Chapter HQ

COAL QUALITY AND GEOCHEMISTRY, HANNA AND

CARBON BASINS, WYOMING

By G.D. Stricker and M.S. Ellis

in U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1625-A
HQ-ii

Contents

Coal Quality and Geochemistry, Hanna and Carbon Basins, Wyoming ...........HQ-1

References Cited ................................................................................................HQ-5

Figures

HQ-1. Index map showing the Hanna and Carbon Basins, Wyoming.

HQ-2. Index map showing coal quality data distribution in the Hanna and Carbon

Basins.

HQ-3. Ash yield in the Ferris 25 coal zone, Ferris coalfield, Hanna Basin.

HQ-4. Ash yield in the Ferris 50 coal zone, Ferris coalfield, Hanna Basin.

HQ-5. Ash yield in the Hanna 77 coal zone, Hanna coalfield, Hanna Basin.

HQ-6. Ash yield in the Hanna 78 coal zone, Hanna coalfield, Hanna Basin.

HQ-7. Ash yield in the Hanna 79 coal zone, Hanna coalfield, Hanna Basin.

HQ-8. Ash yield in the Johnson-107 coal zone, South Carbon coalfield, Carbon

Basin.

HQ-9. Sulfur content in the Ferris 25 coal zone, Ferris coalfield, Hanna Basin.

HQ-10. Sulfur content in the Ferris 50 coal zone, Ferris coalfield, Hanna Basin.

HQ-11. Sulfur content in the Hanna 77 coal zone, Hanna coalfield, Hanna Basin.

HQ-12. Sulfur content in the Hanna 78 coal zone, Hanna coalfield, Hanna Basin.

HQ-13. Sulfur content in the Hanna 79 coal zone, Hanna coalfield, Hanna Basin.

HQ-14. Sulfur content in the Johnson-107 coal zone, South Carbon coalfield,

Carbon Basin.

HQ-15. Moist, mineral-matter-free Btu in the Ferris 25 coal zone, Ferris coalfield,

Hanna Basin.
HQ-iii

Figures-continued

HQ-16. Moist, mineral-matter-free Btu in the Ferris 50 coal zone, Ferris coalfield,

Hanna Basin.

HQ-17. Moist, mineral-matter-free Btu in the Hanna 77 coal zone, Hanna

coalfield, Hanna Basin.

HQ-18. Moist, mineral-matter-free Btu in the Hanna 78 coal zone, Hanna

coalfield, Hanna Basin.

HQ-19. Moist, mineral-matter-free Btu in the Hanna 79 coal zone, Hanna

coalfield, Hanna Basin.

HQ-20. Moist, mineral-matter-free Btu in the Johnson-107 coal zone, South

Carbon coalfield, Carbon Basin.

HQ-21. Pounds of sulfur dioxide per million Btu in the Ferris 25 coal zone, Ferris

coalfield, Hanna Basin.

HQ-22. Pounds of sulfur dioxide per million Btu in the Ferris 50 coal zone, Ferris

coalfield, Hanna Basin.

HQ-23. Pounds of sulfur dioxide per million Btu in the Hanna 77 coal zone,

Hanna coalfield, Hanna Basin.

HQ-24. Pounds of sulfur dioxide per million Btu in the Hanna 78 coal zone,

Hanna coalfield, Hanna Basin.

HQ-25. Pounds of sulfur dioxide per million Btu in the Hanna 79 coal zone,

Hanna coalfield, Hanna Basin, Wyoming.

HQ-26. Pounds of sulfur dioxide per million Btu in the Johnson-107 coal zone,

South Carbon coalfield, Carbon Basin.

HQ-27. Antimony concentration in the Ferris 25 coal zone, Ferris coalfield, Hanna

Basin.
HQ-iv

Figures-continued

HQ-28. Arsenic concentration in the Ferris 25 coal zone, Ferris coalfield, Hanna

Basin.

HQ-29. Beryllium concentration in the Ferris 25 coal zone, Ferris coalfield, Hanna

Basin.

HQ-30. Cadmium concentration in the Ferris 25 coal zone, Ferris coalfield, Hanna

Basin.

HQ-31. Chromium concentration in the Ferris 25 coal zone, Ferris coalfield,

Hanna Basin.

HQ-32. Cobalt concentration in the Ferris 25 coal zone, Ferris coalfield, Hanna

Basin.

HQ-33. Lead concentration in the Ferris 25 coal zone, Ferris coalfield, Hanna

Basin.

HQ-34. Manganese concentration in the Ferris 25 coal zone, Ferris coalfield,

Hanna Basin.

HQ-35. Mercury concentration in the Ferris 25 coal zone, Ferris coalfield, Hanna

Basin.

HQ-36. Nickel concentration in the Ferris 25 coal zone, Ferris coalfield, Hanna

Basin.

HQ-37. Selenium concentration in the Ferris 25 coal zone, Ferris coalfield, Hanna

Basin.

HQ-38. Uranium concentration in the Ferris 25 coal zone, Ferris coalfield, Hanna

Basin.

HQ-39. Antimony concentration in the Ferris 50 coal zone, Ferris coalfield, Hanna

Basin.
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Figures-continued

HQ-40. Arsenic concentration in the Ferris 50 coal zone, Ferris coalfield, Hanna

Basin.

HQ-41. Beryllium concentration in the Ferris 50 coal zone, Ferris coalfield, Hanna

Basin.

HQ-42. Cadmium concentration in the Ferris 50 coal zone, Ferris coalfield, Hanna

Basin.

HQ-43. Chromium concentration in the Ferris 50 coal zone, Ferris coalfield,

Hanna Basin.

HQ-44. Cobalt concentration in the Ferris 50 coal zone, Ferris coalfield, Hanna

Basin.

HQ-45. Lead concentration in the Ferris 50 coal zone, Ferris coalfield, Hanna

Basin.

HQ-46. Manganese concentration in the Ferris 50 coal zone, Ferris coalfield,

Hanna Basin.

HQ-47. Mercury concentration in the Ferris 50 coal zone, Ferris coalfield, Hanna

Basin.

HQ-48. Nickel concentration in the Ferris 50 coal zone, Ferris coalfield, Hanna

Basin.

HQ-49. Selenium concentration in the Ferris 50 coal zone, Ferris coalfield, Hanna

Basin.

HQ-50. Uranium concentration in the Ferris 50 coal zone, Ferris coalfield, Hanna

Basin.

HQ-51. Antimony concentration in the Hanna 77 coal zone, Hanna coalfield,

Hanna Basin.
HQ-vi

Figures-continued

HQ-52. Arsenic concentration in the Hanna 77 coal zone, Hanna coalfield, Hanna

Basin.

HQ-53. Beryllium concentration in the Hanna 77 coal zone, Hanna coalfield,

Hanna Basin.

HQ-54. Cadmium concentration in the Hanna 77 coal zone, Hanna coalfield,

Hanna Basin.

HQ-55. Chromium concentration in the Hanna 77 coal zone, Hanna coalfield,

Hanna Basin.

HQ-56. Cobalt concentration in the Hanna 77 coal zone, Hanna coalfield, Hanna

Basin.

HQ-57. Lead concentration in the Hanna 77 coal zone, Hanna coalfield, Hanna

Basin.

HQ-58. Manganese concentration in the Hanna 77 coal zone, Hanna coalfield,

Hanna Basin.

HQ-59. Mercury concentration in the Hanna 77 coal zone, Hanna coalfield, Hanna

Basin.

HQ-60. Nickel concentration in the Hanna 77 coal zone, Hanna coalfield, Hanna

Basin.

HQ-61. Selenium concentration in the Hanna 77 coal zone, Hanna coalfield,

Hanna Basin.

HQ-62. Uranium concentration in the Hanna 77 coal zone, Hanna coalfield, Hanna

Basin.

HQ-63. Antimony concentration in the Hanna 78 coal zone Hanna coalfield,

Hanna Basin.
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Figures-continued

HQ-64. Arsenic concentration in the Hanna 78 coal zone Hanna coalfield, Hanna

Basin.

HQ-65. Beryllium concentration in the Hanna 78 coal zone Hanna coalfield,

Hanna Basin.

HQ-66. Cadmium concentration in the Hanna 78 coal zone Hanna coalfield,

Hanna Basin.

HQ-67. Chromium concentration in the Hanna 78 coal zone Hanna coalfield,

Hanna Basin.

HQ-68. Cobalt concentration in the Hanna 78 coal zone Hanna coalfield, Hanna

Basin.

HQ-69. Lead concentration in the Hanna 78 coal zone Hanna coalfield, Hanna

Basin.

HQ-70. Mercury concentration in the Hanna 78 coal zone Hanna coalfield, Hanna

Basin.

HQ-71. Nickel concentration in the Hanna 78 coal zone Hanna coalfield, Hanna

Basin.

HQ-72. Selenium concentration in the Hanna 78 coal zone Hanna coalfield, Hanna

Basin.

HQ-73. Uranium concentration in the Hanna 78 coal zone Hanna coalfield, Hanna

Basin.

HQ-74. Antimony concentration in the Hanna 79 coal zone, Hanna coalfield,

Hanna Basin.

HQ-75. Arsenic concentration in the Hanna 79 coal zone, Hanna coalfield, Hanna

Basin.
HQ-viii

Figures-continued

HQ-76. Beryllium concentration in the Hanna 79 coal zone, Hanna coalfield,

Hanna Basin.

HQ-77. Cadmium concentration in the Hanna 79 coal zone, Hanna coalfield,

Hanna Basin.

HQ-78. Chromium concentration in the Hanna 79 coal zone, Hanna coalfield,

Hanna Basin.

HQ-79. Cobalt concentration in the Hanna 79 coal zone, Hanna coalfield, Hanna

Basin.

HQ-80. Lead concentration in the Hanna 79 coal zone, Hanna coalfield, Hanna

Basin.

HQ-81. Manganese concentration in the Hanna 79 coal zone, Hanna coalfield,

Hanna Basin.

HQ-82. Mercury concentration in the Hanna 79 coal zone, Hanna coalfield, Hanna

Basin.

HQ-83. Nickel concentration in the Hanna 79 coal zone, Hanna coalfield, Hanna

Basin.

HQ-84. Selenium concentration in the Hanna 79 coal zone, Hanna coalfield,

Hanna Basin.

HQ-85. Uranium concentration in the Hanna 79 coal zone, Hanna coalfield, Hanna

Basin.

HQ-86. Antimony concentration in the Johnson-107 coal zone, South Carbon

coalfield, Carbon Basin.

HQ-87. Arsenic concentration in the Johnson-107 coal zone, South Carbon

coalfield, Carbon Basin.
HQ-ix

Figures-continued

HQ-88. Beryllium concentration in the Johnson-107 coal zone, South Carbon

coalfield, Carbon Basin.

HQ-89. Cadmium concentration in the Johnson-107 coal zone, South Carbon

coalfield, Carbon Basin.

HQ-90. Chromium concentration in the Johnson-107 coal zone, South Carbon

coalfield, Carbon Basin.

HQ-91. Cobalt concentration in the Johnson-107 coal zone, South Carbon

coalfield, Carbon Basin.

HQ-92. Lead concentration in the Johnson-107 coal zone, South Carbon coalfield,

Carbon Basin.

HQ-93. Manganese concentration in the Johnson-107 coal zone, South Carbon

coalfield, Carbon Basin.

HQ-94. Mercury concentration in the Johnson-107 coal zone, South Carbon

coalfield, Carbon Basin.

HQ-95. Nickel concentration in the Johnson-107 coal zone, South Carbon

coalfield, Carbon Basin.

HQ-96. Selenium concentration in the Johnson-107 coal zone, South Carbon

coalfield, Carbon Basin.

HQ-97. Uranium concentration in the Johnson-107 coal zone, South Carbon

coalfield, Carbon Basin.
HQ-x

Table

HQ-1. Summary coal quality data for merged assessment units in the Hanna and

Carbon Basins, Wyoming
HQ-1

COAL QUALITY AND GEOCHEMISTRY, HANNA AND

CARBON BASINS, WYOMING

Actively mined coal in the Hanna and Carbon Basins, Wyoming (fig. HQ-1) is

considered to be a “clean coal.” It is a low-contaminant, subbituminous to

bituminous coal resource. The Hanna and Carbon Basins have three coalfields that

contain ten coal zones: (1) the Ferris coalfield in the Hanna Basin with the Ferris

23, 25, 31, 50, and 65 coal zones, (2) the Hanna coalfield in the Hanna Basin with

the Hanna 77, 78, 79, and 81 coal zones, and (3) the South Carbon coalfield in the

Carbon Basin with the Johnson-107 coal zone. For the location and description of

basins and coal zones, see Chapter HF-Framework Geology of Fort Union coal in

the Hanna and Carbon Basins. Because there is a limited amount of data available,

coal quality data for these ten assessment units have been merged together into a

single unit for chemical evaluation for both basins. The unit has the following

arithmetic mean values (on an as-received basis) for coal that is not presently being

mined or under lease to be mined in the future: moisture–11.61 percent, ash

yield–12.48 percent, total sulfur–0.96 percent, calorific value–10,090 Btu/lb,

pounds of SO2 per million Btu–2.07, and moist, mineral-matter-free

Btu–11,640. This chemical evaluation unit also has the following arithmetic mean

concentration (in parts per million and on whole-coal and remnant-moisture basis)

for elements of environmental concern: antimony–0.49, arsenic–4.4,

beryllium–0.36, cadmium–0.28, chromium–11, cobalt–2.0, lead–4.6,

manganese–46, mercury–0.07, nickel–5.4, selenium–0.80, and uranium–1.9.

Coal from the Hanna Basin is developed from 3 mines and utilized for electric

power generation. Currently, there is no coal production from the Carbon Basin.
HQ-2

Table HQ-1 is a summary of coal quality in the Hanna and Carbon Basins,

Wyoming.

Much of the coal quality data in these two basins is proprietary. Both proprietary

and public data are used in the summary data table. Only public data is shown on

location maps and other graphic displays. A common problem in statistical

summaries of trace-element data arises when element values are below the limits

of detection. This results in a censored distribution. To compute unbiased

estimates of censored data for the elements in this table, we adopted the protocol of

reducing all “less than” values by 50 percent to generate a real value for these data.

Summary statistics of range (minimum, with an “L” indicating “less than”, and

maximum values) and arithmetic means were generated using the modified data.

Moisture values are reported on an as-received basis (American Society for Testing

and Materials, 1994b, designation D3180-89). Because no equilibrium moisture

values are available for this report, apparent ranks can not reliably be determined.

Between 1974 and 1994, the U.S. Geological Survey analyzed samples of coal for

major-, minor-, and trace-element contents. Prior to performing the analyses, most

of the coal samples were dried at room temperature and humidity for as much as 80

hours. Some samples, however, may have only been dried enough to allow

grinding (to less than 100 mesh). Moisture content in the samples is unknown,

although moisture contents were probably similar to that which would remain after

air-dry loss determination (American Society for Testing and Materials ASTM

Standards, 1994c, designation D3302-91). ). Since the actual moisture content of

the samples analyzed between 1974 and 1994 is unknown and can not be

determined, the major-, minor-, and trace-element contents are reported on a

remnant moisture basis. Also, the elemental analysis of the samples cannot be
HQ-3

converted to any other moisture basis. In addition, these analyses can only provide

an approximation of load factors (such as, pounds of mercury per trillion Btu).

For the following graphical displays, figures HQ-2 to HQ-97, show public data

locations and values for variables listed in table HQ-1, except for calorific value

and moisture, for the assessment units Ferris 23, 25, 31, 50, and 65 coal zones;

Hanna 77, 78, 79, and 81 coal zones; and Johnson-107 coal zone. There is no

public coal quality data available for some of the coal zones in the following

illustrations. The locations of public data points used in the summary table are

shown on figure HQ-2. When more than one analysis was available per location,

the analytical values were weight averaged on coal sample thickness. For ash

(figs. HQ-3 through HQ-8) and total sulfur (figs. HQ-9 through HQ-14), the values

are color coded low, medium, and high, following guidelines established in U.S.

Geological Survey Circular 891 (Wood and others, 1983). For and moist, mineralmatter-free, which is used in conjunction with other factors to determine apparent

rank (fig. HQ-15 through HQ-20), we utilized the apparent rank designations

established by American Society for Testing and Materials, (1994a), designation

D388-92a. For pounds of SO2 per million Btu (figs. HQ-21 through HQ-26),

values are color coded according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s

Phase I, Phase II, and non-compliant limits for sulfur emission from coal-fired

power plants (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1996).

No guidelines have been established for the elements of environmental concern

(also referred to as “hazardous air pollutants” or “HAPs”). Analytical values for

these elements are color coded based on the following parameters: (1) each

element of environmental concern was ranked from the lowest to highest value for

all data in the Northern Rockies and Great Plains region, and (2) quartiles were
HQ-4

established for each element such that low represents those values that are less than

the .25 quartile (also known as the lower quartile or the 25th percentile), medium

represents those values that are within the .25 to .75 quartiles (two quartiles

representing 50 percent of the values or between the 25th to 75th percentile), high

represents those values that are in the upper .25 quartile (or greater than the 75th

percentile). Figures HQ-27 through HQ-67 show the elements of environmental

concern. Figures HQ-27 through HQ-38 are Ferris 25 coal zone, Ferris coalfield;

figures HQ-39 through HQ-50 are for the Ferris 50 coal zone, Ferris coalfield;

figures HQ-51 through HQ-62 are for the Hanna 77 coal zone, Hanna coalfield;

figures HQ-63 through HQ-73 are for the Hanna 78 coal zone, Hanna coalfield;

figures HQ-74 through HQ-85 are for the Hanna 79 coal zone, Hanna coalfield;

and figures HQ-86 through HQ-97 are for the Johnson-107 coal zone, South

Carbon coalfield.
HQ-5

REFERENCES CITED

American Society for Testing and Materials, 1994a, Annual book of ASTM

Standards, Section 5, Petroleum products, lubricants and fossil fuels, vol.

05.05 Gaseous fuels; coal and coke; section D388-92a; Standard

Classification of Coal by Rank: American Society for Testing and Materials,

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, p. 360-366.

 1994b, Annual book of ASTM Standards, Section 5, Petroleum products,

lubricants and fossil fuels, vol. 05.05 Gaseous fuels; coal and coke; section

D3180-89; Standard Practice for Calculating Coal and Coke Analysis from

As-Determined to Different Bases: American Society for Testing and

Materials, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, p. 360-366.

 1994c, Annual book of ASTM Standards, Section 5, Petroleum products,

lubricants and fossil fuels, vol. 05.05 Gaseous fuels; coal and coke; section

D3302-91; Standard Test Method for Total Moisture in Coal: American

Society for Testing and Materials, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, p. 360-366.

Bragg, L.J., Oman, J.K., Tewalt, S.J., Oman, C.L., Rega, N.H., Washington, P.M.,

and Finkleman, R.B, 1994, U.S. Geological Survey Coal Quality (Coalqual)

Database: Version 1.3: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 94-205,

CD-ROM.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1996, Standards of Performance for New

Stationary Sources, 40CFR, Part 60.43, Standards for Sulfur Dioxide:

Environmental Protection Agency, 27 p.
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Wood, G.H., Jr., Kehn, T.M., Carter, M.D., and Culbertson, W.C., 1983, Coal

resource classification system of the U.S. Geological Survey: U.S.

Geological Survey Circular 891, 65 p.

































































































Table HQ-1. Summary data for merged assessment units in the Hanna and Carbon

Basin, Wyoming. Calculated from the unpublished U.S. Geological Survey coal

quality database (USCHEM), February, 1992; Bragg and others (1994); and

proprietary source(s)

Variable Number Range Mean

of samples Minimum Maximum

Moisture 1148 7.16 30.12 11.61

Ash 1148 1.97 48.70 12.48

Total sulfur 1147 0.30 3.91 0.96

Calorific value 2148 5,070 12,080 10,090

lb SO2

3

147 0.57 14.08 2.07

MMMFBtu 4148 6,820 13,020 11,640

Antimony 514 0.20 1.4 0.49

Arsenic 514 1.0 7.8 4.4

Beryllium 511 0.11 1.5 0.36

Cadmium 514 0.027L 0.97 0.28

Chromium 514 2.2 52 11

Cobalt 514 0.37 5.9 2.0

Lead 514 1.1L 19 4.6

Manganese 514 12 170 46

Mercury 514 0.005L 0.15 0.07

Nickel 514 1.1 15 5.4

Selenium 514 0.05L 2.9 0.80

Uranium 514 0.51 4.8 1.91

1

 Values are in percent and on an as-received basis.

2

 Value is in British thermal units (Btu).

3

 Value is in pounds per million Btu and on an as-received basis.

4

 Value is in British thermal units on a moist, mineral-matter-free basis.

5

 Values are in parts per million (ppm) on a whole-coal and as-received basis; “L”

 denotes less than value shown.