06056 26 11 S 97 W 10009 5219 30.0 30 7 2 1 9 3 9 2 10 1206 05-077-08230 O&G KOCH-HORSESHOE CYN UNIT5 -108.19956 39.22961 34 9 S 97 W 5673 3189 33.0 33 10 7 4 6 2 20 4207 05-077-08184 O&G NORRIS-FED 3-1 -108.19894 39.21981 3 10 S 97 W 5779 3264 56.0 56 13 2 1 12 4 34 7 8 1208 05-077-08254 O&G COORS-NICHOLS 1-22 CM -108.19875 39.17519 22 10 S 97 W 6286 3366 31.0 31 9 7 4 3 1 21 4209 05-077-08524 O&G ALTA-ALTA 23-1 -108.19236 39.25558 23 9 S 97 W 5311 2711 29.0 29 11 11 7 3 1 15 3210 05-077-08592 O&G BARRETT-DCB 2-23 -108.18892 39.35022 23 8 S 97 W 5014 1480 41.0 41 11 9 5 3 1 19 4 10 1211 05-077-08011 O&G GASCO-SHIRE GULCH 2-A -108.18842 39.22192 2 10 S 97 W 5710 3212 40.0 40 15 18 9 9 3 13 3212 05-077-05062 O&G PACIFIC-SHIRE GLCH 23-35 -108.18747 39.22883 35 9 S 97 W 5687 3103 32.0 32 13 12 7 15 5 5 1213 05-077-08333 O&G COORS-NICHOLS 1-14 CM -108.18706 39.18803 14 10 S 97 W 5775 3125 43.0 43 12 9 5 6 2 13 3 15 2214 05-077-08332 O&G COORS-NICHOLS 2-26 CM -108.18392 39.16247 26 10 S 97 W 6346 3440 41.0 41 8 5 3 8 2 28 3

215 05-077-08494 O&G NORRIS-FED 26-1 -108.17958 39.24197 26 9 S 97 W 5386 2826 39.0 39 14 14 8 9 3 8 2 8 1

216 05-077-08548 O&G JN-JN KULP LYON #1 -108.17236 39.26961 13 9 S 97 W 6116 2351 39.0 39 11 11 7 3 1 10 2 15 217 05-077-08134 O&G NORRIS-FED 36-1 -108.17164 39.23522 36 9 S 97 W 5562 2877 55.0 55 14 9 5 12 4 23 4 11 1

218 05-077-05046 O&G COMPASS-GOVT WILLIAMS #1 -108.17 39.221 1 10 S 97 W 5830 3116 51.0 51 15 9 5 15 5 19 4 8 1

219 05-077-08118 O&G TETON-FEE NO. 1 -108.16528 39.32967 25 8 S 97 W 5634 1497 47.0 47 11 9 5 21 4 17 2220 05-077-08157 O&G NORRIS-FED 36-2 -108.16417 39.22903 36 9 S 97 W 5562 2940 47.0 47 8 3 2 3 1 17 3 11 1 13 
 Top Total coal Cameo/Wheeler coal zone

Rollins in CameoSandstone Fairfield

Map Kelly bsh Member coal group Total # # # # # 

No. Point ID Type Source Longitude Latitude Sec. Township Range elev. (ft) elev. (ft) (ft) coal beds 1.0-2.3 beds 2.3-3.5 beds 3.5-7 beds 7-14 beds >14 

Net-coal thickness (ft) and number of coal beds in bed-thickness catego

Data point identification Data point location

221 05-077-08436 O&G COORS-HARVEY 2-25 -108.16322 39.16119 25 10 S 97 W 5932 3296 42.0 42 9 4 3 24 5 14 

222 05-045-05007 O&G OROCO OIL-FED 1 -108.16031 39.37297 12 8 S 97 W 5177 915 56.0 56 10 2 1 6 2 29 5 19 2

223 05-077-08100 O&G COORS-DAVIS 1-24 -108.15936 39.17536 24 10 S 97 W 5569 3081 39.0 39 13 10 7 29 6224 05-077-05044 O&G COMPASS-SHIRE GULCH #1 -108.15586 39.22058 6 10 S 96 W 5423 3039 43.0 43 14 14 8 9 3 12 2 8 1225 05-045-06755 O&G BARRETT-MV 17-06 -108.154 39.46978 6 7 S 96 W 6411 -389 60.0 60 13 13 7 3 1 8 2 9 1 27 

226 05-077-05073 O&G PACIFIC-SHIRE 14-30-3 -108.15317 39.24056 30 9 S 96 W 5623 2669 47.0 47 15 15 8 9 3 14 3 9 1227 IP-77-2A ROT USGS OF 78-540 -108.14739 38.88108 32 13 S 96 W 8700 7654 15.5 15.5 6 6.5 4 9 2

228 05-077-08475 O&G COORS-BEVAN 1-30 -108.14564 39.15833 30 10 S 96 W 5777 3217 34.0 34 10 6 4 6 2 13 3 9 1229 05-045-06823 O&G BARRETT-MV 58-19 -108.144 39.50344 19 6 S 96 W 6046 -964 38.0 38 14 15 10 16 3 7 1230 05-077-08531 O&G COORS-WOOD 4-32 -108.13286 39.14564 32 10 S 96 W 5957 3325 34.0 34 9 6 3 12 4 5 1 11 1

231 05-077-08409 O&G COORS-BORUCH 1-4 -108.13178 39.12761 4 11 S 96 W 6329 3583 41.0 41 12 16 8 15 3 10 1232 IP-77-3 ROT USGS OF 78-540 -108.13039 38.87767 33 13 S 96 W 8450 7665.5 15.0 15 5 3 2 6 2 6 1233 05-077-08197 O&G CHANDLER-PLATEAU CR11-32 -108.12947 39.22986 32 9 S 96 W 6272 2632 48.0 48 16 12 10 3 1 19 4 14 1234 05-045-06749 O&G BARRETT-MV 34-05 -108.12667 39.46222 5 7 S 96 W 5996 -462 58.0 58 11 10 5 14 3 19 2 15 

235 05-077-08206 O&G CHANDLER-KUEHN 15-17 -108.12617 39.18231 17 10 S 96 W 5471 2828 42.0 42 13 6 4 12 4 24 5236 05-077-08543 O&G NORRIS-ZAHM #29-3 -108.12233 39.16222 29 10 S 96 W 5676 3074 39.0 39 10 6 4 3 1 15 3 15 2237 05-077-08108 O&G COORS-TRAHERN 1-20 -108.12167 39.17111 20 10 S 96 W 5546 2931 43.0 43 9 3 2 9 3 12 2 19 2238 05-077-08358 O&G KENAI-BULL BASIN FED15-3 -108.11547 39.08897 15 11 S 96 W 7750 4194 36.0 36 14 18 10 18 4239 05-045-07119 O&G BARRETT-GM 201-4 -108.11333 39.46667 4 7 S 96 W 5682 -760 35.0 35 10 8 4 3 1 24 5

240 05-077-05019 O&G HAMMONDS-US PICKENS 33-1 -108.11242 39.14603 33 10 S 96 W 6350 3226 38.0 38 8 6 3 6 2 4 1 22 2241 HK-77-1 ROT USGS OF 78-540 -108.11172 38.88131 34 13 S 96 W 8030 7446.5 34.5 34.5 9 9 6 10 2 15.5 

242 05-077-05021 O&G LANDAUER-GOV'T #1 -108.10756 39.16081 28 10 S 96 W 6007 3036 51.0 51 9 5 4 3 1 15 2 28 243 05-077-08151 O&G CHANDLER-WOODRING 15-16 -108.10617 39.18383 16 10 S 96 W 5358 2742 37.0 37 13 12 7 12 4 4 1 9 1244 05-077-08105 O&G NORRIS FED #21-22 -108.10267 39.17128 21 10 S 96 W 5816 2825 43.0 43 10 6 3 12 4 6 1 19 2245 05-077-08042 O&G NORRIS-MORAN 2-27 -108.09808 39.15756 27 10 S 96 W 5985 3008 44.0 44 9 6 4 14 3 24 2246 05-045-06789 O&G BARRETT-GR 1-3SH FED -108.096 39.46503 3 7 S 96 W 5675 -767 37.0 37 11 7 4 9 3 13 3 8 1

247 05-077-08205 O&G CHANDLER-6-22 BARNARD -108.09344 39.17472 22 10 S 96 W 5584 2724 45.0 45 11 12 6 6 2 6 1 21 2248 05-077-08107 O&G FLYING DIAMOND-FED 10-1 -108.09303 39.20419 10 10 S 96 W 5661 2487 42.0 42 13 6 4 9 3 27 6249 05-077-08519 O&G NORRIS-PALLAORO 15-2 -108.09261 39.18531 15 10 S 96 W 5482 2654 39.0 39 11 12 7 3 1 5 1 19 2250 05-045-06786 O&G BARRETT-MV 45-10 -108.092 39.45697 10 7 S 96 W 5879 -621 56.0 56 7 4 2 16 3 36 

251 05-045-06730 O&G BARRETT-GV 33-22 -108.092 39.41747 22 7 S 96 W 5123 17 47.0 47 11 5 3 9 3 20 4 13 1252 05-077-05155 O&G ROUNDS-KENNON 1 -108.08792 39.34461 15 8 S 96 W 5762 828 45.0 45 11 10 5 3 1 21 4 11 1

253 05-077-08113 O&G MTN FUEL-BUL BSN FED1-35 -108.07861 39.15025 35 10 S 96 W 6247 2992 36.0 36 11 10 6 3 1 8 2 15 2254 05-045-06811 O&G BARRETT-GR 23-11-V -108.078 39.45006 11 7 S 96 W 5805 -651 51.0 51 13 17 9 10 2 11 1 13 

255 HK-77-2 ROT USGS OF 78-540 -108.07711 38.89339 25 13 S 96 W 7390 7179 16.5 16.5 4 4.5 3 12 1

256 05-077-05022 O&G HAMMONDS-US MORAN 26-1 -108.07447 39.16042 26 10 S 96 W 6007 2844 38.0 38 8 5 3 15 3 18 2257 05-045-07050 O&G BARRETT-GM 34-2 -108.074 39.46114 2 7 S 96 W 5251 -884 53.0 53 11 8 4 9 3 10 2 26 2

258 05-077-05060 O&G POOL-COREY 1 -108.07397 39.22814 35 9 S 96 W 6074.7 2104.7 67.0 67 12 3 2 6 2 23 5 20 2 15 

259 HK-77-3 ROT USGS OF 78-540 -108.07283 38.90742 24 13 S 96 W 7660 6963.5 23.5 23.5 9 9 7 5.5 1 9 1

260 05-077-05029 O&G HAMMONDS-JOHNSON #23-1 -108.07197 39.17503 23 10 S 96 W 5703 2613 52.0 52 11 12 6 6 2 4 1 14 1 16 

261 05-077-08363 O&G TETON-BULL BASIN 1-3 -108.07061 39.11964 1 11 S 96 W 8014 3427 54.0 54 13 11 7 20 4 7 1 16 262 05-077-08004 O&G GASCO-WALKER #1 -108.06828 39.20094 11 10 S 96 W 6096 2402 31.0 31 10 8 5 6 2 8 2 9 1263 05-077-08104 O&G NORRIS-CURRIER 14-2 -108.06725 39.19333 14 10 S 96 W 5420 2450 48.0 48 16 15 8 9 3 24 5264 05-077-08286 O&G SKYLINE-HITTLE DUCRAY 3 -108.06583 39.22 2 10 S 96 W 6066 2166 42.0 42 14 10 5 15 5 17 4

265 05-045-07056 O&G BARRETT-GM 13-1 -108.06444 39.46528 1 7 S 96 W 5542 -1086 47.0 47 11 8 5 3 1 8 2 28 3266 05-077-08068 O&G NORRIS-NORRIS 25-3 -108.05617 39.16428 25 10 S 96 W 6552 2702 37.0 37 13 10 6 9 3 18 4267 LEE-MS-2(20) MS USGS BULL 510 -108.05472 38.91111 19 13 S 95 W 19.5 19.5 3 9 2 10.5 1

268 05-077-05028 O&G LA CIMA-MILLHOLLAND SR 1 -108.0525 39.17333 24 10 S 96 W 6326 2558 42.0 42 11 8 4 3 1 23 5 8 1

269 FAIRLAMB75-2 ROT USGS OF 79-327 -108.0525 38.91992 18 13 S 95 W 7670 6674.5 40.5 40 10 8.5 6 10 2 21.5 2

270 05-077-08098 O&G FLYING D-MIL25-1 -108.05111 39.15494 25 10 S 96 W 6700 2828 27.0 27 7 6 4 11 2 10 1271 05-077-05050 O&G EL PASO-RUSHMORE FED 1 -108.05092 39.22172 1 10 S 96 W 6063 2078 56.0 56 9 2 1 6 2 14 3 19 2 15 272 05-077-08091 O&G FLYING DMND-NICHOLAS13-1 -108.05083 39.18078 13 10 S 96 W 5835 2404 44.0 44 18 11 8 21 7 12 3

273 05-077-08532 O&G ALTA-DOLLEY 36-1 -108.05053 39.22639 36 9 S 96 W 6006 2022 51.0 51 13 12 7 6 2 4 1 29 3274 05-077-08135 O&G NORRIS-FINCH 13-3 -108.04931 39.19353 13 10 S 96 W 5584 2291 49.0 49 16 18 9 3 1 28 6

275 05-077-05011 O&G PACIFIC-SMITH 1-C -108.04617 39.06228 30 11 S 95 W 10191 4126 31.0 31 4 2 1 4 1 25 2
 Top Total coal Cameo/Wheeler coal zone

Rollins in CameoSandstone Fairfield

Map Kelly bsh Member coal group Total # # # # # 

No. Point ID Type Source Longitude Latitude Sec. Township Range elev. (ft) elev. (ft) (ft) coal beds 1.0-2.3 beds 2.3-3.5 beds 3.5-7 beds 7-14 beds >14 

Net-coal thickness (ft) and number of coal beds in bed-thickness catego

Data point identification Data point location

276 05-045-06485 O&G SUPERIOR-FEDERAL 30-11 -108.044 39.41261 30 7 S 95 W 6137 -348 54.0 54 12 9 6 23 4 22 2

277 05-077-05033 O&G APACHE-THOMAS #1 -108.04214 39.18603 18 10 S 95 W 5970 2270 38.0 38 10 4 2 9 3 25 5278 05-077-08090 O&G FLYING DMND-CURRIER 30-1 -108.04189 39.16297 30 10 S 95 W 6456 2646 45.0 45 15 15 10 3 1 18 3 9 1279 05-077-08567 O&G ROUNDUP-SHEAR 30-4 -108.04106 39.25125 30 9 S 95 W 6212 1617 68.0 68 13 7 4 6 2 9 2 46 5280 05-077-08237 O&G COORS-BOREN 1-7 -108.03947 39.20556 7 10 S 95 W 5553 2119 57.0 57 13 14 8 3 1 5 1 19 2 16 

281 05-077-08089 O&G FLYING DMND-19-3 CURRIER -108.0385 39.16964 19 10 S 95 W 6355 2530 46.0 46 16 16 9 12 4 18 3

282 05-077-08411 O&G EXXON-RODGERS FEDERAL #1 -108.03675 39.22217 6 10 S 95 W 5954 1949 62.0 62 21 26 15 3 1 22 4 11 1

283 05-045-06763 O&G BARRETT-MV 43-31 -108.033 39.47578 31 6 S 95 W 5262 -1352 44.0 44 11 11 6 3 1 8 2 9 1 13 284 05-077-08099 O&G COORS-ACCO/NICHOLS 1-31 -108.03286 39.14244 31 10 S 95 W 7264 2958 41.0 41 11 11 6 3 1 15 3 12 285 HK-77-4 ROT USGS OF 78-540 -108.03067 38.94147 8 13 S 95 W 6970 6193.5 30.0 30 10 5 3 10 4 7.5 2 7.5 1

286 05-077-08354 O&G TETON-KNOX 19-1 -108.02928 39.35444 19 8 S 95 W 6783 243 42.0 42 10 6 4 3 1 21 4 12 1287 05-077-08458 O&G COORS-SWETLAND 1-5 -108.02853 39.12903 5 11 S 95 W 7457 3167 51.0 51 10 6 3 6 2 15 3 8 1 16 

288 05-045-06679 O&G BARRETT-GV 81-5 -108.028 39.47203 5 7 S 95 W 5171 -1311 47.0 47 10 7 5 12 3 12 1 16 289 05-077-08087 O&G FLYING DMND-1-19 CURRIER -108.02744 39.17886 19 10 S 95 W 6251 2325 51.0 51 19 22 12 12 4 17 3290 05-077-08269 O&G COORS-BIG CRK CATTLE 2-7 -108.02689 39.20797 7 10 S 95 W 6229 2006 62.0 62 10 8 4 3 1 5 1 30 3 16 291 HK-77-5 ROT USGS OF 78-540 -108.02661 38.92561 16 13 S 95 W 6760 6414.5 27.5 27.5 7 4.5 4 5 1 18 2

292 05-045-06685 O&G BARRETT-GV 39-32 -108.026 39.47828 32 6 S 95 W 5194 -1303 63.0 63 15 12 7 9 3 15 3 11 1 16 293 05-077-08445 O&G COORS-NICHOLS 1-29 -108.02292 39.15603 29 10 S 95 W 6786 2720 35.0 35 13 12 7 6 2 17 4

294 05-077-08331 O&G COORS-NICHOLS 2-5 -108.02275 39.22228 5 10 S 95 W 5664 1877 64.0 64 15 12 6 6 2 26 5 20 2

295 05-077-08288 O&G BOW VALLEY-REED 20-3 -108.02236 39.16961 20 10 S 95 W 6458 2506 38.0 38 11 11 7 9 2 18 2296 05-077-08511 O&G COORS-NICHOLS #1-32 -108.022 39.14761 32 10 S 95 W 7097 2837 45.0 45 10 4 2 9 3 13 3 19 2297 05-077-08572 O&G ROUNDUP-SHEAR 20-14 -108.01611 39.25583 20 9 S 95 W 6038 1355 57.0 57 14 14 8 6 2 10 2 27 2298 05-077-08193 O&G BOW VALLEY-WISSEL 17-2 -108.01381 39.18414 17 10 S 95 W 6813 2263 45.5 45.5 8 2 1 6 2 13.5 3 24 2299 05-077-08162 O&G CHANDLER-V. PUETT 15-29 -108.01303 39.24172 29 9 S 95 W 6024 1544 52.0 52 12 9 6 6 2 4 1 33 3300 05-045-06677 O&G BARRETT-GV 40-33 -108.008 39.47772 33 6 S 95 W 5180 -1505 48.0 48 12 10 7 3 1 4 1 31 3301 05-045-06413 O&G NORTHWEST-BATTLEMENT 1 -108.00514 39.45667 9 7 S 95 W 5724 -1126 36.0 34 12 15 9 3 1 16 2 

302 05-045-06668 O&G BARRETT-GV 48-4 -108.001 39.47211 4 7 S 95 W 5172 -1443 64.0 64 14 8 6 3 1 20 4 33 3303 05-077-08110 O&G FLYING DIAMOND-BIGCRK9-1 -108.00017 39.2 9 10 S 95 W 6268 2026 58.0 58 8 7 4 5 1 13 1 33 304 05-077-08172 O&G CHANDLER-STITES 15-33 -107.99528 39.22706 33 9 S 95 W 6037 1672 42.0 42 14 13 10 10 2 19 2305 05-077-08477 O&G COORS-WEBB #3-4 -107.99356 39.21236 4 10 S 95 W 6346 1866 62.0 62 19 22 13 9 3 4 1 10 1 17 

306 05-029-06007 O&G PETRO LWIS-HAWKINS 16-10 -107.99133 38.93222 10 13 S 95 W 6497 6292 22.0 22 4 9 3 13 1

307 CE-77-1 ROT USGS OF 78-540 -107.98814 38.94811 2 13 S 95 W 6800 5955.5 48.5 48.5 13 5.5 5 5.5 2 19 4 18.5 2

308 CE-77-2 ROT USGS OF 79-327 -107.98647 38.93367 11 13 S 95 W 6700 6263.5 42.0 42 14 11.5 9 8.5 3 4.5 1 17.5 

309 05-077-08359 O&G TETON-COLO WATER 15-2 -107.98525 39.19408 15 10 S 95 W 6732 2070 56.0 56 10 4 2 6 2 14 3 32 3

310 05-077-05042 O&G MCCULLOCH-WEBB 1 -107.98067 39.21214 3 10 S 95 W 6302 1807 45.0 45 7 5 3 3 1 10 1 27 

311 05-077-08111 O&G TETON-KATHLYN YOUNG 4-15 -107.97522 39.18636 15 10 S 95 W 6950 2112 61.0 61 11 4 3 9 3 9 2 22 2 17 312 05-077-08485 O&G COORS-MOONEY #2-10 -107.97353 39.20839 10 10 S 95 W 6458 1814 52.0 52 17 24 14 6 1 22 2313 05-045-05055 O&G SOUTHERN UNION-FED 14-95 -107.97164 39.44092 14 7 S 95 W 6834 -1248 28.0 28 7 6 3 14 3 8 1314 05-077-08259 O&G TETON-WALCK 23-2 -107.96789 39.17908 23 10 S 95 W 7028 2204 67.0 67 18 19 10 6 2 19 4 23 2315 05-045-06703 O&G BARRETT-GV 86-2 -107.967 39.46506 2 7 S 95 W 5829 -1551 60.0 56 10 4 2 6 2 20 4 11 1 15 316 05-077-08424 O&G EXXON-A.M. KULP 1 -107.96617 39.22958 35 9 S 95 W 6185 1485 53.0 53 8 4 3 3 1 6 1 17 2 23 

317 05-077-08369 O&G TETON-LYONS 14-2 -107.96586 39.19211 14 10 S 95 W 6794 1990 58.0 58 12 10 6 15 3 33 3318 DUN-6A LL USGS MAP C-116 -107.96194 38.9375 12 13 S 95 W 6470 6145 34.0 34 10 5 5 3 1 17 3 9 1

319 05-077-08379 O&G EXXON-C.H. FOUR 1 -107.95758 39.26589 23 9 S 95 W 6541 942 57.0 57 8 8 5 20 2 29 

320 05-077-08425 O&G EXXON-KENNEY ESTATE 1 -107.95486 39.28797 11 9 S 95 W 7029 437 62.0 62 12 6 4 12 4 4 1 22 2 18 

321 05-077-08294 O&G EXXON-OLD MAN MTN #2 -107.9485 39.14869 36 10 S 95 W 7956 2526 41.0 41 9 7 4 3 1 9 2 22 2

322 05-077-05037 O&G PAN AM-WALCK 1 -107.94808 39.20761 12 10 S 95 W 6589 1689 66.0 66 15 14 8 6 2 13 2 33 3323 05-045-06696 O&G BARRETT-GV 87-36 -107.943 39.47864 36 6 S 95 W 5344 -2261 66.0 61 9 4 2 6 2 6 1 30 3 15 

324 05-045-06700 O&G BARRETT-GV 88-1 -107.942 39.46278 1 7 S 95 W 6247 -1894 82.0 70 10 5 3 3 1 10 2 35 3 17 325 05-077-08422 O&G TETON-DAVIS DOLLEY 36-1 -107.9405 39.23989 36 9 S 95 W 6179 1189 68.0 68 12 8 5 9 3 4 1 20 2 27 

326 05-077-08243 O&G TETON-SPARKS 36-4 -107.94003 39.22928 36 9 S 95 W 6294 1312 65.0 65 10 6 3 3 1 19 4 8 1 29 327 05-077-08419 O&G EXXON-E. GUNDERSON 1 -107.93647 39.25292 25 9 S 95 W 6319 979 59.0 59 13 12 6 6 2 18 3 23 2

328 05-029-06068 O&G TXP-YOUNGS CRK,SCOTT19-1 -107.93325 39.00006 19 12 S 94 W 8485 4977 52.0 52 11 6 4 3 1 15 3 28 3329 05-077-08219 O&G TETON-ANDERSON 7-3 -107.92928 39.19956 7 10 S 94 W 6716 1713 61.0 61 11 6 4 3 1 14 3 10 1 28 

330 05-077-08218 O&G TETON-WILLIAMS 18-3 -107.92736 39.18708 18 10 S 94 W 6886 1878 56.0 56 9 7 4 6 1 43 4
 Top Total coal Cameo/Wheeler coal zone

Rollins in CameoSandstone Fairfield

Map Kelly bsh Member coal group Total # # # # # 

No. Point ID Type Source Longitude Latitude Sec. Township Range elev. (ft) elev. (ft) (ft) coal beds 1.0-2.3 beds 2.3-3.5 beds 3.5-7 beds 7-14 beds >14 

Net-coal thickness (ft) and number of coal beds in bed-thickness catego

Data point identification Data point location

331 05-077-05091 O&G POOLE-DONALD 1 -107.92203 39.27303 18 9 S 94 W 6631 631 55.0 55 4 5 1 24 2 26 

332 DUN-7A LL USGS MAP C-116 -107.92167 38.93333 8 13 S 94 W 6731 6152 70.0 70 11 7 4 3 1 21 4 8 1 31 

333 05-077-05080 O&G FRED POOL-HUDSON 1 -107.91892 39.25836 19 9 S 94 W 6464 779 52.0 52 9 4 2 3 1 20 4 25 2

334 05-077-08390 O&G TETON-ZIEGAL 7-1 -107.91653 39.207 7 10 S 94 W 6773 1548 69.0 69 15 12 7 9 3 9 2 23 2 16 335 05-045-06975 O&G BARRETT-RM 40-20 -107.913 39.512 20 6 S 94 W 5457 -2482 85.0 62 13 13 8 6 1 43 4 

336 05-077-08416 O&G NORRIS-HILL 29-2 -107.90828 39.24383 29 9 S 94 W 6554 894 46.0 46 12 11 7 12 3 8 1 15 

337 05-077-05089 O&G PAN AM-LOWTHER GOVT 1 -107.90322 39.27528 17 9 S 94 W 6822 543 63.0 63 6 2 1 3 1 13 2 10 1 35 

338 05-077-07362 O&G POOLE-MOSS 1 -107.903 39.264 20 9 S 94 W 6530 682 54.0 54 7 4 2 11 2 22 2 17 

339 05-077-05017 O&G WESTERN FRNTR-BIG CRK 1 -107.90175 39.12242 4 11 S 94 W 9464 2856 39.0 39 10 10 5 20 4 9 1

340 05-077-08461 O&G BEARTOOTH-COLO LAND #2 -107.90103 39.18581 17 10 S 94 W 7144 1752 60.0 60 14 15 8 3 1 13 3 9 1 20 341 05-077-05075 O&G FRED POOL-CLYDE 1 -107.90086 39.24764 29 9 S 94 W 6561 800 52.0 52 9 6 3 3 1 14 3 11 1 18 

342 05-045-06178 O&G NORTHWEST EXPL-CLOUGH #2 -107.89703 39.50631 21 6 S 94 W 5289 -2379 86.0 59 15 17 9 3 1 10 2 29 3 343 05-045-06721 O&G BARRETT-GV 9-33 -107.887 39.48522 33 6 S 94 W 5333 -2137 96.0 87 18 17 10 16 3 54 5 

344 05-029-05031 O&G APACHE-MICHELSON 2 -107.88661 39.06178 34 11 S 94 W 10133 3903 61.0 61 6 4 2 3 1 5 1 8 1 41 345 05-045-06877 O&G BARRETT-RULISON DEEP 1 -107.881 39.49072 27 6 S 94 W 5365 -2127 98.0 85 14 12 6 3 1 12 2 42 4 16 346 05-077-08188 O&G EXXON-OLD MAN MTN #1 -107.87972 39.13839 33 10 S 94 W 10043 2293 43.0 43 12 12 7 3 1 8 2 20 2347 05-045-06009 O&G ARCO-NORTH RIFLE #1 -107.87942 39.65194 31 4 S 93 W 6488 -866 106.0 39 4 2 1 37 3 

348 CE-77-3 ROT USGS OF 79-327 -107.87942 38.93025 15 13 S 94 W 7170 6872 40.5 39 8 3 2 11.5 3 24.5 3

349 05-077-08598 O&G FUELCO-FEE E-22-10-94-S -107.87486 39.17894 22 10 S 94 W 7929 1441 48.0 48 12 8 5 6 2 24 4 10 1

350 05-045-05078 O&G S UNION-JUHAN FED 1 -107.86061 39.48639 35 6 S 94 W 5449 -2162 94.0 68 11 6 3 3 1 23 4 10 1 26 351 05-077-05035 O&G FRED POOLE-ROBBINS #1 -107.85086 39.20169 11 10 S 94 W 7603 983 72.0 72 9 4 2 6 2 4 1 19 2 39 

352 WS-2 ROT USGS OF 79-327 -107.84956 38.94006 12 13 S 94 W 7020 6722 44.5 44.5 7 3.5 2 18 3 8.5 1 14.5 

353 WS-1 ROT USGS OF 79-327 -107.84942 38.93731 12 13 S 94 W 6960 6793 11.0 11 3 1.5 1 9.5 2

354 DC77-2 ROT USGS OF 78-540 -107.8455 38.95172 1 13 S 94 W 7400 6452.5 43.0 43 8 2 2 3 1 4.5 1 33.5 4

355 05-077-08444 O&G KENAI-STARNER 26-32 -107.84425 39.25097 26 9 S 94 W 7379 327 66.0 66 11 7 4 3 1 19 4 8 1 29 

356 05-077-08345 O&G TERRA-BRSH CRK MCDAN1-11 -107.84417 39.28978 11 9 S 94 W 7426 -1 68.0 68 9 7 4 5 1 26 3 30 

357 05-077-08573 O&G ROUNDUP-GRIFFITH 14-2 -107.84411 39.28203 14 9 S 94 W 7289 20 69.0 69 9 3 2 3 1 17 3 19 2 27 

358 05-045-06731 O&G BARRETT-GV 20-25 -107.84 39.49317 25 6 S 94 W 6141 -2279 107.0 76 14 16 10 31 3 29 

359 05-045-06702 O&G BARRETT-GV-15-36 -107.84 39.4855 36 6 S 94 W 6393 -2160 100.0 63 12 9 6 18 3 36 3 

360 05-077-08043 O&G MOBIL-BEAR CRK 1-25 -107.83967 39.33339 25 8 S 94 W 8430 -356 74.0 55 6 2 1 3 1 4 1 25 2 21 

361 DC77-1 ROT USGS OF 78-540 -107.83336 38.93994 7 13 S 93 W 7040 6765.5 37.0 37 7 5 3 7.5 2 9.5 1 15 

362 05-077-07360 O&G ALPINE OIL-GOVT 1 -107.83089 39.18153 24 10 S 94 W 8512 1213 71.0 68 9 6 3 6 2 6 1 50 

363 05-045-06046 O&G MAGUIRE-NORTH RIFLE #3 -107.82444 39.62242 10 5 S 93 W 6001 -2695 98.0 49 7 2 1 6 2 9 2 32 

364 DC77-3 ROT USGS OF 78-540 -107.8125 38.94261 8 13 S 93 W 6960 6664.5 45.5 45.5 9 5.5 4 10 2 30 3

365 05-045-06211 O&G NORWESTERN EXPL-CLOUGH 9 -107.81178 39.54375 7 6 S 93 W 5561 -3439 77.0 38 3 9 2 29 366 05-077-05026 O&G EL PASO-LEON CRK 1 -107.79828 39.16478 29 10 S 93 W 9062 1444 37.0 35 5 3 1 11 2 21 2 

367 05-077-05085 O&G UNION-1 GUNDERSON -107.78783 39.26881 20 9 S 93 W 7144 -186 73.0 57 5 4 2 6 1 14 1 33 

368 05-077-08295 O&G EXXON-KENNY CREEK #1 -107.7875 39.11528 9 11 S 93 W 9577 2372 50.0 50 5 9 2 22 2 19 

369 DC77-4 ROT USGS OF 78-540 -107.78089 38.92847 16 13 S 93 W 7480 6942.5 58.5 58.5 9 3.5 2 2.5 1 21.5 5 31 

370 05-077-08096 O&G EXXON-VEGA 1 -107.77047 39.21017 9 10 S 93 W 8167 607 58.0 55 5 2 1 3 1 6 1 13 1 31 

371 DC77-5 ROT USGS OF 78-540 -107.76669 38.935 10 13 S 93 W 7680 6841 17.5 17.5 2 5 1 12.5 

372 MS-RIFLE GAP MS USGS OF 82-590;PP 1485 -107.76667 39.62167 7 5 S 92 W 44 5 4 2 10 2 30 373 05-045-06377 O&G EXXON-RH RANCH #1 -107.76478 39.47953 34 6 S 93 W 6747 -2109 84.0 47 4 3 2 11 1 33 374 LEE-MS-30 MS USGS BULL 510 -107.76028 38.91056 23 13 S 93 W 23.5 23.5 4 13.5 3 10 1

375 05-077-08132 O&G EXXON-VEGA UNIT 2 -107.75989 39.23128 34 9 S 93 W 8154 54 67.0 54 4 13 2 41 376 05-077-08179 O&G EXXON-VEGA UNIT #3 -107.75447 39.20575 10 10 S 93 W 8304 652 79.0 70 8 5 3 3 1 5 1 10 1 47 

377 GR-77-1 ROT USGS OF 78-540 -107.74156 38.90828 24 13 S 93 W 8310 7282 57.0 57 11 6.5 5 3.5 1 32.5 4 14.5 

378 05-077-07331 O&G UNION-BUZZARD CRK UNIT 2 -107.73917 39.27744 14 9 S 93 W 7310 -264 77.0 63 6 1 1 11 2 24 2 27 

379 05-077-08189 O&G EXXON-VESA #4 -107.73894 39.23 35 9 S 93 W 8088 -18 67.0 64 6 13 3 8 1 43 

380 05-077-08395 O&G BV-CARLTON CURRIER 2-1 -107.73472 39.22083 2 10 S 93 W 8052 171 70.0 57 5 3 1 5 1 12 1 37 

381 05-077-08022 O&G PETR0 LEWIS-CURRIER 7-2 -107.73264 39.30875 2 9 S 93 W 7760 -612 79.0 54 3 6 1 48 

382 05-077-08289 O&G BOW VALLEY-CURRIER 23-4 -107.73231 39.25658 23 9 S 93 W 7559 -391 63.0 55 5 1 1 4 1 13 1 37 

383 MS-HAAS SECTION MS USGS PP 1485 -107.73167 39.61667 17 5 S 92 W 16 2 4 1 12 1 384 05-045-05064 O&G CALIFORNIA-SHAEFFER 1 -107.73083 39.46597 12 7 S 93 W 6223 -1407 86.0 52 5 1 1 7 1 22 2 22 

385 GR-77-2 ROT USGS OF 78-540 -107.729 38.894 25 13 S 93 W 8120 7591.5 19.5 19.5 2 6 1 13.5 1
 Top Total coal Cameo/Wheeler coal zone

Rollins in CameoSandstone Fairfield

Map Kelly bsh Member coal group Total # # # # # 

No. Point ID Type Source Longitude Latitude Sec. Township Range elev. (ft) elev. (ft) (ft) coal beds 1.0-2.3 beds 2.3-3.5 beds 3.5-7 beds 7-14 beds >14 

Net-coal thickness (ft) and number of coal beds in bed-thickness catego

Data point identification Data point location

386 05-077-05106 O&G UNION CAL-TGT BZRD CRK 1 -107.72622 39.29658 12 9 S 93 W 7604 -391 61.0 47 2 47 

387 05-045-06053 O&G ARCO-ARCO,EXXON 1-36 -107.72197 39.48933 36 6 S 93 W 5864 -1586 138.0 82 6 4 2 3 1 4 1 71 

388 05-045-06851 O&G SNYDER-SHIDELER 25-10 -107.72036 39.41447 25 7 S 93 W 6686 -1368 95.0 80 4 3 1 77 

389 05-045-06954 O&G SNYDER-COURY#13-16 -107.71758 39.44011 13 7 S 93 W 6329 -965 101.0 59 5 2 1 34 3 23 

390 GR-77-3 ROT USGS OF 78-540 -107.71325 38.90278 19 13 S 92 W 8230 7308.5 44.0 44 7 1 1 3 1 14 3 7.5 1 18.5 

391 05-045-05004 O&G WACKER-GOVT 1 -107.70861 39.36597 18 8 S 92 W 6945 -1475 62.0 25 2 2 1 23 392 05-045-07039 O&G SNYDER-KRK 7-10 -107.70367 39.45919 7 7 S 92 W 6117 -630 105.0 61 4 2 1 3 1 56 

393 05-029-05001 O&G SUNRAY-COLO FED C-1 -107.69861 39.01908 8 12 S 92 W 9825 4805 81.0 81 10 2 1 3 1 20 4 20 2 36 394 05-077-05097 O&G EL PASO CONOCO GOVT 1 -107.69756 39.28253 8 9 S 92 W 7665 -115 89.0 70 3 7 1 63 

395 05-077-05108 O&G APACHE CORP-RUSHMORE 1 -107.69633 39.29686 5 9 S 92 W 7617 -311 87.0 63 2 63 

396 05-045-06419 O&G KOCH-MOBIL MC 11-20 -107.69303 39.50917 20 6 S 92 W 5605 -1492 105.0 62 3 5 1 57 

397 GR-77-4 ROT USGS OF 78-540 -107.693 38.896 29 13 S 92 W 8060 7380 47.0 47 7 1 1 2.5 1 15.5 3 11 1 17 398 05-077-07352 O&G NORDON-GOVT 1 -107.692 39.261 20 9 S 92 W 7610 -141 66.0 54 7 7 4 4 1 43 

399 05-045-06689 O&G MOBIL-MAMM RANCH T45-20P -107.68983 39.43017 20 7 S 92 W 6356 -265 77.0 43 5 4 2 3 1 14 1 22 

400 GR-77-5 ROT USGS OF 78-540 -107.68675 38.90842 20 13 S 92 W 8320 7057.5 56.0 53 11 4.5 4 2.5 1 18.5 4 9 1 18.5 

401 05-045-06744 O&G MOBIL-SAMPLE T65-17P -107.68581 39.44464 17 7 S 92 W 6187 -133 93.0 60 4 2 1 5 1 53 

402 05-077-08435 O&G COORS-USA 1-16 SC -107.67528 39.27861 16 9 S 92 W 7850 40 91.0 68 4 2 1 5 1 61 403 GR-77-6 ROT USGS OF 78-540 -107.673 38.896 28 13 S 92 W 8170 27 7 7 4 9.5 2 10.5 1404 05-077-08616 O&G ORYX-ACAPULCO FED HD#1 -107.67281 39.35908 16 8 S 92 W 7437 -626 90.0 41 4 12 2 10 1 19 

405 MS-HARVEY GAP MS WARNER(1964);USGS PP1485 -107.66333 39.60333 24 5 S 92 W 89.9 29.4 1 29.4 

406 05-045-06723 O&G MOBIL-O'CONNEL F11X-34P -107.65969 39.40803 34 7 S 92 W 6583 590 100.0 51 4 3 1 5 1 14 1 29 

407 05-045-06410 O&G KOCH-FRI PORT 14-22 -107.65494 39.50878 22 6 S 92 W 5755 -1427 93.0 48 4 4 2 44 

408 DUN-2 LL USGS MAP C-115 -107.65278 38.91694 15 13 S 092 W 8046 6923 74.5 65 8 2 1 3 1 14 3 9 1 37 

409 05-077-05150 O&G EL PASO-HELLS GLCH U 1 -107.64572 39.341 22 8 S 92 W 7126 -154 91.0 57 6 9 2 17 2 31 

410 GR-77-7 ROT USGS OF 78-540 -107.64269 38.91942 14 13 S 92 W 7460 6796.5 57.0 53.5 12 10.5 6 14 3 17 2 12 

411 05-045-06078 O&G MTN FUEL-FAIRVIEW 1 -107.63997 39.42739 23 7 S 92 W 6343 1203 119.0 69 5 2 1 8 2 59 

412 05-045-06395 O&G KOCH-FRICK MC 11-26 -107.63603 39.49689 26 6 S 92 W 6030 -1092 92.0 58 5 4 2 8 1 46 413 05-045-06840 O&G SNYDER-ROWE 11-7 -107.63111 39.37664 11 8 S 92 W 6780 1096 104.0 59 6 2 1 3 1 4 1 50 

414 05-077-07337 O&G SUNRAY DX-COLO FED F-1 -107.63075 39.33247 26 8 S 92 W 7504 509 52.0 40 10 6 3 18 6 16 

415 05-077-05111 O&G PACIFIC-E BUZZRD CRK31-2 -107.62908 39.30747 2 9 S 92 W 7729 279 87.0 55 4 23 2 32 

416 05-077-08545 O&G CELERON PORTER MT FD35-1 -107.62722 39.23453 35 9 S 92 W 8267 657 95.0 55 3 3 1 8 1 44 

417 05-029-06056 O&G DYCO-MORRELL #1 -107.62508 38.92969 12 13 S 92 W 7782 6582 61.0 47 12 8 5 3 1 28 5 8 1 

418 DUN-4 LL USGS MAP C-115 -107.62483 38.92439 13 13 S 092 W 7676 6728 60.5 60.5 9 2 1 3 1 24.5 5 11 1 20 

419 05-045-05049 O&G MTN STATES-STARBUCK 1 -107.62167 39.42339 25 7 S 92 W 6369 1759 79.0 50 6 3 2 9 2 14 1 24 420 05-045-05044 O&G SUN OIL- PHILPOTT 1 -107.62044 39.40828 36 7 S 92 W 6517 1962 86.0 56 5 3 1 10 2 8 1 35 421 05-077-08575 O&G AMOCO-RUTH MTN #1 -107.61647 39.18703 13 10 S 92 W 8711 861 97.0 60 7 4 2 9 2 18 2 29 

422 05-029-05000 O&G UNION-OVERLAND GOV'T 1 -107.61003 39.106 13 11 S 92 W 9421 2631 66.0 44 3 2 1 5 1 37 

423 DUN-5 LL USGS MAP C-115 -107.60917 38.92917 12 13 S 092 W 8331 6612 62.0 62 10 12 4 19 4 9 1 22 

424 05-029-06001 O&G PAN AM-USA MARVIN WOLF 1 -107.60042 39.12897 6 11 S 91 W 8899 2169 82.0 57 5 2 1 9 2 10 1 36 

425 05-045-07032 O&G VESSELS-GIBSON GLCH14-19 -107.59883 39.50683 19 6 S 91 W 5833 426 DUN-6 LL USGS MAP C-115 -107.59503 38.92928 7 13 S 091 W 8196 6523 78.0 59 6 6 2 4 1 49 

427 DUN-7 LL USGS MAP C-115 -107.58858 38.93589 8 13 S 091 W 7720 6446 81.0 54 10 18 6 14 3 22 

428 05-045-06355 O&G SNYDER-SNYDER JOLLY 1-8 -107.57894 39.53567 8 6 S 91 W 6505 -571 101.0 64 7 4 3 5 1 10 1 45 

429 DUN-8 LL USGS MAP C-115 -107.5775 38.94933 5 13 S 091 W 7155 6231 68.0 26 3 8 2 18 

430 05-045-06397 O&G AMOCO-AMOCO JOLLY #1 -107.575 39.52989 17 6 S 91 W 6176 -649 113.0 61 4 1 1 60 

431 05-045-06449 O&G PIUTE-HOFFMST 15-20-7-91 -107.57361 39.43925 20 7 S 91 W 6739 1883 108.0 74 6 2 1 3 1 18 2 51 

432 05-045-05202 O&G DERBY ROBERTS-DIV CRK N1 -107.57247 39.41769 29 7 S 91 W 7721 3458 81.0 45 7 6 2 17 4 22 

433 05-077-05164 O&G SUN-DIVIDE CRK 16A -107.57242 39.35 20 8 S 91 W 7553 2353 84.0 50 8 2 1 6 2 14 2 28 3 

434 05-045-65361 O&G SUN OIL-DIVIDE CREEK 14 -107.56919 39.39869 32 7 S 91 W 7594 4353 77.0 44 8 4 3 23 4 17 435 G-16 R/C U.S. STEEL -107.56544 38.95108 4 13 S 091 W 7340 6231.4 74.4 40.9 5 1 1 3.2 1 20.6 2 16.1 

436 05-077-05074 O&G MTN STATES-28-1 GOV'T -107.56033 39.24308 28 9 S 91 W 9180 1250 94.0 57 6 2 1 3 1 15 3 37 

437 05-077-05177 O&G SUN-DIVIDE CRK 19 -107.55944 39.36333 16 8 S 91 W 8595 4959 101.0 64 4 5 1 17 2 42 

438 MS-NEW CASTLE MS USGS BULL 415 -107.55833 39.56667 36 5 S 91 W 94.0 61 2 61 

439 05-029-05083 O&G VICTOR DRLG-GOVT #1 -107.55767 39.13117 4 11 S 91 W 8538 169 94.0 62 4 6 1 21 2 35 

440 05-045-05208 O&G SUN OIL-DIVIDE CRK UNIT -107.55764 39.37542 9 8 S 91 W 8955 5035 123.0 72 7 4 2 4 1 18 2 46 
 Top Total coal Cameo/Wheeler coal zone

Rollins in CameoSandstone Fairfield

Map Kelly bsh Member coal group Total # # # # # 

No. Point ID Type Source Longitude Latitude Sec. Township Range elev. (ft) elev. (ft) (ft) coal beds 1.0-2.3 beds 2.3-3.5 beds 3.5-7 beds 7-14 beds >14 

Net-coal thickness (ft) and number of coal beds in bed-thickness catego

Data point identification Data point location

441 05-077-05175 O&G SUN- DIVIDE CRK 7 -107.54625 39.36178 15 8 S 91 W 9431 5303 114.0 79 6 16 3 20 2 43 

442 05-045-06461 O&G ENERGETICS-ENERG30-10FED -107.54586 39.53853 10 6 S 91 W 6023 64 106.0 65 3 9 1 56 

443 05-045-06036 O&G MORISON-MUNSON SMITH 1 -107.54244 39.43683 22 7 S 91 W 6914 612 97.0 54 9 4 2 28 5 22 2 

444 05-045-06273 O&G ARKLA-MESA FEDERAL 1-10 -107.54103 39.46078 10 7 S 91 W 7084 -512 96.0 58 7 2 1 11 2 29 3 16 

445 05-045-05011 O&G SUN-DIVIDE CRK 5 -107.54003 39.37333 10 8 S 91 W 9146 5296 120.0 69 8 4 2 3 1 11 2 10 1 41 

446 05-045-06390 O&G PIUTE ENGY FED 6-27-7-91 -107.54 39.417 27 7 S 91 W 7547 1577 110.0 75 9 6 3 6 2 8 2 55 

447 05-077-05167 O&G SUN-DIVIDE CRK UNIT 19 -107.53883 39.35261 22 8 S 91 W 9493 5703 79.0 53 9 6 3 6 2 10 2 8 1 23 

448 G-12 R/C U.S. STEEL -107.53856 38.94769 3 13 S 091 W 7265 6173 95.7 57 6 4.1 3 7.4 1 9.4 1 36.1 

449 05-029-06027 O&G AMOCO-BOWIE UNIT #1 -107.53383 39.01669 15 12 S 91 W 7699 4449 62.0 26 7 5 3 6 2 6 1 9 1 

450 05-077-05172 O&G SUN-DIVIDE CRK 4 -107.52956 39.36033 14 8 S 91 W 9509 5659 84.0 52 4 12 2 10 1 30 451 05-077-05160 O&G SUN-DIVIDE CRK UNIT 3 -107.52803 39.34694 23 8 S 91 W 9795 5715 101.0 65 13 5 3 12 4 20 3 28 3 

452 05-045-06127 O&G MUNSON-MUNSON BOULTON 1 -107.52736 39.43797 23 7 S 91 W 7137 157 80.0 47 9 8 4 6 2 12 2 21 

453 05-045-06213 O&G TETON-GARFIELD 2 FED26-3 -107.52717 39.41625 26 7 S 91 W 7913 1327 92.0 50 8 6 3 13 3 12 1 19 454 MS-CORYELL MINE MS USGS BULL 415 -107.525 39.5625 32 5 S 90 W 25 2 3 1 22 455 05-077-05362 O&G SUN-DIVIDE CRK 13 -107.52431 39.30383 2 9 S 91 W 8650 4350 92.0 72 6 3 1 11 2 58 456 05-077-07356 O&G DUN-DIVIDE CRK UNIT 11 -107.52422 39.31975 35 8 S 91 W 9480 5910 108.0 67 6 17 3 13 1 37 

457 NOT PROVIDED458 DUN-11 LL USGS MAP C-115 -107.51931 38.94886 2 13 S 091 W 6469 5949 47 5 6 2 8 2 33 459 05-077-05135 O&G SUN-DIVIDE CRK 2 -107.51636 39.33306 26 8 S 91 W 10482 6368 77.0 66 6 18 3 48 460 05-029-06069 O&G AMOCO-ELECTRIC MTN U.#1 -107.51167 39.09444 13 11 S 91 W 8216 2854 73.0 32 5 14 3 18 2 461 NOT PROVIDED462 05-077-08060 O&G SUN-DIVIDE CRK 20 -107.50847 39.32453 25 8 S 91 W 10225 6371 67.0 51 5 10 2 8 1 33 463 DUN-33 LL USGS MAP C-115 -107.50556 38.96917 36 12 S 91 W 7206 5634 65.0 36 3 11 2 25 

464 DUN-34 LL USGS MAP C-115 -107.50167 38.95608 1 13 S 091 W 6894 5828 70.0 39 4 2 1 12 2 25 

465 05-077-05124 O&G SUN-DIVIDE CRK 17 -107.49658 39.31997 36 8 S 91 W 9887 5504 67.0 55 6 2 2 5 1 8 1 40 466 DUN-12 LL USGS MAP C-115 -107.49408 38.95022 1 13 S 091 W 6907 5827 64.0 29 1 29 

467 05-051-06043 O&G PETRO-FED 1-25-10-91 -107.49297 39.15547 25 10 S 91 W 8195 1925 74.0 45 3 2 1 12 1 31 

468 DUN-37 LL USGS MAP C-115 -107.4875 38.89444 30 13 S 90 W 7864 6808 87.0 47 4 6 1 16 2 25 

469 DUN-38 LL USGS MAP C-115 -107.48694 38.88667 30 13 S 90 W 8044 7066 83.0 48 5 2 1 13 2 9 1 24 

470 DUN-36 UND USGS C-115 -107.48658 38.90117 19 13 S 90 W 7076 6595 80.0 47 6 2 2 16 3 29 

471 05-077-07357 O&G CLARK-#1 FEDERAL -107.48556 39.27722 18 9 S 90 W 8081 4271 97.0 68 8 1 1 3 1 64 6 

472 05-051-06008 O&G RALSTON-PETROLWS 11-90-7 -107.48417 39.12028 7 11 S 90 W 8181 2389 74.0 40 6 3 2 3 1 4 1 8 1 22 473 05-051-06009 O&G RALSTON-FED 31 -107.47939 39.14411 31 10 S 90 W 7901 2165 73.0 45 3 2 1 12 1 31 474 LEE-MS-47 MS USGS BULL 510 -107.4775 38.86167 5 14 S 90 W 54.0 27 7 3 2 3 1 21 4 

475 NOT PROVIDED476 DUN-40 LL USGS MAP C-115 -107.47111 38.86278 5 14 S 90 W 8109 7174 76.0 33 6 6 2 10 2 17 2 

477 NOT PROVIDED478 NOT PROVIDED479 S-01 COR U.S. STEEL -107.46992 38.94272 5 13 S 90 W 6198.9 5837.5 62.9 38.5 3 5.2 1 9 1 24.3 

480 05-051-06024 O&G PIUTE-COAL BSN10-8-11-90 -107.46944 39.11742 8 11 S 90 W 7918 2506 78.0 40 7 3 2 6 2 12 2 19 481 05-045-06175 O&G DOME-BALDY CRK 1-17 -107.46686 39.44708 17 7 S 90 W 7939 -1181 81.0 48 5 4 2 7 1 37 482 NOT PROVIDED483 05-051-06035 O&G AMOCO-SUMERSET #2 -107.46544 39.02875 8 12 S 90 W 8515 4089 85.0 40 4 3 1 5 1 10 1 22 

484 05-051-06007 O&G RALSTON-PETRLWS 11-90-17 -107.46533 39.09867 17 11 S 90 W 8101 2993 55.0 26 8 9 5 3 1 6 1 8 1 485 05-045-05056 O&G CALIFORNIA-1 BALDY CRK U -107.46442 39.44397 17 7 S 90 W 8011 -1049 70.0 46 3 6 1 40 486 G-09 COR U.S. STEEL -107.46433 38.94542 5 13 S 90 W 6632 5716.6 66.2 29.7 3 5.8 2 23.9 

487 S-04 COR U.S. STEEL -107.46164 38.93492 8 13 S 90 W 6335.2 5938.7 51.6 36.8 3 5 1 8.3 1 23.5 

488 05-045-06263 O&G DOME-BALKY CRK 2-20 -107.4615 39.43528 20 7 S 90 W 8336 -624 63.0 42 4 9 2 10 1 23 

489 DUN-41 LL USGS MAP C-115 -107.46 38.85611 9 14 S 90 W 8256 7252 77.0 32 5 3 1 15 3 14 1 

490 LH-2-33 R/C USBM TP 721 -107.45947 38.87931 33 13 S 90 W 7504 6841.7 74.9 27.6 4 1.1 1 3.6 1 7.9 1 15 

491 LH-5-33 R/C USBM TP 721 -107.45758 38.87164 33 13 S 90 W 7636 6962.9 64.5 25.1 5 1.2 1 3.1 1 9.6 2 11.2 1 

492 05-051-06021 O&G AMOCO-SUMERSET #1 -107.45756 39.03128 9 12 S 90 W 8441 4041 87.0 39 4 3 1 5 1 10 1 21 493 05-051-06010 O&G RALSTON-RALSTON 10-90-32 -107.45744 39.14203 32 10 S 90 W 7711 9 2 3 1 6 1 494 LH-1-33 R/C USBM TP 721 -107.45739 38.87164 33 13 S 90 W 7643 6959.7 73.7 27.7 5 1 1 3 1 3.7 1 20 2 

495 LH-3-4 R/C USBM TP 721 -107.45667 38.86558 4 14 S 90 W 7765 7009.5 50.0 13.6 4 1.2 1 2.5 1 9.9 2 
 Top Total coal Cameo/Wheeler coal zone

Rollins in CameoSandstone Fairfield

Map Kelly bsh Member coal group Total # # # # # 

No. Point ID Type Source Longitude Latitude Sec. Township Range elev. (ft) elev. (ft) (ft) coal beds 1.0-2.3 beds 2.3-3.5 beds 3.5-7 beds 7-14 beds >14 

Net-coal thickness (ft) and number of coal beds in bed-thickness catego

Data point identification Data point location

496 05-045-06280 O&G DOME-BALDY CRK 3-28 -107.45147 39.41889 28 7 S 90 W 8810 -70 66.0 45 5 5 1 40 4 

497 S-03 COR U.S. STEEL -107.45042 38.93886 9 13 S 90 W 6176.5 5779.8 48.9 34.8 3 2.1 1 7.5 1 25.2 

498 05-051-05007 O&G POOL-HENDERSON 1 -107.4485 39.11806 9 11 S 90 W 7532 3119 35.0 30 6 6 2 15 3 9 1 

499 05-045-06350 O&G SNYDER-BARTN PORTIER1-16 -107.44828 39.52381 16 6 S 90 W 6935 317 60.0 47 7 8 4 3 1 36 

500 S-02 COR U.S. STEEL -107.44761 38.943 4 13 S 90 W 5775.6 5663.6 38 3 3.4 1 9.3 1 25.3 501 G-05 COR U.S. STEEL -107.44758 38.92992 9 13 S 90 W 6120.6 5883.9 34 4 1 1 4.6 1 7.5 1 20.9 502 DUN-50 UND USGS C-115 -107.44711 38.91706 16 13 S 90 W 7355 6095 77.0 38 3 4 1 10 1 24 

503 DUN-42 LL USGS MAP C-115 -107.44667 38.83944 16 14 S 90 W 7678 7296 20 3 1 1 4 1 15 504 DUN-52 UND USGS MAP C-115 -107.44331 38.89461 28 13 S 90 W 7092 6405 81.0 31 4 4 2 3 1 24 505 DUN-51 UND USGS MAP C-115 -107.44272 38.90539 21 13 S 90 W 6765 6222 71.0 35 4 3 1 9 2 23 506 DUN-43 LL USGS MAP C-115 -107.4425 38.83167 15 14 S 90 W 8442 7374 79.0 43 3 4 1 39 

507 DUN-44 LL USGS MAP C-115 -107.4425 38.82056 22 14 S 90 W 8484 7647 78.0 34 3 3 1 8 1 23 

508 05-051-06011 O&G RALSTON-FED33 (10-90-33) -107.43794 39.14511 33 10 S 90 W 7561 2645 55.0 31 5 5 3 6 1 20 

509 05-051-06013 O&G RALSTON-HENDRSN 11-90-10 -107.43764 39.11386 10 11 S 90 W 7550 3377 31.0 25 8 10 5 15 3 510 DUN-53 UND USGS MAP C-115 -107.43675 38.88839 27 13 S 90 W 7597 6442 62.0 21 3 4 2 17 

511 G-03 R/C U.S. STEEL -107.43586 38.93347 10 13 S 90 W 6486 5676 62.1 29.9 5 3.7 2 2.4 1 8.9 1 14.9 512 05-051-06023 O&G PIUTE-RAGGED MTN FED16-4 -107.43533 39.18561 16 10 S 90 W 8238 3198 44.0 34 5 3 2 3 1 8 1 20 513 05-097-05068 O&G VESSELS-CABOT FED #1 -107.43433 39.30756 4 9 S 90 W 9640 5365 110.0 72 8 2 1 3 1 12 2 32 3 23 

514 05-051-06014 O&G RALSTON-10-90-34-SW -107.43203 39.14431 34 10 S 90 W 7490 2726 51.0 30 4 4 2 6 1 20 

515 DUN-57 LL USGS MAP C-115 -107.43167 38.86 3 14 S 90 W 8292 47.0 13 2 5 1 8 1 

516 E25A R/C U.S. STEEL -107.43106 38.93803 10 13 S 90 W 7355.8 5606.9 69.2 32 3 1.1 1 5.6 1 25.3 

517 LH-4-10 R/C USBM TP 721 -107.431 38.854 10 14 S 90 W 8041 6905.1 46.2 10.9 4 2.4 2 3.2 1 5.3 1 

518 G-08 R/C U.S. STEEL -107.43 38.94408 3 13 S 90 W 7690 5495.9 62.1 31.8 3 2.1 1 7.8 1 21.9 

519 DUN-56 LL USGS MAP C-115 -107.42917 38.87139 34 13 S 90 W 8051 77.0 31 6 4 2 3 1 10 2 14 1 

520 DUN-58 LL USGS MAP C-115 -107.42889 38.85167 10 14 S 90 W 8156 62.0 22 5 6 2 8 2 8 1 

521 WSC-04 R/C WESTERN SLOPE CARBON -107.426 38.94433 3 13 S 90 W 7940 5467.6 61.0 30.5 2 6.9 1 23.6 

522 DUN-54 UND USGS MAP C-115 -107.42544 38.88636 27 13 S 90 W 7955 6443 57.0 18 2 2 1 16 523 DUN-55 LL USGS MAP C-115 -107.42539 38.87856 34 13 S 90 W 8114 6587 65.0 18 3 6 2 12 1 

524 MS-SOUTH MS USGS BULL 415 -107.425 39.52667 14 6 S 90 W 3724 96.0 68.5 5 8.5 2 14 1 46 

525 05-051-05006 O&G DELHI/TAYLOR-SPATAFORE 1 -107.425 39.07686 27 11 S 90 W 7459 3724 46.0 16 3 6 2 10 1 

526 05-045-05012 O&G CALIFORNIA-WOLF CRK U 3 -107.42483 39.321 34 8 S 90 W 9405 5640 91.0 51 6 2 1 3 1 7 1 18 2 21 527 G-06 COR U.S. STEEL -107.42483 38.92972 10 13 S 90 W 6150 5741.3 51.7 29.9 2 6.6 1 23.3 

528 05-077-07370 O&G VESSELS-BELCO FED #1 -107.42142 39.278 15 9 S 90 W 9505 4953 52.0 39 5 3 1 9 2 10 1 17 529 05-051-06001 O&G SUNRAY-S.WOLF CRK UNIT 1 -107.41792 39.22683 34 9 S 90 W 9170 4652 48.0 30 4 17 3 13 1 530 05-051-06003 O&G PETRO LWS-HOTCHKISS 3-11 -107.41686 39.03431 11 12 S 90 W 7043 4173 63.0 37 3 3 1 12 1 22 531 WSC-02 R/C WESTERN SLOPE -107.41572 38.94286 2 13 S 90 W 7666 5593 28.3 2 6.3 1 22 532 G-04A R/C U.S. STEEL -107.41497 38.93267 11 13 S 90 W 6188 5718 61.7 31.1 2 7.5 1 23.6 533 05-097-06001 O&G SUNRAY-WOLF CRK UNIT 7 -107.4135 39.31342 35 8 S 90 W 9937 5792 82.0 53 8 6 2 17 3 30 3 

534 05-045-06221 O&G RIO COLO-1 CACTUS VALLEY -107.41308 39.52011 23 6 S 90 W 6689 2559 84.0 48 11 9 5 6 2 13 3 20 535 05-097-05014 O&G UTEX-WOLF CRK UNIT 1 -107.41136 39.33583 26 8 S 90 W 9240 5340 73.0 42 6 28 5 14 

536 WSC-05 COR WESTERN SLOPE CARBON -107.41078 38.93817 11 13 S 90 W 6048 5612.3 56.1 28.2 4 1.2 1 13.1 2 13.9 1 

537 WSC-07 COR WESTERN SLOPE CARBON -107.40692 38.93883 11 13 S 90 W 6037 5602.5 44.4 27 4 1.1 1 13.2 2 12.7 1 

538 05-045-06511 O&G TRW-S.CANYON KRENGER #1 -107.40678 39.50436 26 6 S 90 W 7142 942 89.0 46 8 3 2 6 2 9 2 10 1 18 

539 05-097-06002 O&G SUNRAY-WOLF CRK UNIT #8 -107.40675 39.30364 2 9 S 90 W 10250 5930 63.0 33 6 2 1 3 1 19 3 9 1 540 WSC-22 COR WESTERN SLOPE CARBON -107.40633 38.94486 1 13 S 90 W 7944.8 5496.5 69.1 27.6 4 1.3 1 13.1 2 13.2 1 

541 05-097-05015 O&G CALIFORNIA-WOLF CRK UNIT -107.40589 39.34883 23 8 S 90 W 9539 4384 66.0 46 5 13 2 15 2 18 542 WSC-01 R/C WESTERN SLOPE -107.40544 38.93592 12 13 S 90 W 6530 5647 73.6 29.9 4 1.2 1 7.3 1 21.4 2 

543 05-097-05013 O&G SUNRAY-WOLF CRK UNIT 4 -107.40197 39.32475 26 8 S 90 W 9630 5830 67.0 43 10 4 2 12 4 9 2 18 2 

544 WSC-08 COR WESTERN SLOPE CARBON -107.39856 38.94269 1 13 S 90 W 5984 5551.7 59.2 33.5 3 6.8 1 12 1 14.7 

545 05-097-06003 O&G SUNRAY-WOLF CRK UNIT 9 -107.39294 39.31383 36 8 S 90 W 10172 6042 68.0 45 6 4 2 13 2 8 1 20 546 05-097-05069 O&G SUNRAY-WOLF CRK UNIT #6 -107.38778 39.28883 12 9 S 90 W 10038 6018 54.0 37 3 4 1 14 1 19 547 05-097-05067 O&G SUNRAY-WOLF CRK UNIT #5 -107.38556 39.30428 1 9 S 90 W 10294 5936 60.0 35 4 3 1 6 1 11 1 15 548 05-051-06026 O&G DYCO-FANSLER #7-1 -107.38289 38.93789 7 13 S 89 W 6255 5565 46.0 32 5 2 1 12 2 18 2 549 05-097-06004 O&G PRENALTA-GOVT 12-7-9-89C -107.37425 39.28906 7 9 S 89 W 9892 6018 45.0 33 5 4 2 9 2 20 

550 LH-24-7 R/C USBM BULL 501 -107.37036 38.93972 7 13 S 89 W 6266 5683.1 8.7 2.8 2 2.8 2 
 Top Total coal Cameo/Wheeler coal zone

Rollins in CameoSandstone Fairfield

Map Kelly bsh Member coal group Total # # # # # 

No. Point ID Type Source Longitude Latitude Sec. Township Range elev. (ft) elev. (ft) (ft) coal beds 1.0-2.3 beds 2.3-3.5 beds 3.5-7 beds 7-14 beds >14 

Net-coal thickness (ft) and number of coal beds in bed-thickness catego

Data point identification Data point location

551 05-051-06042 O&G YOUNG UNITED-JACOBS 29-1 -107.36667 39.07694 29 11 S 89 W 6994 

552 ELLIS-106/59/35 MS USGS MAP C-97-B -107.365 39.21 4 10 S 89 W 48.5 28 1 28 

553 DUN-76 LL USGS MAP C-115 -107.36131 39.14925 31 10 S 89 W 9060 6508 47.0 21 2 2 1 19 

554 ELLIS-104/57/33 MS USGS MAP C-97-B -107.36111 39.22528 32 9 S 89 W 49.0 18.5 3 10.5 2 8 1 

555 05-051-06038 O&G AMOCO-MEGAS #1 -107.36036 39.00033 20 12 S 89 W 6565 4285 37.0 16 3 1 1 3 1 12 1 556 LH-7-8 R/C USBM BULL 501 -107.35786 38.94072 8 13 S 89 W 6276 5557 14.0 8.1 3 3.8 2 4.3 1 

557 05-051-05005 O&G DELHI/TAYLOR-MCLAUGHLIN1 -107.35778 39.00883 17 12 S 89 W 6766 4200 37.0 19 2 5 1 14 1 558 DUN-62 O&G USGS MAP C-115 -107.35556 38.99917 20 12 S 89 W 6530 4283 31.0 12 1 12 1 559 DUN-78 LL USGS MAP C-115 -107.35 39.15222 32 10 S 89 W 9530 7254 51.0 21 3 5 1 16 2 

560 LH-11-9 R/C USBM BULL 501 -107.34992 38.92189 9 13 S 89 W 6385 5648.8 18.2 12 4 2.8 2 2.9 1 6.3 1 

561 KENT MS-9 MS USGS OF 80-709 -107.34989 39.19494 17 10 S 89 W 54.1 23.1 3 8.8 2 14.3 

562 DUN-60 LL USGS MAP C-115 -107.34908 39.14272 32 10 S 89 W 9040 6550 47.0 20 2 2 1 18 

563 DUN-MS-59 MS USGS MAP C-115 -107.34833 39.18972 17 10 S 89 W -740 65.0 32 1 32 

564 LEE-MS-71/69/68 MS USGS BULL 510 -107.34833 38.7775 4 15 S 89 W -740 56.4 29.2 5 2.7 2 3.5 1 7.5 1 15.5 

565 LH-22-4 R/C USBM BULL 501 -107.34714 38.94406 4 13 S 89 W 6304 5408.8 16.5 12.9 5 5.4 3 2.8 1 4.7 1 

566 05-045-06500 O&G TRW-SUNLIGHT FED #2 -107.34317 39.4065 32 7 S 89 W 8421 3564 72.0 29 4 10 2 19 2 

567 LH-6-16 R/C USBM BULL 501 -107.34275 38.9275 16 13 S 89 W 6358 5655.1 24.4 18.5 4 1.5 1 17 3 

568 LH-23-4 R/C USBM BULL 501 -107.34083 38.95322 4 13 S 89 W 6348 5189 12.3 10.1 4 4.4 3 5.7 1

569 DUN-79 LL USGS MAP C-115 -107.33717 39.15242 33 10 S 89 W 9640 7638 36.0 19 4 4 2 7 1 8 1 

570 LH-19-28 R/C USBM BULL 501 -107.33597 38.89428 28 13 S 89 W 6560 6077.2 18.2 15.6 3 1.7 1 2.8 1 11.1 1 

571 LH-8-9 R/C USBM BULL 501 -107.33514 38.93311 9 13 S 89 W 6447 5483.8 25.2 19.3 3 11.8 2 7.5 1 

572 LH-16-21 R/C USBM BULL 501 -107.33397 38.91314 21 13 S 89 W 6440 5803 19.0 16 2 3.2 1 12.8 

573 LH-9-16 R/C USBM BULL 501 -107.33381 38.92189 16 13 S 89 W 6400 5662 17.7 16 3 1.4 1 7.4 1 7.2 1 

574 LH-18-21 R/C USBM BULL 501 -107.33353 38.90431 21 13 S 89 W 6500 5930 18.5 14.8 3 1.6 1 3 1 10.2 1 

575 ELLIS-111/63/43 MS USGS MAP C-97-B -107.33167 39.17361 21 10 S 89 W 32.0 19 3 9.5 2 9.5 1 

576 LH-14-15 R/C USBM BULL 501 -107.32722 38.91856 15 13 S 89 W 6534 5653.1 23.2 17.6 3 3.1 2 14.5 

577 KENT MS-2 MS USGS OF 80-709 -107.3245 39.40547 33 7 S 89 W 76.5 38 6 2 2 4 1 32 3 

578 LH-12-10 R/C USBM BULL 501 -107.32394 38.93508 10 13 S 89 W 6492 5339.8 22.4 16.9 4 1 1 15.9 3 

579 LH-27-3 R/C USBM BULL 501 -107.323 38.943 3 13 S 89 W 7375 5194.5 18.2 13.6 4 3.4 2 10.2 2 

580 DUN-68 LL USGS MAP C-115 -107.32167 38.8625 3 14 S 89 W 7236 6419 24.5 13.5 3 2 1 2.5 1 9 1 

581 05-045-06532 O&G TRW-NTCA #1 -107.32131 39.36861 10 8 S 89 W 8425 6139 53.0 23 6 3 2 20 4 

582 ELLIS-100/99/54 MS USGS MAP C-97-B -107.32 39.22889 34 9 S 89 W 46.0 7 3 2.5 2 4.5 1 

583 LM-1 R/C LARSON MINING CO. -107.31972 39.3175 34 8 S 89 W 7796 26.4 19.6 5 2.8 2 2.5 1 5.1 1 9.2 1 

584 LH-15-22 R/C USBM BULL 501 -107.31953 38.91344 22 13 S 89 W 6650 5658.6 19.7 18.1 2 2.8 1 15.3 

585 LM-3 COR USGS MAP C-97B;91 -107.31683 39.26686 15 9 S 89 W 8881 6866 22.7 4.2 2 4.2 2 

586 LH-20-15 R/C USBM BULL 501 -107.316 38.924 15 13 S 89 W 7635 5456.7 21.9 17.2 2 4.3 1 12.9 1 

587 KENT MS-3 MS USGS OF 80-709 -107.31456 39.37011 10 8 S 89 W 32.0 12 4 4 2 8 2 

588 LEE-MS-64 MS USGS BULL 510 -107.31278 38.81083 26 14 S 89 W 40.5 16.1 3 16.1 3 

589 LH-13-11 R/C USBM BULL 501 -107.31225 38.93856 11 13 S 89 W 6530 5194.6 23.5 18.3 3 10.7 2 7.6 1 

590 CR-3 R/C USGS MAP C-97-B;18,84 -107.31189 39.28883 10 9 S 89 W 8194 6471.9 26.3 10.8 3 3.9 2 6.9 1 

591 CR-4 R/C USGS MAP C-97-B;19,87 -107.31172 39.27825 15 9 S 89 W 8556 6847.8 26.4 9.1 3 2 1 2.6 1 4.5 1 

592 DUN-69 LL USGS MAP C-115 -107.31111 38.84917 11 14 S 89 W 7600 6518 20.0 11 5 5.5 3 5.5 2 

593 CR-1 COR USGS MAP C-97-B;13,79 -107.31083 39.31511 34 8 S 89 W 7781 55.8 18.6 5 3.4 3 5.2 1 10 1 

594 LH-17-23 R/C USBM BULL 501 -107.30906 38.90922 23 13 S 89 W 6740 5596.4 24.7 18.8 3 3.2 2 15.6 

595 KENT MS-4 MS USGS OF 80-709 -107.30833 39.31917 34 8 S 89 W 49.1 18.1 3 10.1 2 8 1 

596 ELLIS-MS-129 MS USGS MAP C-97-B -107.30806 39.07333 26 11 S 89 W 13.0 

597 KENT DH-3 UND USGS OF 80-507 -107.30753 39.30978 34 8 S 89 W 8697 6916 27.0 11 3 1 1 3 1 7 1 

598 CR-10 COR USGS MAP C-97-B;15,81 -107.30753 39.301 3 9 S 89 W 8497 6923.7 32.4 12.4 3 1.3 1 2.7 1 8.4 1 

599 KENT MS-5 MS USGS OF 80-709 -107.30689 39.29719 3 9 S 89 W 35.5 13 3 1 1 4 1 8 1 

600 KENT MS-8 MS USGS OF 80-709 -107.30472 39.22239 2 10 S 89 W 27.7 8 3 2 1 6 2 

601 LH-25-14 R/C USBM BULL 501 -107.304 38.922 14 13 S 89 W 7540 5360.2 22.2 15.2 2 1.7 1 13.5 1 602 ELLIS-DH-95/24 ROT USGS MAP C-97-B -107.30333 39.24 26 9 S 89 W -1327.5 28.5 7.5 3 3 2 4.5 1 603 DUN-71 LL USGS MAP C-115 -107.30167 38.79861 35 14 S 89 W 8562 8201.5 20.5 13.5 4 3.5 2 10 2 

604 DUN-72 LL USGS MAP C-115 -107.3 38.78917 35 14 S 89 W 8854 8282 26.0 13 2 3 1 10 1 605 LH-21-23 R/C USBM BULL 501 -107.29878 38.90811 23 13 S 89 W 6940 5497.7 18.7 14.7 2 2 1 12.7 1 
 Top Total coal Cameo/Wheeler coal zone

Rollins in CameoSandstone Fairfield

Map Kelly bsh Member coal group Total # # # # # 

No. Point ID Type Source Longitude Latitude Sec. Township Range elev. (ft) elev. (ft) (ft) coal beds 1.0-2.3 beds 2.3-3.5 beds 3.5-7 beds 7-14 beds >14 

Net-coal thickness (ft) and number of coal beds in bed-thickness catego

Data point identification Data point location

606 ELLIS-DH-92/22 ROT USGS MAP C-97-B -107.29833 39.25639 23 9 S 89 W -1251 20.5 2.5 2 2.5 2 

607 ELLIS-113/64/45 MS USGS MAP C-97-B -107.29833 39.16972 21 10 S 89 W -1251 26.0 11 1 11 1 608 KENT MS-6 MS USGS OF 80-709 -107.29725 39.28414 11 9 S 89 W 25.3 8.5 3 2 1 2.5 1 4 1 

609 KENT MS-7 MS USGS OF 80-709 -107.29558 39.266 14 9 S 89 W 34.3 15.1 2 2.1 1 13 1 

610 ELLIS-117/66/49 MS USGS MAP C-97-B -107.29083 39.17361 23 10 S 89 W 15.5 7.5 2 3 1 4.5 1 

611 ELLIS-MS-128 MS USGS MAP C-97-B -107.29 39.07667 25 11 S 89 W 5.0 612 ELLIS-MS-118/50 MS USGS MAP C-97-B -107.27833 39.1675 24 10 S 89 W 11 2 3 1 8 1 613 ELLIS-MS-127 MS USGS MAP C-97-B -107.27 39.08389 20 11 S 88 W 5.0 614 KENT MS-10 MS USGS OF 80-709 -107.26444 39.1425 31 10 S 88 W 17.3 6.3 3 3.3 2 3 1 

615 GASKILL-MS-1 MS USGS MAP GQ-1604 -107.24917 38.99333 29 12 S 88 W 7.1616 ELLIS-MS-123 MS USGS MAP C-97-B -107.2475 39.12917 5 11 S 88 W 7.0617 ELLIS-MS-126 MS USGS MAP C-97-B -107.24417 39.085 19 11 S 88 W 4.0618 ELLIS-MS-124 MS USGS MAP C-97-B -107.20556 39.10944 10 11 S 88 W 1.0619 ELLIS-MS-125 MS USGS MAP C-97-B -107.195 39.09 23 11 S 88 W 5.0620 LEE-MS-125 MS USGS BULL 510 -107.07139 38.93917 12 13 S 87 W 3.0621 LEE-MS-123 MS USGS BULL 510 -107.03722 38.90333 20 13 S 86 W 4.0622 LEE-MS-122 MS USGS BULL 510 -107.02583 38.90056 29 13 S 86 W 6.0623 LEE-MS-127 MS USGS BULL 510 -107.02167 38.91472 20 13 S 86 W 11.0624 GASKILL-MS-4 MS USGS MAP GQ-1604 -107.00667 38.775 4 15 S 86 W 14.0625 LEE-MS-121 MS USGS BULL 510 -107.00444 38.89139 28 13 S 86 W 10.0626 LEE-MS-115 MS USGS BULL 510 -106.97778 38.84972 11 14 S 86 W 26.8627 LEE-MS-117 MS USGS BULL 510 -106.97528 38.85611 11 14 S 86 W 23.7
Appendix 2 provides ranges of ash yield, sulfur content, 

and calorifi c values for coal in prominent coal fi elds within 

the southern part of the Piceance Basin. The fi rst table in 

this appendix summarizes values by coal zone and coal fi eld, 

based reported analyses of Toenges and others (1949, 1952), 

Hornbaker and others (1976), Murray and others (1977), and 

Tremain and others (1995) and includes analyses in the U.S. 

Appendix 2—Summary of Coal Quality

Geological Survey USCHEM database that were provided by 

R.H. Affolter (written commun., 1998). The remaining tables 

provide coal quality data as reported in the USCHEM database 

and the other cited publications, and assigns the beds to coal 

zones used in this report. Some of the analyses have been cited 

in several publications as well as the USCHEM database.

Summary of ash yield, sulfur content, and calorific values for coal zones in coal fields of the southern 

Piceance Basin based on an as-received analyses reported by Toenges and others (1949, 1952), Hornbaker 

and others (1976), Murray and others (1977), Tremain and others (1995), and as-received analyses in the 

U.S. Geological Survey USCHEM database provided by R.H. Affolter (written commun., 1998). 

 

 

Coal field Coal zone (this report) Ash (%) Sulfur (%) Btu/lb 

Book Cliffs 

Carbonera 

Cameo 

Anchor and Palisade 

7.2-17.4 

5.2-15.5 

4.9-17.4 

0.4-0.8 

0.5-1.3 

0.5-1.7 

9,940-11,150 

10,410-12,460 

10,710-13,560 

 

Grand Mesa Cameo 

Palisade 

2.1-23.3 

7.4 

0.4-2.2 

1.7 

8,300-13,490 

12,330 

 

Somerset 

(west part) 

Coal Ridge and South Canyon 

Cameo-Wheeler 

4.3-13.9 

2.4-13.5 

0.3-0.8 

0.4-0.8 

8,160-10,610 

9,820-12,600 

 

Somerset 

(east part) 

Coal Ridge and South Canyon 

Cameo-Wheeler 

2.7-29.9 

2.4-25.9 

0.3-1.7 

0.4-3.2 

10,230-13,450 

9,220-14,380 

 

Crested Butte middle and upper 3.2-9.1 0.4-1.9 11,080-14,440 

Carbondale 

(Coal Basin area) 

South Canyon 

Wheeler 

3.4-10.0 

3.4-9.7 

0.3-1.5 

0.4-1.5 

12,470-15,190 

12,610-15,090 

 

Carbondale 

(north of Coal Basin) 

Coal Ridge 

South Canyon 

Wheeler 

Palisade 

6.0-8.3 

5.1 

3.5-16.2 

2.1-9.2 

0.5-0.7 

0.5 

0.6-2.1 

0.5-1.4 

13,030-14,310 

13,250 

10,160-13,740 

10,360-12,310 

 

Grand Hogback 

Keystone 

South Canyon 

Wheeler 

Palisade 

uncorrelated beds 

5.4-9.2 

3.9-7.9 

4.9-11.3 

3.7 

3.1-10.4 

0.3-0.4 

0.4-0.7 

0.3-0.8 

0.6 

0.4-0.9 

11,020-13,120 

11,290-13,270 

11,220-13,120 

11,970 

11,440-12,700 

Investigations of the Distribution and Resources of Coal in the Southern Part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado O71
Ranges of ash yield, sulfur content, and calorific values for coal in the southern part of the Piceance Basin; based on 

values in the U.S. Geological Survey USCHEM database provided by R.H. Affolter (written commun., 1998). Page 1 of 2. 

 

Coal bed and sample number in the U.S. Geological Survey 

USCHEM database 

Coal zone 

(this report) 

Ash 

(%) 

Sulfur (%) Btu/lb 

 

Book Cliffs coal field 

unnamed bed (D216400) Carbonera 17.4 0.8 9,940 

unnamed beds D216401-D216404) Cameo 8.1-12.6 0.6-0.7 10,710-11,260 

unnamed beds (D216410-D216414) [see footnote 1] Anchor 9.8-16.9 0.5-1.2 10,710-11,600 

Grand Mesa coal field 

(west part, between Colorado River and Kahnah Creek) 

Cameo B bed (D180095 and D184656), 

unnamed beds (D203083-D203088) [see footnote 2] 

Cameo 7.3-23.3 0.5-2.2 9,060-13,490 

Grand Mesa coal field 

(east part, along south flank of the Grand Mesa) 

unnamed beds (D191607, D194454-D194456, D203089-

D203099, D203106-D203112) [see footnote 3]

Cameo 5.5-18.7 0.4-1.6 8,300-11,420 

Somerset coal field 

(west part , between Leroux Creek and the town of Bowie) 

unnamed beds (D194452, D194453, D194457, D203113-

D203121) [see footnote 4]

Cameo 3.2-11.7 0.4-0.8 9,820-11,340 

Somerset coal field 

(east part, east of the town of Bowie) 

Wild (D216415, D216422-D216426); D (D177516, 

D177517, D177526, D216416, D216427); E (D177502, 

D177506, D177515, D177525, D177530, D184652, 

D184653, D216420); and F (177501, D177505, D177509, 

D177514, D177524, D177528) 

Coal Ridge and 

South Canyon 

2.7-29.9 0.5-1.3 10,410-13,450 

 

A (D177523, D177532, D216431); B (D177504, 

D177508, D177511, D177519, D184647); Lower B 

(D216419, D216430); Upper B (D216418, D216429); and 

C (D177518, D177527, D184650, D216417, D216428) 

Cameo-Wheeler 5.2-25.9 0.4-1.3 9,220-13,670 

1 D216400-D216404 and D216410-D216414 were collected from core from USGS drill hole CBBC-1; location is provided in appendix 1. 

2 D180095 and D184656 were collected from the Cameo B bed in the E 1/2 of sec. 34, T. 10 S., R. 98 W at the C.M.C. mine. D203083-D203086 

were collected from USGS drill hole CA-77-2; D203087 and D203088 were collected from USGS drill hole IP-77-1. Drill hole locations are 

provided in appendix 1 and geophysical logs are provided by Eager (1978). 

3 D191607 was collected at the Landerth mine. D194454-D194456 were channel samples. The following samples were collected from core retrieved 

from USGS drill holes shown in parenthesis and drill hole locations are provided in appendix 1: D203089 and D203090 (IP-77-2), D203091-

D203094 (HK-77-1), D203095 (HK-77-4), D203096-D203099 (HK-77-2), D203106-D203108 (DC-77-2), and D203109-D203112 (DC-77-3). 

Geophysical logs form each drill hole are provided by Eager (1978). 

4 D194452, D194453, and D194457 were channel samples. The following samples were collected from core retrieved from USGS drill holes shown 

in parenthesis and drill hole locations are provided in appendix 1: D203113-D203115 (GR-77-3), D203116-D203119 (GR-77-5), D203120 and 

D203121 (GR-77-1). Geophysical logs form each drill hole are provided by Eager (1978).

O72 Geologic Assessment of Coal in the Colorado Plateau: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah
Ranges of ash yield, sulfur content, and calorific values for coal in the southern part of the Piceance Basin; based on 

values in the U.S. Geological Survey USCHEM database and provided by R.H. Affolter (written commun., 1998). Page 2 of 2. 

 

Coal bed and sample number in the U.S. Geological Survey 

USCHEM database 

Coal zone 

(this report) 

Ash 

(%) 

Sulfur (%) Btu/lb 

 

Crested Butte coal field 

C bed (D208586), Cheyenne bed (D208587), unnamed 

bed (D208588) [see footnote 5]

middle 4.4-5.6 0.5-0.6 

11,080 (D208586), 

14,310-14,440 

(D208587, 

D208588) 

Carbondale coal field 

(at Coal Basin) 

Dutch Creek bed (D196219 and D196220) South Canyon 5.7-8.5 0.3-1.3 14,070-14,670 

B seam (D184637), Coal Basin B seam (D196221-

D196223) [see footnote 6]

Wheeler 3.9-7.6 0.4-0.5 14,490-15,090 

Carbondale coal field 

(approximately 8 miles north of Coal Basin) 

Upper Sunshine bed (D208590) Coal Ridge 6.0 0.6 14,310 

A bed (D208589) [see footnote 7] Wheeler 11.3 0.6 13,450 

Grand Hogback coal field 

E bed (D196214-D196217), Sunnyridge bed (D196218) 

[see footnote 8]

unknown 6.1-10.4 0.4-0.7 12,060-12,580 

5 D208586 was collected from the O-C mine No. 2. D208587 and D208588 were grab samples collected at the Horace and Peanut mines, respectively. 

6 D184637 was collected at the Dutch Creek No. 1 mine. D196221 and D196222 were collected at the Coal Basin mine. D196223 was collected at the 

L.S. Wood mine. D196219 and D196220 were collected at the Dutch Creek No. 2 mine. 

7 D208590 was collected from the Thompson Creek No. 3 mine. D208589 was collected from the Thompson Creek No. 1 mine. 

8 D196214-D196217 were collected at the Eastside mine. D196218 was collected at the Nu-Gap No. 3 mine. 

Investigations of the Distribution and Resources of Coal in the Southern Part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado O73
Ranges of ash yield, sulfur content, and calorific values for coal in the southern part of the Piceance Basin 

modified from Tremain and others (1995). Values were reported on an as-received basis. 

 

Coal beds reported by Tremain and 

others (1995) 

coal zone 

(this report) 

Ash 

(%) 

Sulfur 

(%) 

Btu/lb 

 

Book Cliffs coal field 

Carbonera, Cameo, Palisade, 

Thomas, and Anchor Mine seams 

Carbonera, Cameo, Palisade, 

Anchor 

4.9-23.3 0.4-1.7 9,833-13,560 

Grand Mesa coal field 

6-8 beds in Mt. Garfield Formation Cameo 2.1-17.9 0.5-2.2 8,298-13,489 

Somerset coal field 

Williams Fork Formation (A, B, C, 

D, E, and F beds) 

Cameo-Wheeler, South Canyon, 

and Coal Ridge 

3.2-11.4 0.5-0.8 10,040-13,453 

Crested Butte coal field 

Paonia Member (6 beds) middle and upper coal zones 3.2-9.1 0.4-1.9 11,400-14,170 

Carbondale coal field 

Dutch Creek, Allen, Anderson 

A, B, C, D, Coal Basin A-B 

South Canyon 

Wheeler 

3.4-10.0 

3.4-6.7 

0.3-1.3 

0.4-1.5 

12,470-15,190 

12,609-15,088 

Grand Hogback coal field 

E, Sunnyridge undetermined 6.1-10.4 0.6-0.7 12,060-12,581 

O74 Geologic Assessment of Coal in the Colorado Plateau: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah
Ranges of ash yield, sulfur content, and calorific values for coal in the southern part of the Piceance Basin; modified 

from Murray and others (1977). Ash and sulfur values were reported on an as-received basis. Page 1 of 2. 

 

Coal beds reported by Murray and 

others (1977) 

coal zone 

(this report) 

Ash 

(%) 

Sulfur (%) Btu 

(as received) 

Btu/lb 

(MMMF) Book Cliffs coal field 

Palisade [see footnote 1] Palisade 9.3 0.9 12,000 13,240 

Grand Mesa coal field 

(west part, near Colorado River) 

Cameo Cameo 10.2-11.2 0.6-0.8 11,540-11,840 13,000-13,230 

Palisade [see footnote 2] Palisade 7.4 1.7 12,330 13,360 

Grand Mesa coal field 

(east part, along south flank of Grand Mesa) 

uncorrelated beds, No. 2, Rollins, 

Rollins No. 1, Green Valley [see 

footnote 3]

Cameo 6.2-12.5 0.6-1.4 10,170-11,030 11,500-11,950 

Somerset coal field 

(west part: west of the town of Bowie) 

uncorrelated bed and “C” bed [see 

footnote 4]

Cameo-Wheeler 4.3-13.5 0.6-0.7 10,390-12,380 11,940-12,930 

Somerset coal field 

(east part: east of the town of Bowie) 

“E”, Oliver (“D” ?) Coal Ridge and South 

Canyon 

4.1-7.4 0.5-0.7 12,500-13,100 13,520-13,800 

Coal Basin “B” (Juanita “C”), 

Brookside, “B”, “1B”, “C”, “3C” 

Cameo-Wheeler 4.6-9.6 0.4-0.6 12,410-13,400 13,560-14,080 

uncorrelated, various 

[see footnote 5]

 4.1-10.8 0.5-0.6 12,120-13,200 13,490-14,140 

1 The Palisade bed was sampled at the Palisade mine (Murray and others, 1977). 

2 The Cameo bed was sampled at Blue Flame, Winger, and Roadside mines and the Palisade bed was sampled at the Midwest Red Arrow mine 

(Murray and others, 1977). 

3 Uncorrelated beds were sampled at the Black Diamond, Green Valley No. 1, Green Valley No. 2, , Raven, , Red Mountain mines; the No. 2 bed 

was sampled at the Independent No. 2 mine; the Rollins bed was sampled at the Red Canon No. 1 mine; the Rollins No. 1 bed was sampled at the 

States mine; and the Green Valley bed was sampled at the Tomahawk and Top mines (Murray and others, 1977). 

4 The “C” bed and an uncorrelated bed were sampled at the Emmons and Delta W mines, respectively (Murray and others, 1977). 

5 The “E” bed was sampled at the Black Beauty, Hawks Nest, Hawks Nest East (No. 2), Hawks Nest West (No. 3), and Oliver No. 3 mines; the

Oliver (“D” ?) bed was sampled at the Oliver No. 1 and Oliver No. 2 mines; the Coal Basin “B” (Juanita “C”), “B”, “1B”, “C”, and “3C” beds 

were sampled at the Bear, Edwards, and Somerset mines; the Brookside bed was sampled at the King mine; and uncorrelated beds were sampled 

at the Blue Ribbon and King mines (Murray and others, 1977). Coal that was determined to have coking properties include the Coal Basin “B”

(Juanita “C”) at the Bear mine; the “B” and “C” beds at the Edwards mine; the “E” bed at the Hawks Nest, Hawks Nest East (No. 2), and Hawks 

Nest West (No. 3) mines; and the “3C” bed at the Somerset mine (Murray and others, 1977).

Investigations of the Distribution and Resources of Coal in the Southern Part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado O75
Ranges of ash yield, sulfur content, and calorific values for coal in the southern part of the Piceance Basin; modified from Murray 

and others (1977). Ash and sulfur values were reported on an as-received basis. Page 2 of 2. 

 

Coal beds reported by Murray and 

others (1977) 

coal zone 

(this report) 

Ash 

(%) 

Sulfur (%) Btu 

(as received) 

Btu/lb 

(MMMF) 

Crested Butte coal field 

Kubler upper (?) 6.3 0.5 13,510 14,500 

uncorrelated beds, Crested Butte, 

No. 2 (lower Baldwin) [see 

footnote 6]

middle 5.0-7.1 0.4-1.1 11,330-13,350 12,050-14,140 

Carbondale coal field 

(at Coal Basin) 

Dutch Creek South Canyon 4.0 1.5 14,576 15,261 

Coal Basin B and C [see 

footnote 7]

Wheeler 4.6-9.7 0.5-0.8 13,600-14,680 15,150-15,280 

Carbondale coal field 

 (north of Coal Basin) 

Sunshine Coal Ridge 7.9-8.3 0.5-0.7 13,030-13,750 14,270-15,020 

Anderson South Canyon 5.1 0.5 13,250 14,000 

A, B, uncorrelated Wheeler 6.7-14.1 0.9-1.3 11,230-13,740 12,020-15,210 

A, B, C, Allen, Anderson, Sunshine 

[see footnote 8]

Combined zones 6.4 0.5 14,150 not reported 

Grand Hogback coal field 

Allen, South Canyon 5.2-5.4 0.5-0.7 11,290-12,625 11,920-13,590 

Wheeler, Wheeler 8.2-10.3 0.5-0.7 11,740-12,490 13,110-13,650 

uncorrelated beds [see footnote 9] 3.1-9.1 0.5-0.9 11,440-12,700 12,580-13,130 

6 The Crested Butte bed was sampled at the Crested Butte mine; the No. 2 (lower Baldwin) bed was sampled at the Alpine mine; the Kubler bed was 

sampled at the Richardson mine; and uncorrelated beds were sampled at the Baldwin (New), Baldwin Star, Nu-mine, Nu-mine No.2, Ohio Creek No.1, 

Ohio Creek No. 2 (old) and O.C. No. 2 (new) mines (Murray and others, 1977). Coal that was determined to have coking properties include the Crested 

Butte bed at the Crested Butte mine, the Kubler bed at the Richardson mine, and uncorrelated beds at the Ohio Creek No.1 and Ohio Creek No. 2 (old) 

mines (Murray and others, 1977). 

7 The Coal Basin B and C beds were sampled at the Bear Creek, Coal Basin, Dutch Creek No. 1, and L.S. Wood mines and the Dutch Creek bed was 

sampled at the Dutch Creek No. 2 mine (Murray and others, 1977). All beds were reported to have coking properties at the sampled localities (Murray 

and others, 1977). 

8 The Sunshine bed was sampled at the Aspen Gulch and Thompson Creek No. 3 mines; the Anderson bed was sampled at the Marion-Kilroy and Sunlight 

(Four Mile) mines; the A and B beds were sampled at the Thompson Creek No 1 and No. 2 mines; and uncorrelated seams were collected at the 

Diamond mine (Murray and others, 1977). Combined analyses were reported from the Sunshine bed, Anderson and Allen beds, and A, B, and C beds at 

the Spring Gulch mine (Murray and others, 1977). 

9 The Allen bed was sampled at the Coryell, New Castle-Vulcan, Rex, and Vulcan mines; the Wheeler bed was sampled at the New Castle and South Canon 

No. 1 mines; and uncorrelated beds were sampled at the New South Canon, South Canon No. 1, South Canon No. 2, and Zemlock mines (Murray and 

others, 1977).

O76 Geologic Assessment of Coal in the Colorado Plateau: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah
Ranges of ash yield, sulfur content, and calorific values for coal in the southern part of the Piceance Basin; 

modified from Hornbaker and others (1976). Values were reported on an as-received basis. 

 

Coal beds reported by Hornbaker and 

others (1976) 

Coal zone 

(this report) 

Ash 

(%) 

Sulfur 

(%) 

Btu/lb 

 

Book Cliffs coal field 

Carbonera seam Carbonera 7.2-14.4 0.4-0.6 10,470-11,150 

Cameo seam Cameo 5.2-15.5 0.5-1.3 10,410-12,460 

Palisade seam Palisade 4.9-17.4 0.5-1.6 10,950-13,560 

Anchor seam at Nearing (Farmer’s) 

mine 

Anchor 5.9-9.8 1.0-1.7 11,910-12,330 

Grand Mesa coal field 

“A” to “F”, #1, #2 Cameo 2.1-16.1 0.5-1.8 9,360-11,670 

Somerset coal field 

(western part of field) 

Paonia Shale upper group Coal Ridge and South Canyon 4.3-13.9 0.3-0.8 8,160-10,610 

Bowie Shale lower group Cameo-Wheeler 2.4-11.4 0.5-0.8 10,040-12,600 

Somerset coal field 

(eastern part: at and east of the town of Somerset) 

Paonia Shale upper group, “D” or 

Oliver ,and “E” or Hawks Nest 

Coal Ridge and South Canyon 2.8-10.4 0.4-0.9 12,090-13,400 

 

Bowie Shale lower group, “B” 

(Somerset, Juanita, and King) , and 

the upper or “C” seam 

Cameo-Wheeler 2.8-12.0 0.4-0.7 12,070-13,900 

Crested Butte coal field 

#1-#6, Kubler middle and upper 3.2-9.1 0.4-1.9 11,400-14,170 

Carbondale coal field 

(near Coal Basin, includes areas where coal has been effected metamorphism) 

Allen (Sunshine), “B”, Palcita, and 

“Coal Basin” seam 

Coal Ridge, South Canyon, and 

Wheeler 

3.4-10.0 0.5-0.7 12,470-15,190 

Carbondale coal field 

(north of Coal Basin, includes areas where coal was not strongly affected by metamorphism) 

D, Allen, Anderson South Canyon and Wheeler 1.9-10.5 0.4-1.5 11,840-13,530 

A, B, C Wheeler 3.5-16.2 0.6-2.1 10,160-12,820 

Black Diamond seam Palisade 2.1-9.2 0.5-1.4 10,360-12,310 

Grand Hogback coal field 

Keystone #1-#4 Keystone 5.4-9.2 0.3-0.4 11,020-13,120 

Allen seam South Canyon 3.9-7.9 0.4-0.5 11,600-13,270 

Wheeler seam Wheeler 4.9-11.3 0.3-0.8 11,220-13,120 

Black Diamond group Palisade ? 3.7 0.6 11,970 

Ranges of ash yield, sulfur content, and heating values for coal zones in the eastern part of the Somerset 

coal field based on an as-received analyses reported by Toenges and others (1949, 1952). 

[Values are based on samples collected from cores of coal retrieved from 25 drill holes] 

 

Coal beds reported by Toenges 

and others (1949, 1952) 

Coal zone 

(this report) 

Ash 

(%) 

Sulfur 

(%) 

Btu/lb 

 

F, D, E, and unnamed beds Coal Ridge and South Canyon 2.7-19.6 0.3-1.7 10,230-12,360 

lower, middle, upper, A, B, 

and C 

Cameo-Wheeler 2.4-17.4 0.4-3.2 11,060-14,380 

Analyses are from core retrieved from drill holes LH-6-16, LH-7-8, LH-8-9, LH-9-16, LH-11-9, LH-12-10, LH-13-11, 

LH-14-15, LH-15-22, LH-16-21, LH-17-23, LH-18-21, LH-19-28, LH-20-15, LH-21-23, LH-22-4, LH-23-4, LH-24-7, 

LH-25-14, and LH-27-3 (Toenges and others, 1949), and LH-1-33, LH-2-33, LH-3-4, LH-4-10, and LH-5-33 (Toenges 

and others, 1952). Locations of the drill holes are provided in Appendix 1. 

Investigations of the Distribution and Resources of Coal in the Southern Part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado O77
Appendix 3 contains tables that report coal resources and 

other occurrences of coal for each 7.5′ quadrangle and township that is underlain by the Cameo-Fairfi eld coal group in 

the southern part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado. Appendix 3 

also contains tables that report coal resources and other occurrences of coal by surface and coal ownership. Coal tonnages 

are reported in overburden categories and in millions of short 

tons. Reported resource are rounded to two signifi cant fi gures, 

Appendix 3— Coal Tonnage Tables for Quadrangles, 

Townships, and Areas of Ownership

and some categories in the resource tables do not equal the 

sum of their components because of independent rounding. 

Tonnage was not calculated for coal that might be folded 

over the fl anks of laccoliths or that might be buried beneath 

laccoliths. Figures showing 7.5′ quadrangle names, township 

grids, and areas of surface and mineral ownership are provided 

in Appendix 4.

Coal resources and other occurrences of coal in the Cameo-Wheeler coal zone by 7.5-minute quadrangle 

(in millions of short tons). Page 1 of 3. 

 

 Overburden (ft) 

Quadrangle name 0-500 500- 

1,000 

1,000- 

2,000 

2,000- 

3,000 

3,000-6,000 6,000-10,000 >10,000 Grand total 

 

Anvil Points 1,200 2,200 3,400 

Baxter Pass 150 190 340 250 930 

Big Foundation Creek 1 180 700 190 1,100 

Big Soap Park 57 4.3 61 

Bowie 290 380 780 350 250 2,100 

Brushy Point 57 520 560 650 1,800 

Bull Fork 580 580 

Bull Mountain 39 1,800 3.9 1,900 

Calf Canyon 43 430 750 860 2,100 

Cameo 92 180 1,000 200 1,500 

Carbonera 390 65 48 500 

Cattle Creek 65 58 110 120 280 180 810 

Cedaredge 300 400 600 440 360 2,100 

Center Mountain 0.4 140 2,600 110 2,900 

Chair Mountain 0.18 17 330 270 610 

Chalk Mountain 1,400 2,800 4,200 

Circle Dot Gulch 2,200 14 2,200 

Collbran 2,600 890 3,500 

Corcoran Peak 89 100 520 230 160 1,100 

Corcoran Point 11 6.1 13 29 

Cutoff Gulch 370 260 640 

Davis Canyon 140 99 240 

De Beque 720 2,300 3,000 

Desert Gulch 1,400 1,300 2,700 

Douglas Pass 15 250 800 270 4 1,300 

Dry Creek 310 280 360 390 460 1,800 

East Evacuation Creek 460 230 690 

Electric Mountain 51 1,500 950 2,500 

O78 Geologic Assessment of Coal in the Colorado Plateau: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah
Coal resources and other occurrences of coal in the Cameo-Wheeler coal zone by 7.5-minute 

quadrangle (in millions of short tons). Page 2 of 3. 

 

 Overburden (ft) 

Quadrangle name 0-500 500- 

1,000 

1,000- 

2,000 

2,000- 

3,000 

3,000-6,000 6,000-10,000 >10,000 Grand total 

 

Elk Knob 2.1 100 1,700 520 2,300 

Figure Four Spring 190 1,300 1,500 

Flatiron Mountain 62 2,400 1,400 3,900 

Forked Gulch 1,200 1,300 2,500 

Garvey Canyon 110 220 900 710 200 2,100 

Gibson Gulch 1,800 2,000 3,800 

Glenwood Springs 7 7.7 11 3.5 29 

Grand Mesa 1,300 1,900 3,300 

Gray Reservoir 260 340 700 770 1,200 3,200 

Hawxhurst Creek 590 2,500 560 3,700 

Hells Kitchen 120 170 330 470 920 2,000 

Henderson Ridge 140 2,200 2,300 

Highline Lake 0.15 0.15 

Hightower Mountain 3.9 3,400 2.5 3,400 

Horse Mountain 35 21 43 57 190 150 7.4 500 

Housetop Mountain 2,300 1,200 3,500 

Howard Canyon 280 200 72 550 

Hunter Mesa 880 3,000 1.5 3,900 

Indian Point 190 160 430 550 290 1,600 

Jim Canyon 92 57 100 250 

Juniata Reservoir 12 12 

Lands End 0.5 5.3 33 340 1,700 2,100 

Leon Peak 1,400 2,400 3,800 

Long Point 3,000 470 3,400 

Mccarthy Gulch 13 1,100 1,100 

Mesa 170 1,900 350 2,500 

Mesa Lakes 2,100 500 2,600 

Investigations of the Distribution and Resources of Coal in the Southern Part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado O79
Coal resources and other occurrences of coal in the Cameo-Wheeler coal zone by 7.5-minute quadrangle 

(in millions of short tons). Page 3 of 3. 

 

 Overburden (ft) 

Quadrangle name 0-500 500- 

1,000 

1,000- 

2,000 

2,000- 

3,000 

3,000-6,000 6,000-10,000 >10,000 Grand total 

 

Middle Dry Fork 30 71 1900 2,000 

Minnesota Pass 180 120 210 130 640 

Molina 360 2,800 3,100 

Mount Blaine 420 2,200 2,700 

New Castle 120 79 170 150 490 1,200 2,200 

North Delta 2.3 2.3 

North Mamm Peak 2,600 1,300 3,900 

Palisade 25 30 85 110 29 280 

Paonia Reservoir 42 240 380 47 710 

Parachute 1,000 2,000 3,000 

Placita 50 52 210 290 28 620 

Point Creek 13 1.5 14 

Porter Mountain 3,700 3,700 

Quaker Mesa 2,900 300 3,200 

Rat Hole Ridge 6.5 62 220 2.4 290 

Razorback Ridge 37 2,200 25 2,200 

Red Pinnacle 1,300 2,200 3,500 

Rifle 0.28 2.2 7.4 13 100 2,300 680 3,100 

Rio Blanco 12 7.8 23 34 140 240 1,100 1,500 

Round Mountain 26 78 510 0.74 620 

Ruby Lee Reservoir 190 290 120 600 

Rulison 2,700 900 3,600 

Silt 49 44 91 95 450 1,800 2,600 

Somerset 160 340 570 330 530 1,900 

South Mamm Peak 2,900 790 3,700 

Spruce Mountain 58 3,800 3,800 

Stony Ridge 25 22 52 61 580 130 860 

Storm King Mountain 54 48 86 80 250 440 960 

The Meadows 3,600 3,600 

The Saddle 2,200 110 2,300 

Wagon Track Ridge 57 1,700 1,000 2,800 

West Beckwith Mountain 240 120 98 83 7.6 550 

Winter Flats 470 560 710 1,700 

Grand total 

(pages 1 through 3) 4,000 4,600 13,000 15,000 58,000 67,000 10,000 170,000 

O80 Geologic Assessment of Coal in the Colorado Plateau: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah
Coal resources and other occurrences of coal in the Cameo-Wheeler coal zone by township (in millions 

of short tons). Page 1 of 4. 

 

 Overburden (ft) 

Township 0-500 500- 

1,000 

1,000- 

2,000 

2,000- 

3,000 

3,000- 

6,000 

6,000- 

10,000 

>10,000 Grand total 

 10S 100W 3.4 2.1 1.6 7 

10S 88W 2.9 0.66 0.38 3.9 

10S 89W 33 36 180 180 2.2 440 

10S 90W 0.74 76 970 310 1,400 

10S 91W 7.5 2,100 2,100 

10S 92W 2,200 2,200 

10S 93W 2,200 2,200 

10S 94W 660 1,700 2,400 

10S 95W 2,100 17 2,200 

10S 96W 820 900 1,700 

10S 97W 310 980 140 1,400 

10S 98W 72 160 590 32 850 

10S 99W 14 52 220 290 

11S 88W 2.3 3.4 16 2.6 25 

11S 89W 3.3 320 200 520 

11S 90W 1,000 16 1,000 

11S 91W 660 1,200 1,800 

11S 92W 110 2,400 2,500 

11S 93W 16 2400 2,400 

11S 94W 86 2,000 2,100 

11S 95W 800 1,100 1,900 

11S 96W 290 1,500 20 1,800 

11S 97W 0.2 29 240 720 990 

11S 98W 34 39 54 0.98 130 

12S 88W 1.6 13 2.9 0.44 18 

12S 89W 5.8 200 260 470 

12S 90W 11 150 1,200 1,400 

12S 91W 0.99 36 230 350 860 1,500 

12S 92W 18 200 2,300 360 2,900 

12S 93W 90 310 1,700 160 2,200 

12S 94W 330 430 1,500 75 2,400 

12S 95W 140 300 1,200 140 1,800 

12S 96W 71 160 1,300 4 1,600 

12S 97W 130 96 190 160 290 870 

12S 98W 0.12 0.05 0.18 

13S 88W 1.3 10 51 3.4 65 

13S 89W 61 280 280 2.6 620 

13S 90W 140 310 520 160 3 1,100 

13S 91W 290 350 400 37 1,100 

Investigations of the Distribution and Resources of Coal in the Southern Part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado O81
Coal resources and other occurrences of coal in the Cameo-Wheeler coal zone by township 

(in millions of short tons). Page 2 of 4.

 Overburden (ft) 

Township 0-500 500- 

1,000 

1,000- 

2,000 

2,000- 

3,000 

3,000- 

6,000 

6,000- 

10,000 

>10,000 Grand total 

 

13S 92W 250 300 700 430 60 1,700 

13S 93W 250 270 290 100 910 

13S 94W 280 350 210 840 

13S 95W 170 220 270 40 690 

13S 96W 78 87 180 580 310 1,200 

13S 97W 71 64 160 34 330 

14S 88W 4.4 9.9 8.7 4.2 5.8 33 

14S 89W 110 84 94 89 1.7 380 

14S 90W 180 99 170 100 540 

14S 96W 3.9 3.9 

15S 88W 3.6 15 19 

15S 89W 180 12 200 

1N 1E 7.5 16 4.5 28 

1S 2E 2.7 1.8 4.5 

4S 100W 13 140 1,400 1,600 

4S 101W 1 86 580 260 17 950 

4S 102W 150 390 91 630 

4S 103W 290 48 340 

4S 104W 96 45 140 

4S 93W 16 7.5 15 20 46 11 120 

4S 94W 9.4 6.7 21 30 130 190 510 890 

4S 95W 690 690 

4S 96W 90 280 370 

4S 97W 260 0.05 260 

4S 98W 630 630 

4S 99W 810 530 1,300 

5S 100W 120 1,400 1,500 

5S 101W 220 720 290 1,200 

5S 102W 65 450 280 790 

5S 103W 24 260 330 620 

5S 104W 12 150 2.4 170 

5S 90W 1.5 1.5 

5S 91W 120 73 130 91 120 540 

5S 92W 27 29 72 80 300 310 810 

5S 93W 14 12 29 41 210 690 760 1,800 

5S 94W 19 1,800 1,900 

5S 95W 350 1,100 1,500 

5S 96W 880 130 1,000 

5S 97W 1,100 1,100 

5S 98W 190 1,200 1,400 

5S 99W 1,100 510 1,600 

O82 Geologic Assessment of Coal in the Colorado Plateau: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah
Coal resources and other occurrences of coal in the Cameo-Wheeler coal zone by township (in millions 

of short tons). Page 3 of 4.

 Overburden (ft) 

Township 0-500 500- 

1,000 

1,000- 

2,000 

2,000- 

3,000 

3,000- 

6,000 

6,000- 

10,000 

>10,000 Grand total 

 6S 100W 97 1,100 1,200 

6S 101W 170 380 520 1,100 

6S 102W 14 230 610 52 900 

6S 103W 180 230 270 0.65 680 

6S 104W 71 55 150 84 360 

6S 105W 21 22 43 

6S 89W 29 23 41 36 24 150 

6S 90W 48 45 77 70 290 800 13 1,300 

6S 91W 25 27 76 94 380 1,700 4.2 2,300 

6S 92W 210 2,000 2,200 

6S 93W 2,200 2,200 

6S 94W 2,300 190 2,500 

6S 95W 1,400 940 2,300 

6S 96W 1,300 210 1,500 

6S 97W 22 1,700 1,700 

6S 98W 700 1,200 1,900 

6S 99W 1,300 330 1,600 

7S 100W 1,300 1,300 

7S 101W 23 360 550 340 1,300 

7S 102W 150 140 260 98 650 

7S 103W 240 76 11 330 

7S 104W 210 85 110 400 

7S 105W 19 7.5 14 40 

7S 89W 41 40 79 81 240 170 640 

7S 90W 21 1,600 87 1,700 

7S 91W 860 1,300 7 2,100 

7S 92W 1,100 1,100 2,200 

7S 93W 1,700 300 2,000 

7S 94W 1,500 1,100 2,700 

7S 95W 84 1,500 110 1,700 

7S 96W 970 1,200 2,100 

7S 97W 830 1,300 2,100 

7S 98W 1,900 200 2,100 

7S 99W 1,300 88 1,400 

8.5S 93W 74 74 

8.5S 94W 23 23 

Investigations of the Distribution and Resources of Coal in the Southern Part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado O83
Coal resources and other occurrences of coal in the Cameo-Wheeler coal zone by township (in millions of 

short tons). Page 4 of 4.

 Overburden (ft) 

Township 0-500 500- 

1,000 

1,000- 

2,000 

2,000- 

3,000 

3,000- 

6,000 

6,000- 

10,000 

>10,000 Grand total 

 8S 100W 11 230 240 480 960 

8S 101W 240 420 530 49 9.6 1,300 

8S 102W 110 34 3.1 150 

8S 103W 6.3 6.3 

8S 104W 3.5 3.5 

8S 105W 3.6 3.6 

8S 89W 18 19 36 49 410 240 770 

8S 90W 1,200 640 1,900 

8S 91W 62 2,100 170 2,300 

8S 92W 280 1,600 1,900 

8S 93W 1,200 830 2,000 

8S 94W 910 890 1,800 

8S 95W 3.8 1,400 280 1,700 

8S 96W 1,800 170 2,000 

8S 97W 180 1,600 1,800 

8S 98W 400 1,400 1,800 

8S 99W 200 1,000 1,200 

9S 100W 57 40 220 53 370 

9S 101W 5.2 4.8 9.9 

9S 89W 23 20 50 56 310 460 

9S 90W 1,900 51 1,900 

9S 91W 1,100 1,500 2,600 

9S 92W 2,300 2,300 

9S 93W 2,300 2,300 

9S 94W 360 2,200 2,600 

9S 95W 1,400 980 2,400 

9S 96W 45 1,900 120 2,000 

9S 97W 92 1,200 410 1,700 

9S 98W 250 1,100 19 1,300 

9S 99W 660 280 13 950 

Grand total 

(pages 1 through 

4) 

4,000 4,600 13,000 15,000 58,000 67,000 10,000 170,000 

O84 Geologic Assessment of Coal in the Colorado Plateau: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah
Coal resources of the Cameo-Wheeler coal zone by coal ownership (in millions of short tons).

 

 Overburden (ft) 

Coal ownership 0-500 500- 

1,000 

1,000-2,000 2,000- 

3,000 

3,000- 

6,000 

Grand total 

 

Federal 3,100 3,800 12,000 13,000 43,000 75,000 

Non-Federal 880 800 950 2,000 15,000 20,000 

Grand total 4,000 4,600 13,000 15,000 58,000 95,000 

Other occurrences of coal in the Cameo-Wheeler coal 

zone (at depths greater than 6,000 ft) by coal ownership (in 

millions of short tons).

 

 

 Overburden 

(ft) 

Coal ownership 6,000-10,000 >10,000 Grand total 

Federal 41,000 7,800 48,000 

Non-Federal 27,000 2,600 29,000 

Grand total 67,000 10,000 78,000 

Coal resources of the Cameo-Wheeler coal zone by surface ownership (in millions of short tons).

 Overburden 

(ft) 

Surface ownership 0-500 500- 

1,000 

1,000-2,000 2,000- 

3,000 

3,000- 

6,000 

Grand total 

 

Federal 2,700 2,800 9,300 10,000 37,000 62,000 

Non-Federal 1,300 1,800 3,400 5,000 21,000 33,000 

Grand total 4,000 4,600 13,000 15,000 58,000 95,000 

Other occurrences of coal in the Cameo-Wheeler coal zone 

(at depths greater than 6,000 ft) by surface ownership (in 

millions of short tons).

 

 

 Overburden 

(ft) 

Surface ownership 6,000-10,000 >10,000 Grand total 

Federal 36,000 6,900 43,000 

Non-Federal 32,000 3,500 35,000 

Grand total 67,000 10,000 78,000 

Investigations of the Distribution and Resources of Coal in the Southern Part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado O85
Coal resources and other occurrences of coal in the South Canyon coal zone by 7.5’ quadrangle (in millions of 

short tons).

 Overburden 

(ft) 

Quadrangle 0-500 500- 

1,000 

1,000- 

2,000 

2,000- 

3,000 

3,000- 

6,000 

6,000- 

10,000 

>10,000 Grand total 

 

Anvil Points 430 1,100 1,500 

Big Soap Park 0.68 0.68 

Bowie 120 150 310 160 84 820 

Bull Mountain 190 1,100 1,300 

Cattle Creek 3.5 4.1 10 9.9 31 20 78 

Center Mountain 2.4 85 720 800 

Chair Mountain 0.11 2.6 62 300 41 410 

Chalk Mountain 110 180 290 

Electric Mountain 7 87 1,000 230 1,300 

Elk Knob 20 140 770 110 1,000 

Flatiron Mountain 140 890 540 1,600 

Forked Gulch 31 110 150 

Gibson Gulch 170 950 600 1,700 

Glenwood Springs 0.67 0.53 0.6 1.8 

Gray Reservoir 5.2 11 28 58 62 160 

Hawxhurst Creek 55 47 100 

Hightower Mountain 19 1,300 1,300 

Horse Mountain 15 15 34 47 130 100 350 

Hunter Mesa 770 1,300 2,100 

Leon Peak 1.2 1.2 

Mccarthy Gulch 210 210 

Minnesota Pass 74 140 180 83 480 

New Castle 34 40 65 63 180 410 790 

North Mamm Peak 1,000 220 1,200 

Paonia Reservoir 2.4 13 88 110 16 230 

Parachute 1.4 1.4 

Placita 22 25 170 110 3.3 340 

Porter Mountain 600 600 

Quaker Mesa 55 880 31 960 

Rifle 0.63 1.1 3 6 34 1,300 250 1,500 

Rio Blanco 13 14 47 55 220 330 970 1,600 

Rulison 250 92 340 

Silt 50 54 91 87 370 1,000 1,600 

Somerset 170 280 380 170 240 1,200 

South Mamm Peak 640 160 790 

Spruce Mountain 110 1,800 1,900 

Stony Ridge 0.5 4 76 11 92 

Storm King Mountain 9.7 8.7 16 15 50 66 170 

The Meadows 110 110 

West Beckwith Mountain 66 34 35 26 160 

Grand total 590 790 1,600 2,100 8,200 13,000 3,100 29,000 

O86 Geologic Assessment of Coal in the Colorado Plateau: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah
Coal resources and other occurrences of coal in the South Canyon coal zone by township (in millions of 

short tons). Page 1 of 2.

 Overburden (ft) 

Township 0-500 500- 

1,000 

1,000-

2,000 

2,000-

3,000 

3,000-

6,000 

6,000-

10,000 

>10,000 Grand 

total 10S 88W 0.11 0.05 0.15 

10S 89W 17 21 150 57 250 

10S 90W 14 91 430 64 600 

10S 91W 47 1,000 1,100 

10S 92W 540 540 

10S 93W 97 97 

10S 94W 4.1 4.1 

11S 88W 0.61 3 2.6 0.2 6.3 

11S 89W 0.11 61 260 11 330 

11S 90W 68 630 700 

11S 91W 690 340 1,000 

11S 92W 58 290 350 

11S 93W 13 13 

12S 88W 0.68 0.79 3.7 1.3 0.21 6.6 

12S 89W 27 260 93 380 

12S 90W 16 200 660 870 

12S 91W 9.8 23 160 250 420 860 

12S 92W 15 45 220 3.6 280 

13S 88W 0.01 1.5 2.9 4.3 

13S 89W 3.2 25 110 37 0.25 170 

13S 90W 150 280 360 25 820 

13S 91W 130 130 120 380 

13S 92W 6.9 16 56 26 0.61 110 

14S 89W 33 36 35 43 150 

14S 90W 70 110 140 56 380 

15S 88W 2.3 2.8 5.1 

15S 89W 30 30 

4S 93W 9.2 8.7 20 26 51 8.1 120 

4S 94W 11 12 42 51 200 260 510 1,100 

4S 95W 180 180 

5S 91W 48 46 68 57 63 280 

5S 92W 30 39 69 64 210 130 540 

5S 93W 6.2 7.1 19 26 120 480 300 960 

5S 94W 38 1,200 1,300 

5S 95W 13 200 210 

6S 89W 2.1 2.1 4.4 4 0.44 13 

6S 90W 9.1 7.9 14 14 64 130 240 

6S 91W 7.3 10 23 35 120 540 740 

6S 92W 0.63 200 1,100 1,300 

6S 93W 1,100 1,100 

6S 94W 830 50 880 

6S 95W 140 150 280 

7S 89W 2.2 2.7 6.5 7.9 28 21 68 

7S 90W 8.4 490 490 

7S 91W 46 500 410 950 

7S 92W 840 360 1,200 

7S 93W 700 44 740 

7S 94W 320 170 490 

Investigations of the Distribution and Resources of Coal in the Southern Part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado O87
Coal resources and other occurrences of coal in the South Canyon coal zone by township (in millions of 

short tons). Page 2 of 2.

 Overburden 

(ft) 

Township 0-500 500- 

1,000 

1,000-

2,000 

2,000- 

3,000 

3,000-

6,000 

6,000-

10,000 

>10,000 Grand 

total 

7S 95W 49 0.26 49 

8.5S 93W 24 24 

8.5S 94W 2.7 2.7 

8S 89W 0.01 0.14 1.1 2.5 64 25 93 

8S 90W 0.01 460 100 560 

8S 91W 260 670 21 960 

8S 92W 250 860 1,100 

8S 93W 600 150 750 

8S 94W 160 140 290 

8S 95W 13 11 24 

9S 89W 3.7 3.4 9.1 11 39 66 

9S 90W 56 600 650 

9S 91W 2 480 670 1,100 

9S 92W 650 650 

9S 93W 460 460 

9S 94W 41 41 

Grand total 

(pages 1 and 2) 590 790 1,600 2,100 8,200 13,000 3,100 29,000 

O88 Geologic Assessment of Coal in the Colorado Plateau: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah
Coal resources of the South Canyon coal zone by coal ownership (in millions of short tons).

 

 Overburden 

(ft) 

Coal ownership 0-500 500- 

1,000 

1,000-2,000 2,000- 

3,000 

3,000- 

6,000 

Grand 

total 

Federal 400 590 1,400 1,900 6,100 10,000 

Non-Federal 180 200 160 190 2,100 2,800 

Grand total 590 790 1,600 2,100 8,200 13,000 

Other occurrences of coal in the South Canyon coal zone (at 

depths greater than 6,000 ft) by coal ownership (in millions 

of short tons).

 

 

 Overburden 

(ft) 

Coal ownership 6,000-10,000 >10,000 Grand total 

Federal 8,300 2,800 11,000 

Non-Federal 4,700 340 5,000 

Grand total 13,000 3,100 16,000 

Coal resources or the South Canyon coal zone by surface ownership (in millions of short tons).

 Overburden 

(ft) 

Surface owner 0-500 500-1,000 1,000-2,000 2,000- 

3,000 

3,000- 

6,000 

Grand total 

 

Federal 310 480 1,200 1,300 5,300 8,600 

Non-Federal 280 310 390 750 2,900 4,600 

Grand total 590 790 1,600 2,100 8,200 13,000 

Other occurrences of coal in the South Canyon coal zone (at 

depths greater than 6,000 ft) by surface ownership (in 

millions of short tons).

 

 

 Overburden 

(ft) 

Surface owner 6,000-10,000 >10,000 Grand total 

Federal 7,300 2,600 9,900 

Non-Federal 5,800 510 6,300 

Grand total 13,000 3,100 16,000 

Investigations of the Distribution and Resources of Coal in the Southern Part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado O89
Coal resources and other occurrences of coal in the Coal Ridge coal zone by 7.5’ quadrangle (in millions of 

short tons).

 Overburden (ft) 

Quadrangle 0-500 500- 

1,000 

1,000- 

2,000 

2,000- 

3000 

3,000- 

6,000 

6,000-10,000 >10,000 Grand total 

 

Anvil Points 120 330 440 

Big Soap Park 0.01 0.01 

Bowie 69 80 170 110 46 480 

Bull Mountain 0.1 130 590 730 

Cattle Creek 62 60 120 100 270 94 720 

Center Mountain 1.5 25 230 960 1,200 

Chair Mountain 9.1 9.4 120 200 0.46 340 

Chalk Mountain 130 130 260 

Electric Mountain 12 110 650 43 810 

Elk Knob 7.8 79 230 2.8 320 

Flatiron Mountain 7.7 160 190 130 490 

Forked Gulch 7 23 30 

Gibson Gulch 0.58 57 360 320 740 

Glenwood Springs 5.4 4.1 2.2 12 

Gray Reservoir 20 19 45 59 40 180 

Hawxhurst Creek 24 11 35 

Hightower Mountain 15 570 580 

Horse Mountain 13 13 30 39 100 63 260 

Hunter Mesa 190 260 450 

Leon Peak 3 3 

Mccarthy Gulch 62 62 

Minnesota Pass 48 56 88 46 240 

New Castle 27 25 44 46 170 280 590 

North Mamm Peak 410 55 470 

Paonia Reservoir 9.4 14 76 27 0.96 130 

Parachute 2.1 1.3 3.4 

Placita 61 63 220 56 3.8 400 

Porter Mountain 690 690 

Quaker Mesa 150 460 36 640 

Rifle 1.8 2.4 7.1 14 67 880 120 1,100 

Rio Blanco 5.2 6.8 20 22 81 120 300 550 

Rulison 0.37 120 25 150 

Silt 28 25 56 51 210 460 840 

Somerset 82 130 200 170 190 780 

South Mamm Peak 200 32 240 

Spruce Mountain 32 400 430 

Stony Ridge 36 38 110 120 240 28 570 

Storm King Mountain 16 17 35 33 99 97 300 

The Meadows 140 140 

West Beckwith Mountain 84 56 73 32 2.2 250 

Grand total 580 620 1,500 1,800 4,600 6,600 950 17,000 

O90 Geologic Assessment of Coal in the Colorado Plateau: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah
Coal resources and other occurrences of coal in the Coal Ridge coal zone by township (in millions of 

short tons). Page 1 of 2.

 Overburden (ft) 

Township 0-500 500- 

1,000 

1,000- 

2,000 

2,000- 

3,000 

3,000- 

6,000 

6,000-

10,000 

>10,000 Grand total 

 10S 88W 0.67 0.67 

10S 89W 31 34 98 9.1 170 

10S 90W 6 42 110 1 160 

10S 91W 10 170 180 

10S 92W 510 510 

10S 93W 200 200 

10S 94W 12 12 

11S 88W 12 8.5 3.6 24 

11S 89W 2.5 130 170 1.2 310 

11S 90W 80 360 440 

11S 91W 400 46 450 

11S 92W 77 210 280 

11S 93W 24 24 

12S 88W 3.1 3.3 11 1.4 0.11 19 

12S 89W 30 90 5.5 120 

12S 90W 19 150 400 570 

12S 91W 9.8 25 120 220 280 650 

12S 92W 22 54 180 0.16 260 

13S 88W 0.17 1.8 3.9 6.7 0.18 13 

13S 89W 11 21 95 9.7 140 

13S 90W 79 130 160 41 410 

13S 91W 62 50 37 150 

13S 92W 22 25 48 16 110 

14S 88W 8.3 5.8 5.6 8.2 2.2 30 

14S 89W 58 48 59 39 200 

14S 90W 42 45 73 29 190 

15S 88W 7.1 2.4 9.5 

15S 89W 9 9 

4S 93W 4.4 4.3 10 13 21 2 54 

4S 94W 4.5 6 18 20 74 88 150 360 

4S 95W 55 55 

5S 91W 20 16 26 21 15 98 

5S 92W 26 24 54 50 160 110 420 

5S 93W 7.5 8.8 22 31 130 470 140 800 

5S 94W 21 400 420 

5S 95W 3.3 51 54 

6S 89W 21 19 35 21 0.13 97 

6S 90W 13 13 27 34 180 250 520 

6S 91W 13 14 29 36 140 440 670 

6S 92W 2.6 130 300 430 

6S 93W 660 660 

6S 94W 300 9.1 310 

6S 95W 0.09 29 23 52 

7S 89W 43 42 87 89 240 110 600 

7S 90W 55 650 710 

7S 91W 14 220 190 430 

7S 92W 1.8 180 40 220 

7S 93W 170 6.3 180 

7S 94W 140 48 180 

Investigations of the Distribution and Resources of Coal in the Southern Part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado O91
Coal resources and other occurrences of coal in the Coal Ridge coal zone by township (in millions of 

short tons). Page 2 of 2.

 Overburden (ft) 

Township 0-500 500-1,000 1,000-2,000 2,000-3,000 3,000-6,000 6,000-

10,000 

>10,000 Grand total 

 

7S 95W 2.4 17 19 

8.5S 93W 8.5 8.5 

8.5S 94W 0.92 0.92 

8S 89W 28 27 56 61 230 77 480 

8S 90W 53 300 86 440 

8S 91W 8.3 200 240 1.7 450 

8S 92W 0.69 48 290 330 

8S 93W 250 30 280 

8S 94W 69 38 110 

8S 95W 3.5 1.3 4.8 

9S 89W 40 44 150 120 96 450 

9S 90W 95 240 340 

9S 91W 8.3 68 110 180 

9S 92W 420 420 

9S 93W 130 130 

9S 94W 7.3 7.3 

Grand total 

(pages 1 and 2) 580 620 1,500 1,800 4,600 6,600 950 17,000 

O92 Geologic Assessment of Coal in the Colorado Plateau: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah
Coal resources of the Coal Ridge coal zone by coal ownership (in millions of short tons).

 

 Overburden 

(ft) 

Coal ownership 0-500 500-1,000 1,000-2,000 2,000-3,000 3,000-6,000 Grand total 

Federal 350 430 1,200 1,700 3,800 7,500 

Non-Federal 230 190 200 160 800 1,600 

Grand total 580 620 1,500 1,800 4,600 9,100 

Other occurrences of coal (at depths greater than 6,000 ft) 

in the Coal Ridge coal zone by coal ownership (in millions 

of short tons).

 

 

 Overburden 

(ft) 

Coal ownership 6,000-10,000 >10,000 Grand total 

Federal 4,400 860 5,300 

Non-Federal 2,200 89 2,300 

Grand total 6,600 950 7,600 

Coal resources of the Coal Ridge coal zone by surface ownership (in millions of short tons).

 Overburden 

(ft) 

Surface owner 0-500 500-1,000 1,000-2,000 2,000-3,000 3,000-6,000 Grand total 

Federal 290 360 1,100 1,300 3,300 6,400 

Non-Federal 290 260 380 500 1,300 2,700 

Grand total 580 620 1,500 1,800 4,600 9,100 

Other occurrences of coal (at depths greater than 6,000 ft) 

in the Coal Ridge coal zone by surface ownership (in 

millions of short tons).

 

 

 Overburden 

(ft) 

Surface owner 6,000-10,000 >10,000 Grand total 

Federal 3,700 810 4,500 

Non-Federal 2,900 140 3,100 

Grand total 6,600 950 7,600 

Investigations of the Distribution and Resources of Coal in the Southern Part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado O93
Coal resources of the Cameo-Fairfield coal group east of long 107 ̊ 15′W. in the West Elk Mountains-Crested 

Butte area. Resources are reported by 7.5′ quadrangle (in millions of short tons).

 Overburden (ft) 

Quadrangle 0-500 500-1,000 1,000-2,000 2,000-3,000 3,000-6,000 Grand total 

Anthracite Range 2.9 44 12 7.7 67 

Crested Butte 270 140 35 0.34 440 

Flat Top 60 60 

Gothic 2.7 2.7 

Marble 9.5 14 31 9.2 1.3 66 

Marcellina Mountain 16 27 46 36 33 160 

Mount Axtell 73 75 91 54 1.1 290 

Oh-Be-Joyful 24 20 8.9 0.18 53 

Redstone 1.2 4.6 0.39 6.1 

Squirrel Creek 31 12 22 6.4 0.94 72 

West Elk Peak 5.2 36 39 16 96 

Grand total 480 300 310 160 60 1,300 

Coal resources of the Cameo-Fairfield coal group east of long 107 ̊ 15′W. in the West Elk 

Mountains-Crested Butte area. Resources are reported by township (in millions of short tons).

 Overburden 

(ft) 

Township 0-500 500-1,000 1,000-2,000 2,000-3,000 3,000-6,000 Grand total 11S 88W 5.6 17 25 48 

12S 87W 0.73 1 0.52 2.3 

12S 88W 15 19 31 9.3 1.3 75 

13S 86W 25 19 5.1 48 

13S 87W 3.6 3.6 5.1 0.2 12 

13S 88W 5.5 8.2 22 36 34 110 

14S 85W 4.6 4.6 

14S 86W 70 120 88 46 0.44 320 

14S 87W 0.46 13 8.9 0.62 23 

14S 88W 0.22 2.7 5 7.9 

15S 85W 60 12 72 

15S 86W 270 64 6.3 340 

15S 87W 24 28 58 21 4.9 140 

15S 88W 7.9 59 37 14 120 

Grand total 480 300 310 160 60 1,300 

O94 Geologic Assessment of Coal in the Colorado Plateau: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah
Coal resources of the Cameo-Fairfield coal group east of 

long 107 ̊ 15′W. in the West Elk Mountains-Crested Butte 

area. Resources are reported by coal ownership (in 

millions of short tons).

 

Coal ownership Grand total 

Federal 1,000 

Non-Federal 300 

Grand total 1,300 

Coal resources of the Cameo-Fairfield coal group east of 

long 107 ̊ 15′W. in the West Elk Mountains-Crested Butte 

area. Resources are reported by surface ownership (in 

millions of short tons).

 

Surface owner Grand total 

Federal 860 

Non-Federal 450 

Grand total 1,300 

Investigations of the Distribution and Resources of Coal in the Southern Part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado O95
Appendix 4 contains fi gures showing the location of counties, townships, 7.5′ quadrangles, and areas of coal ownership 

in the southern part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado.

Appendix 4—Maps of Counties, Townships, 

7.5′ Quadrangles, and Coal Ownership in the 

Southern Part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado

O96 Geologic Assessment of Coal in the Colorado Plateau: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah
10 0 10 Miles

Areas of Federal coal ownership

Areas of non-Federal coal (includes areas of State and privately owned coal)

Boundary of study area

Boundary of southern Piceance Basin study area.

 6 S

7 S

2 N

1 N

2 E

 5 S

 4 S

89 88 

 90 W

 89 W

 91

103 W 102 101 100 99 98 97 96 95 93 92

 94 93 92 91

104 W 103

 96 W 95

 97 W

100 W

1 W 1 E

3 W 2 W

1 S

 94

DELTA

MESA 

GARFIELD

RIO BLANCO

GUNNISON

PITKIN

39 ̊

109 ̊

39 ̊45'

109 ̊ 108 ̊30' 108 ̊ 107 ̊30' 

Coal ownership for areas that are underlain by the Cameo-Fairfield coal group in the Mesaverde Formation and Mesaverde Group in the southern part of Colorado.
10 0 10 Miles

109 ̊ 108 ̊ 

39 ̊

109 ̊

UTAH

COLORADO

39 ̊45'

DELTA

MESA 

GARFIELD

RIO BLANCO

GUNNIS

PITK

Big

Soap

Park

North 

Delta

Point 

Creek

Minnesota 

Pass

West 

Beckwith

Mountain

An

R

Cedaredge 

Hells Kitchen Dry Creek Indian Point Juniata Reservoir Gray Reservoir Bowie Somerset Paonia Reservoir Ma

M

Grand 

Mesa 

Mesa 

Lakes 

Leon 

Peak

Lands 

End

Chalk 

Mountain Palisade Electric Mountain Bull Mountain Chair Mountain M

Molina Collbran The 

Meadows

Mesa Porter 

Mountain Cameo Spruce Mountain Round Mountain Elk Knob Corcoran Point Placita R

Hawxhurst 

Creek

Housetop

Mountain

South 

Mamm 

Peak

De Beque Hightower Mountain Wagon Track

Ridge

Flatiron 

Mountain

Winter

Flats

Quaker 

Mesa

Stony 

Ridge

Highline 

Lake

Parachute Rulison

North 

Mamm 

Peak

Red 

Pinnacle

Hunter 

Mesa

Long 

Point 

Gibson 

Gulch

The 

Saddle 

Center 

Mountain

Middle 

Dry 

Fork

Cattle 

Creek

Garvey 

Canyon

Glenwood 

Springs

Storm 

King 

Mountain

Anvil 

Points

Forked 

Gulch

Rifle

Circle 

Dot 

Gulch

Mount Silt 

Blaine

New

Castle

Desert

Gulch

Henderson 

Ridge

Calf 

Canyon

Douglas 

Pass

Baxter 

Pass

East 

Evacuation

Creek

Big 

Foundation

Creek

Horse 

Mountain

Rio 

Blanco

Mccarthy 

Gulch

Cutoff 

Gulch

Bull 

Fork

Figure 

Four 

Spring

Razorback 

Ridge

Brushy 

Point

Rat 

Hole 

Ridge

Jim 

Canyon Carbonera Howard Canyon

Ruby 

Lee 

Reservoir 

Corcoran

Peak

Davis 

Canyon

Names and locations of 7.5′ quadrangles in the southern part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado.
Map of counties, townships, and region underlain by the Cameo-Fairfield coal group (gray shaded area) in the southern part of the Piceance Basin, Co

includes the Cameo-Wheeler, South Canyon, and Coal Ridge coal zones, and coeval coal-bearing strata east of long 107 ̊15′W.

DELTA

MESA 

GARFIELD

RIO BLANCO

PI

39 ̊45'

109 ̊ 108 ̊ 

39 ̊

109 ̊

10 ̊30' 107 ̊30' 107 ̊15'

 6 S

7 S

2 N

1 N

2 E

 5 S

 4 S

89 88 

 90 W

 89 W

 91

103 W 102 101 100 99 98 97 96 95 93 92

 94 93 92 91

104 W 103

 96 W 95

 97 W

100 W

1 W 1 E

3 W 2 W

1 S

 94

10 0 10 Miles
Appendix 5—Database Used for the 

Southern Piceance Basin Assessment Unit, Colorado

Appendix 5 contains the database used to asses coal resources in the Southern Piceance Basin assessment unit. The location, 

lithologic, and stratigraphic data are available in ASCII format, DBF, and Excel spreadsheet fi les on disc 2 of this CD-ROM. 

Drill-hole locations are shown on plate 1 and described in Appendix 1.

Appendix 6—ArcView Project for the 

Southern Piceance Basin Assessment Unit, Colorado

The digital fi les used for the coal resource assessment of the Southern Piceance assessment unit are presented as views 

in the ArcView project.

The ArcView project and the digital fi les are stored on both discs of this CD-ROM set—Appendix 6 of chapter O resides 

on both discs. Persons who do not have ArcView 3.1 may query the data by means of the ArcView Data Publisher on disc 1. 

Persons who do have ArcView 3.1 may utilize the full functionality of the software by accessing the data that reside on disc 2.

An explanation of the ArcView project and data library—and how to get started using the software—is given by Biewick and 

Mercier (chap. D, this CD-ROM). Metadata for all digital fi les are also accessible through the ArcView project.

O100 Geologic Assessment of Coal in the Colorado Plateau: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah
National Coal

Resource

Assessment

Click here to return to Disc 1 

Volume Table of Contents

Plate 1. Investigations of the distribution and resources of coal in the southern part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado.

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Investigations of the Distribution and Resources of Coal in the Southern Part of the Piceance Basin, Colorado O101