The Issue

Policymakers around the world

require accurate information on coal,

particularly information on coal properties and characteristics, to make

informed decisions regarding the best

use of indigenous resources, international import needs and export opportunities, domestic and foreign policy

objectives, technology transfer opportunities, foreign investment prospects,

environmental and health assessments,

and byproduct use and disposal issues.

The Problem

Unfortunately, the comprehensive

information needed to make these decisions generally is not available. Although

millions of coal analyses have been performed worldwide, most existing national

coal-quality databases are of limited use

because of the following reasons:

• Many of the data are in obscure publications, commonly in the native languages

of the authors or the data reside in paper

files that are not readily accessible.

• Geographic coverages of a country’s

coal deposits are not comprehensive. 

• Analytical data may not be accurate or

may be incompatible with accepted

analytical schemes.

• The coal samples analyzed may not be

representative of an entire deposit or

the samples may represent coal that

was mined years to decades ago.

• Information is lacking on important

trace elements, mineralogy, and modes

of occurrence of the elements of environmental concern.

In summary, no single, accessible,

integrated source of reliable worldwide

coal-quality and related information exists.

The Solution

The U.S. Geological Survey

(USGS), in conjunction with partners

from other coal-producing countries, is

developing an integrated electronic

database with geographic information

system (GIS) coverages. The database

is called the World Coal Quality Inventory (WoCQI). The coal-quality parameters that will be incorporated into

the database include proximate and ultimate analyses, sulfur-form data, and

major-, minor-, and trace-element content analysis. These coal-quality parameters will be determined for every

sample. Semiquantitative analyses of

minerals, element modes of occurrence,

washability, petrography, and other factors that affect technological behavior,

economic byproduct recovery, and

environmental impact of coal use will

be conducted on selected samples.

The World Coal Quality Inventory

will contain coal-quality information

from samples representing important

coal beds in all the major coal-producing countries, as well as in many of the

smaller coal producers (see figure

below). The database will emphasize

information from currently mined coals.

The sources of coal-quality information

The World Coal Quality Inventory (WoCQI)

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

USGS Fact Sheet FS–155–00

January 2001

Active

Complete

Developing

Pending

No contact

Little or no production

EXPLANATION

Figure 1 Status of the World Coal Quality Inventory in participating countries.
that will be incorporated into the database include existing digital databases

and credible information from publications and hardcopy files. Priority has

been given to developing cooperative

agreements with representatives of

coal-producing countries. In most

agreements, the host country is responsible for sample collection, using

appropriate protocols, and the USGS is

responsible for sample characterization,

database development, and information

dissemination. The agreements are tailored to the countries’ needs and capabilities. 

Coal-quality information will be

linked to GIS databases to integrate

geographically related information such

as coal basins, sample locations, land

use, transportation, environmental

issues, and human health data. The

World Coal Quality Inventory will be

accessible from the USGS’s GEO-Data

Explorer (GEODE). GEODE is an

interactive World Wide Web-based

information-distribution system available at http://geode.usgs.gov/. 

The Status of WoCQI

Representatives from more than 40

coal-producing countries have agreed to

participate in WoCQI. Coal samples or

coal-quality information has already

been obtained from more than 20 countries. For several countries, the USGS

has acquired samples from every operating coal mine and even from some

mine prospects. The WoCQI status in

individual countries is depicted on the

accompanying figure (see front page);

the table (this page) provides detailed

information on the status in selected

countries. 

Digital maps of the geology, coal

basins, cultural features, epidemiology,

and other other features of selected

countries are being produced. The map

“Coal-Bearing Regions and Structural

Sedimentary Basins of China and Adjacent Seas” (USGS Open-File Report

OF 00–047) has been published in CDROM and paper formats and is available through the USGS Information

Services (1-888-ASK-USGS). The

report is also available on the web at

http://pubs.usgs.gov/openfile/of00-047/.

The Future

To ensure the most economically

and environmentally efficient global

use of coal, scientists must strive to

develop coal-quality GIS databases that

anticipate the potential uses of coalquality information. Multinational

cooperation in developing a reliable,

comprehensive, global coal-quality

database that contains a broad array of

technological, economic, and environmental parameters should help to

ensure the efficient and environmentally compatible use of global coal

resources in the 21st century.

By Robert B. Finkelman and

Vivian S. Lovern

For more information, 

please contact:

Robert B. Finkelman

U.S. Geological Survey

National Center, Mail Stop 956

Reston, VA 20192

Telephone: (703) 648-6412

E-mail: rbf@usgs.gov

Peter D. Warwick

U.S. Geological Survey

National Center, Mail Stop 956

Reston, VA 20192

Telephone: (703) 648-6469

E-mail: pwarwick@usgs.gov 

Brenda S. Pierce

U.S. Geological Survey

National Center, Mail Stop 956

Reston, VA 20192

Telephone: (703) 648-6421

E-mail: bpierce@usgs.gov 

Country Status

Brazil 43 samples from Rio Grande de Sul analyzed. Report in

preparation.

China 40 samples, primarily from Guizhou Province, analyzed. Agreement

signed to acquire about 500 additional samples. Collaboration on

human health impacts of residential coal use. GIS coverages

completed for coal basins and incidence of fluorosis.

Colombia Letter of agreement signed. GIS database of coal basins nearly

complete. Six samples received.

Hungary 39 coal samples collected from all active mines. Analysis complete; 

report in progress.

India USGS developing agreement with Central Fuels Research Institute

and Geological Survey of India. More than 100 coal and rock samples 

from the Sohagpur coal field in Madhya Pradesh analyzed. Eight

samples of high-chlorine coal from Rajasthan analyzed. GIS layers

completed that show coal-field boundaries, political boundaries, 

drainage, and other features.

Pakistan Approximately 860 coal samples collected and analyzed between 1985

and 1993 for comprehensive coal assessment made in cooperation

with the U.S. Agency for International Development. Results to be

incorporated with new information into GIS-based summary report to

be available on CD-ROM and on the World Wide Web. GIS

coverages of coal fields and base-map data being prepared.

Russia GIS coverages and coal-quality data for most major coal-producing 

basins received. CD-ROM in preparation. Agreement to obtain more 

samples being developed. 

South Korea Samples received from all 11 operating mines. 

Turkey 140

released.

samples from all active lignite mines analyzed. Preliminary report

Table 1. Status of the World Coal Quality Inventory in selected countries.

coal