GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 266

COAL RESOURCES 

OF INDIANA

Prepared in cooperation with the

Indiana Department of Conservation

Geological Survey

1953
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Douglas McKay, Secretary

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

W. E. Wrather, Director

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 266

COAL BESOURCES OF INDIANA

By Frank D. Spencer

Prepared in cooperation with the

Indiana Department of Conservation

Geological Survey

1953

Washington, D. C., 1953

Free on application to the Geological Survey, Washington 25, D. C.
PREFACE

This report on the coal resources of Indiana is the tenth of a 

series of State summary reports prepared by the Geological Survey 

as part of a program to estimate the coal reserves of the United States. 

Studies of the reserves in other States are contained in the following 

publications: Geology of the Deep River coal field, Chatham, Lee, 

and Moore Counties, North Carolina, Preliminary map, 1949; Coal 

resources of Montana, Circular 53, 1949; Coal resources of Michigan, 

Circular 77, 1950; Coal resources of Wyoming,- Circular 81, 1950; 

Coal resources of New Mexico, Circular 89, 1950; Lignite resources 

of South Dakota, Circular 159, 1952; Coal resources of Virginia, 

Circular 171, 1952; Lignite resources of North Dakota, Circular 226, 

1953; and Coal resources of Colorado, Circular 258, 1953.

W. E. Wrather 

Director
CONTENTS

Page Page

Introduction................................... 1 Indiana coal fields Continued

Sources of information.................... 1 Stratigraphy Continued

Acknowledgments......................... 1 Dugger formation................... 13

Abstract...................................... 1 Shelburn formation ................. 13

Methods of preparing reserve estimates ......... 3 Structure............................... 15

Classification according to Coal beds............................... 15

characteristics of coal.................. 3 Coal I (Zone) Cannelton

Rank of coal ........................ 3 or Shoals coal .................. 15

Weight of coal....................... 10 Lower Block coal................... 15

Thickness of beds ................... 10 Upper Block coal................... 22

Thickness of overburden ............. 10 Minsnall coal ...................... 22

Classification according to abundance Coal II (Silverwood or

of reliable data......................... 10 Upper Minsnall coal).............. 22

Measured reserves.................. 10 Coal Ha ........................... 26

Indicated reserves................... 10 Coal III (Seelyville or

Inferred reserves ................... 10 Staunton coal).................... 26

Distinction between original, remaining, Coal Ilia (Velpen coal) .............. 26

and recoverable reserves ............... 11 Coal IV (Linton or Survant coal)...... 26

Original reserves ................... 11 Coal IVa (Houchin Creek coal) ....... 28

Remaining reserves ................. 11 Coal V (Petersburg coal bed or

Recoverable reserves................ 11 Alum Cave coal).................. 28

Methods of recording data and Coals Va and Vb.................... 31

making calculations..................... 11 Coal VI (Dugger coal) .............. 31

Areas excluded...................... 11 Millersburg coal ................... 31

Limitation of estimates .............. 11 Coal vn............................ 31

Comparison of past and present estimates........ 12 Production of coal in Indiana................... 35

Indiana coal fields............................. 12 History of production .................... 35

General features ......................... 12 Underground mining ..................... 35

Stratigraphy ............................. 13 Strip mining ............................ 35

Mansfield sandstone ................. 13 Recoverability in mining ...................... 39

Brazil formation .................... 13 Use of coal in Indiana......................... 39

Staunton formation................... 13 Conclusions.................................. 41

Linton formation .................... 13 Selected bibliography ......................... 41

Petersburg formation................ 13 Unpublished reports .......................... ,42

ILLUSTRATIONS

Page

Figure 1. Map pf the eastern interior coal basin. ..................................... .-.-..i.,.......'.. ..... 2

2. Diagram showing comparison of recoverable coal reserves in Indiana according to: (a)

Thickness (b) abundance of reliable data........................................................ 3

3. Map of coal fields of Indiana showing comparison of recoverable, strippable, and

nonstrippable reserves by counties ........................................................... 4

4. Classification of Pennsylvanian stratigraphy of Indiana, 1899 to 1951 .............................. 14

5. Map showing reserves of Coal I (Zone) in Indiana.................................................. 16

6. Map showing reserves of Coal IVa and the Lower Block coal in Indiana............................. 17

7. Map showing reserves of Coal Vb and the Upper Block coal in Indiana.............................. 23

8. Map showing reserves of the Minshall coal in Indiana ............................................ 24

9. Map showing reserves of Coal II and the underrider of Coal VI in Indiana........................... 25

10. Map showing reserves of Coal m in Indiana..................................................... 27

11. Map showing reserves of Coal IV. in Indiana'..................................................... 29

12. Map showing reserves of Coal V in Indiana......................................................30

13. Map showing reserves of Coal VI in Indiana..................................................... 32'

14. Map showing reserves of lower Millersburg coal in Indiana........................................ 33

iii
ILLUSTRATIONS-Continued

Page

Figure 15. Map showing reserves of upper Millersburg coal in Indiana...................................... 34

16. Map showing reserves of Coal VII in Indiana................................................... 38

TABLES

Page

Table 1. Summary of coal reserves in Indiana by counties............................................... 5

2. Summary of original coal reserves in'Indiana by counties, according to abundance

and reliability of data....................................................................... 6

3. Summary of strippable and nonstrippable coal reserves in Indiana by counties ..................... 7

4. Summary of recoverable coal reserves in Indiana by counties, according to abundance

and reliability of data....................................................................... 8

5. Classification of coals by rank ............................................................... 9

6. Comparison of estimates of coal reserves in Indiana............................................ 12

7. Summary of coal reserves in Indiana by beds .................................................. 18

8. Summary of original coal reserves in Indiana by beds, according to abundance

and reliability of data...................................................................... 19

9. Summary of strippable and nonstrippable coal reserves in Indiana by beds ........................ 20

10. Summary of recoverable coal reserves in Indiana by beds, according to abundance

and reliability of data...................................................................... 21

11. Coal production in Indiana from 1900 through 1950.............................................. 36

iv
COAL RESOURCES OF INDIANA

By Frank D. Spencer

INTRODUCTION

This report on the Coal Resources of Indiana has 

been prepared in cooperation with the Indiana Department 

of Conservation, Geological Survey, as a part of the 

U. S. Geological Survey's program to reappraise the 

coal reserves of the United States.

The first comprehensive estimate of the coal 

reserves of the United States was made by M. R. Campbell 

of the U. S. Geological Survey in the period between 

1907 and 1928. Even as late as 1928, however, there 

had been no significant exploration or development of 

many coal-bearing areas, and information about the 

thickness and extent of coal was restricted to observations along outcrops.

In the years since 1928 approximately 11 billion 

tons of coal has been mined in the United States. This 

amount is more than one third of the total tonnage produced from the beginning of mining through 1950 

(Bituminous Coal Institute, 1950, p. 12, 43). Asa 

result of this mining and development, much new information about the thickness and continuity of coal at 

depth has been obtained.

The growth of the striprmining industry in Indiana, 

which has taken place largely in the years since 1928, 

has been accompanied by an extensive program of exploratory drilling by'private companies and by a related 

program of topographic mapping by the U. S. Geological 

Survey, With this increased amount of reliable data, it 

has been possible to prepare a new and detailed summary 

appraisal of the coal reserves in Indiana, classified 

according to the thickness of the coal, thickness of 

overburden, and relative abundance of information.

Sources of information

In preparing this report on the coal resources 

of Indiana many sources were examined. Chief among 

these were the Annual Reports of the Indiana Department 

of Conservation; mined-out area maps of the Indiana 

Bureau of Mines and Mining; Annual Reports, Bulletins, 

and Folios of the U. S. Geological Survey; Technical 

Papers and Mine Inspection Reports of the U. S. Bureau 

of Mines; and maps of strip-mined areas of the 

U. S. Department of Agriculture. Information was 

procured also from published and unpublished reports 

and maps of the Indiana Department of Conservation, 

Geological Survey. A large number of maps and drill 

records from many coal-mining companies were used, 

and in all more than 5,000 coal, oil, and water drill 

records and logs were examined.

The data for the coal reserve estimates for all 

counties south of Sullivan and Greene were gathered 

and plotted, and the coal reserve estimates calculated

by the U. S. Geological Survey. The coal reserve data 

for Clay, Greene, Owen, Parke, Sullivan, Vigo, and 

Vermillion Counties were provided by the Indiana 

Department of Conservation, Geological Survey, as 

part of a program of detailed geologic mapping in the 

coal field area. Many of these data were plotted and 

the coal reserve estimates prepared by that agency.

Acknowledgments

The following members of the U. S. Geological 

Survey assisted the author in the work upon which this 

report is based: Patricia B. Arkin, Helen M. Beikman, 

Harold L. Deane, WilliamH. Flanagan, GordonC. Grender, 

Warren C. Heisterkamp, Andrew H. Hreha, Harold 

W. Horst, John R. Peace, Betty G. Pennington, and 

Dorothy A. Taylor. Ralph E. Esarey, of the Department 

of Geology, Indiana University, and Charles E. Wier, 

of the Indiana Department of Conservation, Geological 

Survey, contributed a wealth of data and offered many 

helpful suggestions.

The following companies have permitted the 

inspection and use of information, which contributed 

greatly to the accuracy and completeness of the study: 

Ayrshire Collieries Corporation; Big Bend Collieries; 

Black Hawk Coal Corporation; Blackfoot Mining 

Corporation; Walter Bledsoe & Company; August 

Brocksmith Drilling Company; Cedar Valley Coal 

Company; Central Indiana Coal Company; Coal Trades 

Association of Indiana; Enoco Collieries, Inc.; Gulf 

Oil Company; Indiana Coal Producers Association; 

Indiana Truck Mine Operators Association; Indianapolis 

Power & Light Company; Ingle Coal Corporation; 

Knox Consolidated Coal Corporation; Little Betty 

Mining Corporation; Maumee Collieries Company; The 

Monon Railroad Company; the New York Central System; 

the Paul Weir Company; Pond River Coal Company; 

Princeton Mining Company; Pyramid Coal Corporation; 

Shasta Coal Corporation; Sherwood-Templeton Coal 

Company; Sinclair Coal Company; Sohio Petroleum 

Company; Snow Hill Coal Corporation; Standard Coal 

Company; Sunlight Coal Corporation; Tecumseh Coal 

Corporation; and Templeton Coal Company.

ABSTRACT

The Indiana coal field forms the eastern edge of 

the eastern interior coal basin, which is near some 

of the most densely populated and highly productive 

manufacturing areas of the United States. (See fig. 1.) 

For this reason Indiana coal reserves are an important 

State and National asset.

In dollar value the coal mining industry is the 

largest of Indiana's natural-resource-producing
50 i

100 Miles 

_1

Figure 1. Map of the eastern interior coal basin. 

2
industries. The total value of coal production for the 

year 1950 was more than 100 million dollars, or more 

than that of all other natural-resource industries in 

the State combined.

As estimated herein, the original coal reserves 

of Indiana total 37, 293 million tons, of which 27, 320 million tons is contained in beds more than 42 inches thick; 

7, 632 million tons in beds 28 to 42 inches thick; and 

2, 341 million tons in beds 14 to 28 inches thick. The 

remaining reserves as of January 1, 1951, total 

35, 806 million tons, of which 18, 779 million tons is 

believed to be recoverable. The distribution of the 

reserves in these several categories is summarized by 

counties in table 1.

Of the total original reserves of 37, 293 million 

tons, 6, 355 million tons can be classified as measured; 

8, 657 million tons as indicated; and 22, 281 million tons 

as inferred. Strippable reserves constitute 3, 524 million tons, or 9. 5 percent of the total original reserves. 

The distribution of the strippable and nonstrippable original reserves is summarized in tables 2 and 3 by counties 

and by several categories, according to the thickness of 

the beds and the relative abundance and reliability of the 

information available for preparing the estimates.

The distribution of the estimated 18, 779 million 

tons of recoverable strippable and nonstrippable reserves in Indiana is further summarized by counties in 

table 4, and the information is presented graphically 

in figures 2 and 3'.

The tables 1 to 4 and figures 2 and 3 include beds 

in the 14- to 28-inch category, because thin beds have 

been mined in many places. However, many operators 

prefer to eliminate the thin beds from consideration 

as reserves, particularly for deep mining. It is notable, 

therefore, that only a small part of the estimated reserves in Indiana is contained in the thinner beds. Of 

the total estimated recoverable reserves of 18, 779 million tqns shown in table 4, only 1, 233 million ton's, or 

about 6 percent, is contained in beds less than 28 inches 

thick, whereas 17, 546 million tons, or about 94 percent, 

is contained in beds more than 28 inches thick.

METHODS OF PREPARING RESERVE ESTIMATES

Because the coal beds in Indiana are largely 

concealed by non-coal-bearing rocks and as most of 

the available information about these beds is confined 

to observations at the outcrops and in widely spaced 

mines and exploratory drill holes, it was necessary 

in preparing the accompanying estimate of the coal 

reserves of Indiana to establish certain standardized 

definitions and procedures to insure uniform interpretation and classification of the data.

The distinctions thus established are based on 

characteristics of the coal, relative abundance of 

reliable data, and the point of view followed in preparing estimates.

Classification according to characteristics of coal

The characteristics of coal considered in preparing 

the reserve estimates are the rank, weight, thickness 

of bed, and thickness of overburden.

Rank of coal

The rank of coal is determined by its physical 

and chemical properties and is important, therefore, 

in determining utilization. The rank assigned to 

Indiana coal is based on the standard specifications of 

the American Society for Testing Materials. (See 

table 5.)

All of the coal in Indiana is of bituminous rank. 

The greater part is of high volatile C bituminous rank, 

the smaller part is of high volatile B bituminous rank. 

Block coal and cannel coal, which occur in small 

quantities in Indiana, are two varieties of bituminous 

coal that have distinctive characteristics.

Block coal is divided into blocks by vertical 

joints spaced 2 to 4 feet apart and by horizontal splits 

along laminations of fusain (mineral charcoal) and 

vitrain (bright coal). These regular systems of jointing

6DX

Figure 2. -Diagram showing comparison of recoverable coal reserves in Indiana according to: (a) Thickness (b)

abundance of reliable data. 

3
EXPLANATION

Strip mine reserves

Deep mine reserves

This column length equals 

1 billion ton* reserves

j-r r 1-__ _ |

Mssissjppian-Pennsytvanian 

contact

Key to Counties

1 Clay County

2 Daviess County

3 DuBois County

4 Gibson County

5 Greene County

6 Knox County

7 Martin County

8 Owen County

9 Parke County

10 Perry County

11 Pike County

12 Posey County

13 Spencer County

14 Sullivan County

15 Vanderburgh County

16 Vermillion County

17 Vigo County

18 Warrick County

40 Miles

Figure 3. Map of coal fields of Indiana showing comparison of recoverable strippable and nonstrippable reserves

by counties.
Table 1. Summary of coal reserves In Indiana by counties 

(in thousands of short tons)

County

Clay -

Parke -

pjjje __ __ _ .

Sullivan ----- 

Vanderburgh 

Vermillion 

Vigo 

Total -

Original reserves

Coal 

14-28 in. 

thick

7,840 

203,406 

51,341 

244,697 

28,413 

588,878 

73,866 

6,512

25,448 

6l, 540 

118,359 

79,666 

432,612 

209,614 

9,983 

118,628 

79,749

2,340,552

Coal 

28-42 in. 

thick

19,970 

316,718 

95,805 

781,718 

27,019 

1,404,618 

98,759 

21,686 

167 

27,374 

143,141 

712,628 

119,469 

2,508,858 

496,688 

15,920 

601,054 

240,797

7,632,389

Coal more 

than 42 in. 

thick

393,724 

348,264 

27,132 

3,548,943 

926,697 

3,655,962 

23,989 

3,587 

300,150 

6,384 

974,238 

4,562,454 

51,237 

4,684,325 

1,479,627 

1,196,738 

3,771,835 

1,364,852

27,320,138

Total

421,534 

868,388 

174^278 

4,575,358 

982,129 

5,649,458 

196,614 

31,785 

300,317 

59,206 

1,178,919 

5,393,441 

250,372 

7,625,795 

2,185,929 

1,222,641 

4,491,517 

1,685,398

37,293,079

Mined and lost in mining 

to January 1, 1951

Coal 

14-28 in. 

thick

403 

560

253 

101

71

1,093 

107

3,494

6,082

Coal 

28-42 in. 

thick

480 

3,777

72 

1,301 

361

657

749

1,993 

19,768

807 

8,46l 

638

39,064

Coal more 

than 42 in 

thick

53,653 

6,066

87 "888 

157,404 

157,736

606 

24,735

145,12?

">83 

196,469 

19,006 

118,407 

356,602 

118,075

1,442,157

Total

54,536 

10,403

87,960 

158,958 

158,097

l~364 

24,735

145,947

3~469 

216,344 

19,006 

119,214 

365,063 

122,207

1,487,303

Remaining reserves 

as of January 1, 1951

Coal 

14-28 in. 

thick

7,437 

202,846 

51,341 

244,697 

28,160 

588,878 

73,866 

6,4ll

25,448 

61,469 

118,359 

78,573 

432,505 

209,614 

9,983 

118,628 

76,255

2,334,470

Coal 

28-42 in-, 

thick

19,490 

312,941 

95,805 

781,646 

25,718 

1,404,257 

98,759 

21,029 

167 

27,374 

142,392 

712,628 

117,476 

2,489,090 

496,688 

15,113 

592,593 

240,159

7,593,325

Coal more 

than 42 in. 

thick

340,071 

342,198 

27,132 

3,461,055 

769,293 

3,498,226 

23,989 

2,98l 

275,415 

6,384 

829,111 

4,562,454 

50,854 

4,487,856 

1,460,621 

1,078,331 

3,415,233 

1,246,777

25,877,981

Total

366,9

857,9

174,2

4 > 487, 3

823,17

5,491,36

196,61

30,42

275,5

59,2

l,03S,9

5,393,44

246,9

7,409,45

8,166,92

1,103,4

4,126,45

1,563,19

35,805,77

1 Assuming 80 percent recoverability for strippable coal and JO percent recoverability for nonstrippable coal.
Table 2. Summary of original coal reserves in Indiana by counties, according to abundance and reliabil

(in thousands of short tons)

County

Measured reserves

Coal 

14.-28 in. 

thick

Coal 

28-42 in. 

thick

Coal more 

ihan 42 in. 

thick

Total

Indicated reserves

Coal 

14-28 in. 

thick

Coal 

28-42 in. 

thick

Coal more 

than 42 in. 

thick

Total

Inferred reserves

Coal 

14-28 in. 

thick

Coal 

28-42 in. 

thick

Coal more 

than 42 in. 

thick

Total

Strippable reserves overburden range less than 40, 60, and 90 feet

m mr

Parke 

Sullivan 

Vermillion 

Vigo 

Warrli-k

Total 

1 238

17,424

5

"Xth'X

2

Qh~\

5,476

2,922 

35

25,536

2,789

39,171 

7,144

7,^70

7,902

on coc

Q rtOo

102,356 

880

57,971 

48,735

308,154

130 566

30,334

12,928

195,709

25,452

2,898

17,898 

312,534

5

Qr7£'

196,758

40,953 

236,601

re/Try T QQ

i ^ih. C;Q"^

86,929

23,415

205,779

58,201

12,598

17,898

~*ftfi CT Q

17,454

502,016 

41,868 

294,572

441,459

1,951,281

2

or\£

 zD OQn

8,156

5

r- o/r

9,144

2,517

1,485

37,553

328 

2,696

3,325

111,815

4 1S4

 7C TQft

25,802

8,005

6,271

5,862

50,273

68,018 

-z-z ofin

23,371

-znc fion

 z-z kn"^

eft poft

33,133

126,681

22,031

689

64,165 

64,595

pn 4fi4

79,627 

10,791 

82,950

672 664 '

59,765

172,577

67,091

i in on p

 VT h.kf>

9,068

64,165 

70,856

147,973 

10,791 

119,606

102,533

1,090,169

4,376

8 -if.h

5,792

1Q Qh.&

1,351

2,197

1,207

41,035

12,917

1,405

20,153

13,885

3,077

7,922

474

29,205 

19 402

3,228

111,648

 ZQ noft

25,181

-ZT Qflfl

106,921

4 461 '

33,284

32,157 

8,585

pQ -znk

19,970

330,059

56,391

3^,750

55,913

140,752

8,889

10,119

33,758

61,362 

8,585

24,405

482,720

Nonstrippable reserves overburden range more than 40, 60, and 90 feet

PI mr

Greene 

Martin -

Parke 

Sullivan 

VanderburghVermillion 

State 

total 

on

25,256

7,797 

9,374

-I-KQ Qh«

4,715

5,572

3,553

25,043 

1,806 

6,3*5

7 

|T oft

10,153

335,^75

110

40,027

15,690

184,951

17,451

167 

2,991

1 P OftQ

10,711

1 i^o

48,208 

193 

5,585 

23,825

35,681

ILPQ QliQ

738,083

 zli -)«h

37,839

5

r*s~Q

425,570

109,514 

694,539

\J> UJ*T

54,011 

1 4^

92,454

fft QQQ

792,222 

74,445 

275,514

819,133

221,661

3,709,641

5,281,516

34,314

103,122

28,555

462 864

109,514 

1,018,438

36,893

54,178 

9,140

111,015

81,235

7,003

865,473 

76,444 

287,444 

850 486

267,475

4,403,593

6,354,874

k-Z CJLlL

46 806

292,745

59,478

20,733

11,799

18,238

 z-z o84

72,959 

27,779 

1,018 

18,146

13,298

879,184

153,786

80,115

150,585

434,220

81,308

?4 "=58"*,

24,321

fly qftp

ey ggk

238,290

75,366 

4,410 

107,532

79,580

1,599,542

1,905,232

46,998

90,313

pp r&li

721,332

141,742 

80^5 4fi4

18,935

51,513 

4,950

158 046

505,145

26,897

1,020,052 

338,732 

203,372

VHP nJi"^

PRk 7QO

5,875,052

hf* QQfi

351,841

145,723

141,742 

1,620,429

159,721

51,513 

50,066

194,166

611,365

11 y fiil^

1,331,301 

441,877 

208,800 

827,721

 547 figs ^ 1 9 vv

7,567,299

8,657,468

5,939

139,391

39,224

96,596

331,360 

180,029 

2,585 

90,258

26,252

1 084 860

^ ' '

1,125,893

7,131

550,134

768,629

80,056

613,935

2,022,801 

421,129 

5,045

 ZC« -/tgk

4,877,426

4,989,074

109,475

106,299

2,323,992

246, 130 

2,018,035

112,565

313,325

3,990,310

2,563,509 

1,066,450 

657,523 

1,902,714

kpc ink

15,835,731

16,165,770

109,475

"1 1 Q "^Q

-z Aji'7 ^cp

246,130 

2,926,055

112,565

432,605

4,700,841

4,917,670 

1,667,608 

665,153 

2,351,336

501,858

21,798,017

22,280,737
Table 5. Summary of strippable and nonstrippable coal reserves in Indiana by counties

(in thousands of short tons)

County

Original reserves

Goal 

14-28 in. 

thick

Coal 

28-421H. 

thick

Coal more 

than 42 in. 

thick

Total

Mined and lost in mining 

to January 1, 1951

Coal 

14-28 In. 

thick

Coal 

28-42 in. 

thick

Coal more 

than 42 in. 

thick

Total

Remaining reserves 

as of January 1, 1951

Coal 

14-28 in. 

thick

Coal 

28-42 in. 

thick

Coal more 

than 42 in. 

thick

Total

Strippable reserves overburden range less than 40, 60, and 90 feet

Clay 

Parke 

pjjjg _ ______

Sullivan 

Vermillion 

Vigo 

Clay 

Parke 

Pike 

Sullivan 

VanderburghVermillion 

Vigo 

Total 

State 

total 

7,820 

64,469 

15,291 

28,415 

17,794 

6,512

4,945 

45,029 

5,250 

55 

2,696 

50,066

224,520

19,860 

115,774 

55,079 

27,019 

16,818 

21,686

25,775 

58,555 

199,559 

880 

111,555 

75,554

725,472

205,067 

H5,8l5 

78,049 

429,511 

49,924 

5,587 

82,061 

410,415 

24,540 

508,542 

60,529 

547,945 

462,997

2,574,378

230,747 

294,056 

146,419 

484,745 

84,556 

51,785 

82,061 

441,155 

125,724 

511,351 

61,244 

461,974 

568,597

5,524,170

405 

94

255

101

71 

7S6 

107

5,494

5,519

480 

1,756 

72 

1,501

657

749 

1,757 

17,764

7,750 

658

52,904

45,740 

1,117 

992 

100,645 

4,242 

606 

5,129 

155,615 

383 

67,422 

7,069 

111,054 

90,908

566,900

46,625 

2,967 

1,064 

102,199 

4,242 

1,564 

5,129 

154,455 

2,956 

85,295 

7,069 

118,764 

95,040

605,125

7,417 

64,575 

15,291 

28,160 

17,794 

6,4ll

4,874 

^2,255 

5,145 

55 

2,696 

26,572

219,001

19,380 

114,018 

53,007 

25,718 

16,818 

21,029

25,026 

56,598 

181,795

105,605 

74,696

692,568

157,527 

112,696 

77,057 

528,666 

45,682 

2,98l 

78,952 

276,800 

25,957 

241,120 

55,260 

256,911 

572,089

2,007,478

184,124 

291,089 

145,555 

582,544 

80,294 

50,421 

78,952 

506,700 

122,788 

426,058 

54,175 

545, 210 

475,557

2,919,047

Nonstrippable reserves overburden range more than 40, 60, and 90 feet

20 

158,957 

51,541 

229,406

571,084 

75,866

25,448 

56,595 

118,559 

56,657 

429,562 

209,614 

9,948 

115,952 

49,685

2,116,252

2,540,552

110 

200,944 

95,805 

728,659

1,587,800 

98,759 

167 

27,574 

117,566 

712,628 

6l, 114 

2,509,299 

496,688 

15,040 

489,721 

165,465

6,906,917

7,652,589

190,657 

254,451 

27,152 

5,470,894 

497,386 

5,606,058 

25,989 

218,089 

6,584 

565,825 

4,562,454 

26,897 

4,575,785 

1,479,627 

1,156,409 

5,425,890 

901,855

24,745,750

27,520,158

190,787 

574,552 

174,278 

4,428,959 

497,586 

5,564,922 

196,614 

218,256 

59,206 

757,786 

5,393,441 

124,648 

7,114,444 

2,185,929 

1,161,597 

n,029,545 

1,117,001

55,768,909

57,295,079

466

297

,765

6,082

2,021

561

 

256 

2,004

807 

751

6,160

59,064

7,915 

4,949

86,896 

56,759 

155,494

21,606

11,514

129,047 

19,006 

111,538 

245,568 

27,167

875,257

1,442,157

7,915 

7,456

86,896 

56,759 

155,855

21,606 

11,514

555

151,051 

19,006 

112,145 

246,299 

27,167

882,180

1,487,505

20 

158,471 

51,5^1 

229,406

571,084 

75,866

25,448 

56,595 

118,559 

56,540 

429,562 

209,614 

9,948 

115,952 

49,685

2,115,'469

2,554,470

110 

198,925 

95,805 

728,659

1,387,459 

98,759 

167 

27,574 

117,366 

712,628 

60,878 

2,307,295 

496,688 

14,255 

488,990 

165,465

6,900,757

7,595,525

182,744 

229,502 

27,152 

5,383,998 

440,627 

3,452,544 

23,989 

196,485 

6,584 

552,511 

4,562,454 

26,897 

4,246,756 

1,460,621 

1,025,071 

5,178,522 

874,688

25,870,505

25,877,981

182,874 

566,896 

174,278 

4,542,045 

440,627 

5,411,067 

196,614 

196,650 

59,206 

726,272 

5,595,441 

124,115 

6,985,595 

2,166,925 

1,049,252 

5,785,244 

1,089,854

52,886,729

55,805,776

 Assuming 80 percent recoverabiluy for strippable coal tnd 50 percent recoverabilky for nonstrippable coal.
Table 4. Summary of recoverable coal reserves in Indiana by counties, according to abundance and reliabi

(in thousands of short tons)

County

Measured reserves

Coal

14-28 in.

thick

Coal

28-42 in.

thick

Coal more

than 42 in.

thick

Total

Indicated reserves "

Coal

14-28 in.

thick

Coal

28-42 in.

thick

Coal more

than 42 in.

thick

Total

Inferred reserves

Coal

14-28 in.

thick

Coal

28-42 in.

thick

Coal more

than 42 in.

thick

Total

Strippable reserves overburden range less than 40, 60, and 90 feet, assuming 80 percent recoverabi

Parke 

Sullivan - 

Vermillion 

Vigo 

Warrick 

Total 

668

13,863

2,674

5,839

1,357

3,744

2,252 

28

17,632

52,918

T 84.7

29,933

5

£~,-Q

3,062

5,977

5 TQfi

15,821

67,657

704

38,477

67,861

23,374

9,548

76,051

15,351

1 834

11,815 

143,137

9 7QiL

103,470 

27,107

100 454

OOT no£\

803,822

67, 170

17,880

81,263

27,lf7

11,815 

l6l,669

U

EOft

173,379 

27,839 

ilm ftii.fi

277,135

1,076,924

1,765

31,105

6,524

4,421

7,315

2,013

l~lS8

262 

2,157

89,450

3,323

60,158

on £vin

6,404

5,017

4,690

3,821

40, 218

54,414 

27,168

18,696

244, 550

46,637

101,344

17,625

551

51,330 

51,676

63,702 

8,633 

66,360

60,671

538,133

31,811

1 ~V7 QOO

53,674

112,169

29,957

7 

Veil

51,330 

56,685 86,632

118,378

8,633 

95,685

82,025

872,133

3,501

6,531

3,033

15,955

1,081

1,757

qfifi

32,824

i n ^^^l

1,124

16,107

11,109

2,462

6,338

379

23,364 

15,521

2,583

89,321

31,277

20,145

25,590

85,537

-z cfiR

26,628

25,725

6,868

PO 71 R

15,976

264,029

45,112

27,800

44,730

112,601

7,111

8,095

27,007

49,089 

6,868 

38,236

19,525

386,174

Nonstrippable reserves overburden range more than 40, 60, and 90 feet, assuming 50 percent recoverab

Clay 

Daviess -----

Greene ------

Martin 

Parke -

Sullivan 

VanderburghVermillion 

Vigo -

Total 

State 

total 

10

12,395 

3,899

4,687

69,475

7 1 oh.

2,358

2,786

1,763

1,628

12,521 

903 

3,173

131,624

184,542

55 

19,003 

7,844

T* Qfin

8,727

84

1 kQ&

6,495

5,356

1

£rt£

23,102 

97 

2,389

17,840

211,894

432,078

13,135

16,445 

2*m

169,337

26,378

2 KO^\

16,202

Tl £

hr\ hf^Q

33,499

331,588 

27,719 

82,088

rtO/T ryQrt

97,246

2,221,010

T* pnn

47,843 

14,277

i RT Qftlt 26,378 

432,292

18,447

16,286

4,570

49,750

40, 618

3,234

367,211 

28,719 

87,650

120,153

2,837,630

53,870 

21,772

23,403

146,371

OQ V"kft

10,367

5,899

9,ll8

16,543

36,480 

13,890 

509 

9,072

6,648

383,680

473,130

76,892 

40,058

217, ill

lir\ ffJi

12,191

12,160

h-l QQf\

28,832

119,145 

37,681 

2,205 

53,767

39,790

799,771

1,044,321

23,499

45,158 

11,032

360,663

70,871 

446,733

9,468

25,756 

2,475

79,023

252,574

13,448

510,026 

169,367 

101,686 

351,021

127,397

2,600,199

3,138,332

23,499

175,920 

72,862

459,363

70,871 

810,215

79,860

25,756 

25,033

97,082

305,682

c« «p-x

665,651 

220,938

104,400 

413,860

173,835

3,783,650

4,655,783

2,970

86,614

69,695

48,297

165,680 

90,015 

1,292 

45,129

13,126

izjio ILPQ

575,253

3,565

275,065

384,314

___

40,029

 znfi QfiQ

1,011,401 

210,565

a, 522

179,181

25,102

2,438,713

2,528,034

ch 7~V7

53,150

1,161,996

123,065 

1,009,017

56,283

156,663

1,995,154

1,281,754

533,224 

328,761 

951,359

212,701

7 Q1T fif-Ji

8,181,893

fvll 7~V7

59,685

1,523,675

123,065

1,463,026

56,283

216,303

2,350,420

2,458,835 

833,804 

332,575 

1,175,669

250,929

10,899,006

11,285,180
Table 5. Classification of coals by rank*

Legend: F.C. «* Fixed Carbon. V.M. - Volatile Matter. Btu. = British thermal units.

Class Group

Limits of Fixed Carbon or

Btu. Mineral-Matter-Free

Basis

Requisite Physical 

Properties

I. Anthracitic

1. Meta-anthracite.

2. Anthracite.

3. Semianthracite.

Dry F.C.. 98 per cent or more 

(Dry V.M,, 2 per cent or 

less)

Dry F.C., 92 per cent or more 

and less than 98 per cent 

(Dry V.M., 8 per cent or less 

and more than 2 per cent)

Dry F.C., 86 per cent or more 

and less than 92 per cent 

(Dry V.M., 14 per cent or 

less and more than 8 per 

cent)

Nonagglomerating

II. Bituminous**

1. Low volatile bituminous coal....

2. Medium volatile bituminous coal.

3. High volatile A bituminous coal.

4. High volatile B bituminous coal.

5. High volatile C bituminous coal.

Dry F.C., 78 per cent or more 

and less than 86 per cent 

(Dry V.M., 22 per cent or 

less and more than 14 per 

cent)

Dry F.C., 69 per cent or more 

and less than 78 per cent 

(Dry V.M., 31 per cent or 

less and more than 22 per 

cent)

Dry F.C., less than 69 per cent 

(Dry V.M., more than 31 per 

cent); and moist" Btu., 

14,000* or more

Moist" Btu., 13,000 or more 

and less than 14,000*

Moist Btu., 11,000 or more 

and less than 13,000*

Either agglomerating or 

nonweathering/

III. Subbituminous

1. Subbituminous A coal.

2. Subbituminous B coal.

3. Subbituminous C coal.

Moist Btu., 11,000 or more 

and less than 13,000*

Moist Btu., 9500 or more and 

less than 11,000*

Moist Btu., 8300 or more and 

less than 9500*

Both weathering and 

nonagglomerating

IV. Lignitic 1. Lignite.

2. Brown coal.

Moist Btu., less than 8300 

Moist Btu., less than 8300

Consolidated 

Unconsolidated

0 This classification does not include a few coals which haveunusual physical and chemical properties and which come 

within the limits of fixed carbon or Btu. of the high-volatile bituminous and Subbituminous ranks. All of these coals 

either contain less than 48 per cent dry, mineral-matter-free fixed carbon or have more than 15,500 moist, mineral-matterfree Btu.

6 If agglomerating, classify in low-volatile group of the bituminous class.

c Moist Btu. refers to coal containing its natural bed moisture but not including visible water on the surface of the 

coal.

d It is recognized that there may be noncaking varieties in each group of the bituminous class.

* Coals having 69 per cent or more fixed carbon on the dry, mineral-matter-free basis shall be classified according to 

fixed carbon, regardless of Btu.

' There are three varieties of coal in the high-volatile C bituminous coal group, namely, Variety 1, agglomerating 

and nonweathering; Variety 2, agglomerating and weathering; Variety 3, nonagglomerating and nonweathering.
are developed in a high degree. Block coals generally 

are noncaking and noncoking. Most of this coal has 

been mined out in Indiana.

Cannel coal is a lusterless, even-textured coal 

with large conchoidal fracture. It is much cleaner 

than ordinary bituminous coal. Cannel coal burns with 

a yelloy flame, taking fire readily, probably because 

of a large percentage of gas content. Cannel coal is 

composed of very finely divided plant fragments and 

conspicuous spore coats, which rarely exceed 10 percent 

of the total volume. No known commercial beds of 

cannel coal are being worked at present in Indiana.

Weight of coal

In the preparation of tonnage estimates, it is 

necessary to determine the weight of the coal in the 

ground. Because all of the coal in Indiana is of 

bituminous rank, the weight of the coal is fairly uniform 

and varies significantly only with variations in ash content. A consideration of the specific gravity of coal 

from a number of localities in Indiana shows that the 

specific gravity of a typical bed is 1. 32 or a weight of 

1, 800 tons per acre-foot, and this factor has been used 

to compute all reserve estimates presented in this 

report.

Engineers and geologists employed by producing 

companies often employ lower figures, which are based 

on an anticipated loss in mining. Such a practice is not 

suitable for use in a general report, however, for recoverability may vary greatly in different areas, in 

different beds, and with different methods of mining. 

The factor of 1, 800 tons per acre-foot is, therefore, 

intended to yield reserves of coal in the ground without 

regard to the recoverability.

Thickness of beds

As the thickness of beds is often one of the 

determining factors that govern the economic feasibility 

of coal mining operations, the coal reserves of Indiana 

are calculated and tabula ted in three thickness categories 

of 14 to 28 inches, 28 to 42 inches, and more than 

42 inches.

Partings of more than three-eighths of an inch 

in thickness are excluded from the bed thickness. Layers 

of thin coal above or below thicker partings that 

normally would be left underground in mining are also 

excluded from the total bed thickness.

Thickness of overburden

All of the coal of commercial value in Indiana 

lies less than 1,000 feet below the surface and is 

accessible by strip or shaft mining.

Because a large portion of Indiana's coal is obtained by strip mining and as recoverability in strip 

mining is higher than recoverability by underground 

mining, it is important that reserves under thin overburden be calculated and reported separately. A ratio 

of overburden to coal of 20 to 1 is considered the 

maximum practicable stripping ratio. Maximum thickness of overburden considered strippable is about

90 feet. In preparing the present appraisal of coal 

reserves in Indiana, three arbitrary categories of 

overburden, 0-40 feet, 0-60 feet, and 0-90 feet were 

established, depending upon the average thickness of 

each bed. When sufficient information was available, 

lines showing 40, 60, or 90 feet of overburden were 

drawn. In general, reserves under less than 40 feet 

of overburden are calculated for beds in the 14-28 inches 

range of thickness; reserves under less than bO feet of 

overburden are calculated for beds in the 28-42 inches 

range of thickness; and reserves under less than 

90 feet of overburden are calculated for beds more 

than 42 inches thick.

Classification according to abundance 

of reliable data

The estimates of reserves are further divided 

into three categories according to the relative abundance 

and reliability of the information available. These 

categories, termed "measured, " "indicated, " and 

"inferred, " were established jointly by members of the 

U. S. Geological Survey and the U. S. Bureau of Mines.

Measured reserves

To determine measured reserves, tonnages are 

computed from positive information as to thickness 

and extent, based on measured coal outcrop sections, 

mine and pit workings, and drill holes. The points of 

measurement are so close that the computed tonnage 

can be considered to be within 20 percent of the true 

tonnage. In general, the points of measurement are 

not more than half a mile apart. If drill data is used 

for calculations, the outer limit of a block of measured 

coal is considered to be only a quarter of a mile beyond 

the outermost drill hole. This distance is occasionally 

reduced to one-eighth of a mile for calculating reserves of coal in beds considered to be sporadic. 

Along an outcrop or extent line where the continuity of 

the outcrop is measured in miles and suggests the 

presence of coal at great distances in from the outcrop, 

a belt of coal half a mile wide along the outcrop is 

classed as measured.

Indicated reserves

Indicated coal reserve tonnages are generally 

computed from more widely spaced drill hole and mine 

data. Reserves calculated in this category are assumed 

to extend half a mile beyond the areas of measured 

coal. Occasionally, reserves in some of the nonpersistent coal beds below Coal II were classed as indicated 

reserves for a distance of only one-eighth of a mile 

beyond the limits of measured coal. Electric logs and 

oil well drill logs were used to establish the presence 

of coal classed as indicated if the information derived 

from these sources could be checked and correlated 

with nearby mine and coal-drill data.

Inferred reserves

Inferred reserves are based essentially on the 

known geological characteristics of the individual beds. 

Inferred reserves usually lie beyond the areas of 

measured and indicated coals and are based on projections of the data used to compute measured and

10
indicated reserves. Occurrences of coal in isolated 

wells, shown on electric logs and oil well logs, also 

were used in estimating inferred reserves. Reserves 

in beds of doubtful continuity were classed as inferred 

for a distance of no more than two miles beyond the 

last point of observation. Reserves in beds that are 

not persistent, if inferred, were classed as inferred for 

a distance of only half a mile beyond the limits of indicated reserves.

Distinction between original, remaining, 

and recoverable reserves

Because several different points of view are 

used in discussing coal reserves, it is necessary to 

define the terms original, remaining, and recoverable 

reserves as they are used in this report.

Original reserves

In this report all coal reserves in the ground 

before the beginning of mining operations and having 

a thickness of more than 14 inches are considered 

original reserves. This includes coal in the narrow 

weathered strip at the outcrop; and coal underlying 

roads, railroads, cities, and coal formerly present in 

mined-out areas. The establishment of a figure for 

original reserves as a base is necessary for the successful determination of remaining and recoverable 

reserves, because the figures for remaining and re.- 

coverable reserves change annually with production 

and mining losses, and because recoverability in mining 

varies in different beds according to nature of the roof, 

thickness of overburden, and method of mining. An 

estimate of original reserves is therefore the stable 

base from which other estimates can be derived.

Remaining reserves

Reserves remaining in the ground on January 1, 

1951, are considered remaining reserves regardless 

of the feasibility of extraction. Remaining re serves are 

obtained by subtracting from original reserves the tonnage of coal produced and lost in mining to the date of 

the appraisal or by subtracting the acreage in mined-out 

areas from the original acreage and calculating the 

tonnage in the remaining acreage.

Recoverable reserves

Recoverable reserves may be defined as the 

part of remaining reserves that can be taken out of the 

ground in mining. The percentage of remaining reserves 

deemed to be recoverable varies in individual beds and 

areas according to the quality and thickness of the coal, 

the nature of the roof and floor, the amount of overburden, the presence of faults and cutouts, the amount 

of ground water, the mining methods employed, and 

many other factors which vary with the individual 

mining properties.

A detailed study of past production as compared 

to known mined-out areas in several counties shows 

clearly, however, that overall recoverability in mining 

coal in Indiana is about 50 percent of the coal in the 

ground if mining is carried on by underground methods, 

and about 80 percent if the mining is by stripping.

11

The recoverable coal reserves in Indiana are 

therefore considered to be 50 percent of the remaining 

reserves to be mined by underground methods and 

80 percent of the remaining reserves to be mined by 

stripping methods. The percentage of recovery from 

individual beds and areas may, of course, vary 

considerably from this assumed average.

Methods of recording data and 

making calculations

All of the reserve estimates in this report were 

calculated for individual coal beds and each political 

township. The first step in the preparation of reserve 

estimates was the drafting of a map for each individual 

coal bed in each county for which estimates are made. 

Available U. S. Geological Survey topographic quadrangle maps, scales 1:24,000 and 1:62, 500, were 

used to make the base maps for counties. Indiana 

General Highway and Transportation maps and county 

base maps prepared by the Indiana Department of 

Conservation, Division of Geology, scale 1:63, 360, 

were used for areas where no topographic maps have 

been made. Coal outcrops, coal extent lines, drill 

holes, mines, mined-out areas, and other pertinent data 

for each coal bed were plotted on the individual coal 

bed maps. The extent line marks the outer limits of 

a coal bed below the surface covering of glacial material. 

For estimating purposes this line is given equal weight 

with the outcrop line.

Using the topographic maps, interpretive lines 

were then drawn showing the respective overburden 

zones, with particular emphasis on stripping coal 

overburden ratios. Plotted thicknesses of coal were 

used to draw lines of assumed equal coal thickness. 

The possible area of the coal bed occurrence was then 

divided into the measured, indicated, and inferred 

categories according to the relative abundance and reliability of the available data.

The subareas of coal occurrence on the work 

maps representing categories as to thickness, reliability, and overburden, were then measured with a 

planimeter, and the acreage calculated. Next, the 

weighted average coal thickness,within each measured 

area was determined, and the reserve tonnage computed, 

using the factor of 1, 800 tons per acre-foot for the 

weight of the coal in the ground.

Areas excluded

Known areas showing faulting, erosional cutouts, or 

lensing-out of coal were excluded from the estimates. Also 

excluded were areas of coal having thicknesses less than 

14 inches, and known areas of dirty or unusable coal.

Limitation of estimates

This summary report is intended to show the 

general, order of magnitude of coal reserves in Indiana 

in various categories, to delimit areas favorable for 

further exploration, and to provide a reference to the 

available sources of detailed published information.

Like all appraisals of mineral reserves, this 

report is based largely on inferred data and on the
experience of the past. It will be noted by examination 

of table 4 that only 15 percent of the total estimated 

recoverable reserves in Indiana is actually measured 

by drilling or mine development,and only 25 percent is 

indicated. The remaining 60 percent is inferred from 

geologic evidence and by projecting information from 

known into unknown areas. It is certain that the present 

estimate will be modified as additional detailed mapping 

and exploration is completed. The amounts of measured 

and indicated reserves should be increased with additional detailed mapping and exploration, and the amount 

of inferred reserves should be decreased accordingly. 

It is believed, however, that the total estimate is 

conservative and is more likely to be increased than 

decreased with additional exploration, mapping, and 

development.

The recoverability of coal in mining is perhaps 

the largest single factor influencing the magnitude of 

reserves. In this report it has been assumed that only 

50 percent of the coal in the ground will be recovered 

by underground mining methods. This factor is believed to represent the approximate average recovery 

obtained in large areas using present mining practices. 

The recoverability on some properties is much higher, 

however; and it is certain that the average recoverability 

could be improved by the more widespread adoption of 

more efficient mining methods. Experiments in new 

methods of mining and using coal are continually in 

progress and give hope of additional improvement in 

recoverability beyond that now known.

COMPARISON OF PAST AND PRESENT ESTIMATES

The coal reserves of Indiana were estimated in 

1899 by G. H. Ashley, who subsequently revised the 

estimate in 1909 to allow for additional mine and exploratory data that had become available. In 1913 

M. R. Campbell revised the Ashley figure by extrapolation, assuming a larger tonnage per acre-foot of 

coal. Table 6 shows a comparison of the present estimate 

with earlier estimates.

Although much new mine and exploratory data 

were available on which to base the present estimate, 

it is smaller than the older estimates, in part because 

more conservative methods were used to limit the 

assumed extent of beds below the surface, because beds 

less than 14 inches thick were omitted, and because 

reserves were not calculated for Crawford, Fountain, 

Orange, Putnam, and Warren Counties to which Ashley 

allotted about 1 billion tons of reserves. Taking these

and other differences into account it is apparent that 

the estimates are in fairly close accord. In particular, 

it is interesting to compare Ashley's 1909 estimate of 

13. 6 billion tons of recoverable reserves in beds 

30 inches or more thick with the present estimate of 

17. 5 billion tons of recoverable reserves in beds 

28 inches or more thick.

The present estimate is an improvement over the 

previous estimates in that the reserves are classified 

according to thickness, overburden, and the relative 

abundance of reliable information and are calculated 

and tabulated by beds for individual counties.

INDIANA COAL FIELDS 

General features

The coal fields of Indiana are on the east side of 

the eastern interior coal basin. This large structural 

basin underlies a large part of the State of Illinois, a 

part of northwestern Kentucky, and approximately the 

southwestern fifth of the State of Indiana. (See fig. 1.)

The Indiana coal fields occupy an area of approximately 6, 500 square miles. The coal-bearing area 

is broad to the south, with a maximum east-west width 

of approximately 80 miles, and wedges out to the north 

in the southern part of Benton County. Its total northsouth length is approximately 200 miles.

The surface in the northern one-fourth of the 

coal fields is a glacial till plain, which is relatively 

undissected. The remainder of the area is a lowland 

of aggraded valley areas.

The coal-bearing area of Indiana is part of 

the Ohio River drainage system. Most of the 

area is drained by the Wabash River and its 

tributaries, the larger of which are the White 

and Patoka Rivers.

The coal fields are crossed by numerous 

roads and railroads. Feeder lines from the railroads give adequate hauling facilities to all the 

large coal-producing districts. Good, paved, allweather Federal and State highways cross the 

coal-producing areas from north to south and east 

to west. A supporting system of secondary, semisurfaced, all-weather roads furnish adequate means 

for hauling coal by truck.

Table 6. Comparison of estimates of coal reserves in Indiana 

(in thousands of short tons)

Source

AaViloTr 1 QOQ __________ _ _

Pnmi-ihol 1 1 Q1 "^

PTfiSfint. T>finnT>t. . IQR"^- 

Basis of estimate

Class

Recoverable in part; 

original in part.

Original 

Minimum average 

thickness

Generally less 

than 14 inches.

Weight per acrefoot (tons)

780 to 1,560

1,770 

i .ftnn

Reserves

1 46,864,000 

2 55,051,000

~V7 . ?Q^ . OTQ

1 Part of this tonnage is recoverable reserves only.

2 Derived by extrapolation from 1909 estimate by Ashley.

12
Stratigraphy

The coal of commercial value in the Indiana coal 

fields is in strata of Pennsylvanian age. In places 

these strata unconformably overlie rocks that are of 

Devonian age, but generally unconformably overlie 

rocks of Mississippian age. The coal-bearing strata 

are overlain in numerous places by unconsolidated 

deposits of Pleistocene and Recent age. Glacial deposits 

of Pleistocene age (Wisconsin stage) conceal most of 

the bedrock in the northern part of the area as far 

south as northwestern Vigo County and central Parke 

County. South of this area older Pleistocene deposits 

locally conceal the bedrock, but in many places they 

have been removed by erosion. Where present, they 

are generally thin, except in preglacial valleys.

The Pennsylvanian rocks include a basal sandstone unit overlain by a variable sequence of shale, 

sandstone, limestone, coal, and clay that has a total 

thickness of 1,000 to 1,400 feet. Figure 4 summarizes 

various classifications of Pennsylvanian stratigraphy 

in the State from 1899 to 1951. This report follows 

the classification of formations used by Wier, 1949-1951. 

The Brazil, Staunton, Linton, Petersburg, and Dugger 

formations have been the source of most coal production. 

Small amounts of coal have been mined from beds of the 

lower Shelb urn formation, and a few beds in the Mansfield 

sandstone have contributed meager tonnages. The coalbearing formations from the Mansfield sandstone upward 

as far as the Shelbur n formation are discussed briefly in 

the following paragraphs. Other formations of Pennsylvanian age in Indiana are listed in figure 4.

Mansfield sandstone

The Mansfield sandstone, which unconformably 

overlies strata of Devonian and Mississippian age, 

ranges in thickness from a few feet to 400 feet. It 

consists of massive sandstone that locally contains 

conglomerate, shale, limestone, and coal. The base 

is characterized generally by a coarse-grained conglomerate. The sandstone is light gray, buff, dark 

brown, or red. The Mansfield includes three thin and 

discontinuous coal beds that are named as follows: 

Coal I (Zone), Upper Cannelton, and Fulda.

Three units in addition to the coal beds in the 

Mansfield sandstone are named. (See fig. 4.) The 

Hindostan beds, which are in the lower 50 feet, are a 

series of thin fine-grained laminated beds. The Fulda 

and Ferdinand limestone beds, which are separated 

by an interval of about 15'feet, are thin, key beds that 

occur near the top of the Mansfield in southern Dubois 

County and northern Spencer County. The top of the 

Mansfield sandstone is at the base of the Lower Block 

coal bed or locally at the base of a thin underclay.

Brazil formation

The Brazil formation, which conformably overlies 

the Mansfield sandstone, ranges in thickness from 

60 to 120 feet. It includes sandstone, shale, limestone, and four named coal beds of minable thickness. In ascending order the formation comprises: 

the Lower Block coal, averaging 3 feet in thickness; 

15 to 30 feet of sandy shale or sandstone; the Upper 

Block coal, averaging 3 feet in thickness; 20 to 50 feet 

of sandstone or sandy shale; the Minshall coal, ranging

13

in thickness from 2 to 4 feet; 2 to 3 feet of shale; the 

so-called Minshall limestone, ranging in thickness 

from 2 to 8 feet; 8 to 12 feet of shale or fire clay; and 

Coal II, ranging from 2 to 3 feet in thickness. The top 

of the formation is at the uncomformity above Coal n.

Staunton formation

The Staunton formation, which unconformably 

overlies the Brazil formation, is 30 to 90 feet thick. 

It consists of sandstone, shale, thin sporadic noncommercial coal beds and Coal HI. The upper limit of 

the formation is the unconformity at the top of Coal III.

Linton formation

The Linton formation, which unconformably overlies the Staunton formation, is generally 60 to 75 feet 

thick. At the type locality, north of the town of Linton 

in Greene County, the formation in ascending order 

comprises: sandstone and shale, 10 to 20 feet thick; 

Coal Ilia, 8 inches thick; black shale, 2 to 5 feet thick; 

limestone, li feet thick; sandstone and shale, 25 to 

30 feet thick; and Coal IV, about 4 feet thick. The unconformity above Coal IV is the upper limit of the 

formation.

Petersburg formation

The Petersburg formation unconformably overlies the Linton formation and ranges in thickness from 

75 to 140 feet. In ascending order it consists of the 

following units: sandstone and shale, 20 to 40 feet; 

Coal IVa, 1 to l| feet; shale, 1 to 3 feet; dark-gray to 

black, impure limestone, 1 to 2 feet; sandstone and 

shale, 40 to 75 feet; Coal V, 3 to 5 feet; black shale, 

4 to 6 feet; and the Alum Cave limestone member, 

4 to 6 feet. The member is split into two zones, the 

lower of which usually contains abundant fossils; it is 

the highest unit in the Petersburg formation.

Dugger formation

The Dugger formation, which overlies the Alum 

Cave limestone member of the Petersburg formation, 

is 80 to 150 feet thick. At the type locality, northeast 

of Dugger in Sullivan County, the formation contains, 

in ascending order: sandstone and shale, 55 feet thick, 

locally including two thin coal beds, which are Coals 

Va and Vb, and a massive partly brecciated limestone; 

Coal VI, in places absent, a maximum of 6 feet thick; 

sandstone and shale, 40 to 50 feet thick, locally containing a thin limestone bed called the Universal limestone member; Coal VII, generally 2^ to 4 feet thick; 

and varying amounts of shale. The top of the formation 

is the unconformity at the base of the Busseron sandstone member of the Shelburn formation.

Shelburn formation

The Shelburn formation unconformably overlies 

the Dugyer formation and is 180 to 250 feet thick. It 

consists of sandstone, shale, a few thin limestone beds, 

and at least two thin sporadic, discontinuous coal beds. 

The formation includes several named members, of
Wier, C. E., 1944-1951

Missouri series

Moines Desseries * 

m 

.S '<*

S

of

m 

.2

i

i i

 2 

f

6

Allegheny formation

formation Pottsville 

Bufkin formation

New Haven formation

St. Wendells sandstone

Parker s formation

Dicksburg Hills sandstone

Hazleton Bridge formation

Merom sandstone

Ditney formation

West Franklin limestone

Shelburn formation

Dugger formation

3 * 

B 0

S!

§ 2

Staunton formation

§ 

s

 H

2

Mansfield sandstone

Hayden Branch shale

Murphy's Bluff sandstone

Vigo limestone

Maria Creek limestone

Busseron sandstone

Coal VII (Millersburg)

Coal VI (Dugger)

CoalVb

Coal Va

Alum Cave limestone

|Coal V (Petersburg)

Coal IVa (Houchin Creek)

Coal IV (Linton)

Coal Ilia (Velpen)

ICoal III (Seelyville)

Coal II (Silverwood)

Minshall limestone

Minshall coal

'Upper Block coal

Lower Block coal

Ferdinand limestone

'Fulda limestone

Fulda coal

Upper Cannelton coal

Coal I (Zone) (Cannelton

Hindostan beds

Mississippian - Chester

fornu Conemaugh 

Allegheny formation

H

fc

Pottsville J

Meron formation ' j

formation n 

h

a 

i

formation iburg 

Peters

formation ;on 

,1

&

Mansfield formation

Cumings, E. R. , 1922

Somerville limestone

Coal VIII

Busseron sandstone

Coal VII (Millersburg)

Coal VI

Coal Va

Alum Cave limestone

Coal V (Petersburg)

Coal IVa

Coal IV (Linton)

Coal Ilia

Coal HI (Seelyville)

Coal 11 (Upper Minshall)

Minshall Time stone

Minshall coal

Upper Block coal

jjower Block coal

Coal I (Cannelton;

, Mississippian - Chester

Carboniferous

"In

Millersburg formation

formation Petersburg 

1

a 3

-?-

a

uller, M. L. , 1902 & 1904

Friendsville coal

Parkers coal

Inglefield formation

Ditney formation

Somerville formation

MillersburR (VII) coal

Petersburg coal

Houchin Creek

Survant coal

Velpen coal

Rock Creek coal

Holland coal

Da vie so County coal

Daviess County coal

Daviess County coal

Mississippian - Chester

|IX Division 

Division VIII

vision VII

Q

£

o

I14

.y31

IVDivision 

mDivision 

ITDiyision ' 

-i»Division I

Ashley, G. H. , 1899

Merom sandstone

Coal VIII

Coal VII

Coal Vlb

Coal VI

CoalVb

Coal Va

Coal V

Coal IVa

Coal IV

Coal Ilia

Coal III

Coal II

M^nshall limestone

Minshall coal

Upper Block coal

Lower Block _cpal

Cannelton coal -

Mississippian - Chaster

Figure 4. Classification of Pennsylvanian stratigraphy of Indiana, 1899 to 1951.

14
which the Busseron sandstone is the basal member. 

The top of the formation is at the contact with the West 

Franklin limestone. (See fig. 4.)

Structure

The coal-bearing rocks in Indiana lie on the east 

side of the eastern interior basin and on the western 

limb of the Cincinnati arch. The beds are monoclinal, 

striking generally N. 10° - 13° W. and usually dipping 

gently in a southwesterly direction but locally may dip 

in any direction. In general, the dips range from 20 to 

50 feet to the mile, averaging between 20 to 24 feet. 

Maximum dips of 100 feet to the mile are occasionally 

seen, and the minimum dip is 10 feet to the mile. Dips 

in the western part of the field appear to be greater than 

those to the east.

Coal beds

At least 25 coal beds in Indiana locally attain a 

thickness of 2 feet or more. Seven of these beds are 

fairly persistent and have been mined at a number of 

places in the State. Three additional beds are less 

persistent but are minable locally. Coal V is apparently 

of minable thickness almost everywhere in the area of 

its occurrence. The three coal beds estimated to contain the largest reserves are, in order: Coal V, Coal 

III, and Coal IV. Future investigations may establish 

the correlation of the Millersburg coal with Coal VI 

or Coal VII; one of them would then be among the three 

coal beds of India'na containing the largest estimated 

reserves. Many of the coal beds are described in the 

paragraphs below.

Coal I (Zone) Cannelton or Shoals coal

Coal I, which crops out in the eastern part of the 

coal fields, is the lowest coal that attains a minable 

thickness in the Mansfield sandstone. It is believed to 

be the Cannelton coal in Perry County, the Shoals coal 

in Martin County, and the Kirksville coal in Greene 

County. Coal I is referred to as the Coal I (Zone) 

because the coal occurs as lenses, generally in local 

pockets, and the correlation is uncertain. The range 

in average thickness of estimated reserves Is 1. 4 to 

4.0 feet. The distribution of the estimated reserves 

is shown in figure 5, and the reserves in the zone are 

summarized in tables 7 through 10. The area included 

in the estimate extends as far north as Martin County. 

From this area northward as far as Parke County, the 

coal beds are in places 1. 5 to 3 feet thick, locally 

attaining a maximum thickness of 4 feet. In Fountain, 

Warren, and Benton Counties the coal is very thin and 

unworkable.

Original measured and indicated reserves were 

calculated for these coals of the Mansfield sandstone 

in Dubois, Martin, Perry, and Spencer Counties. 

These reserves are herein termed reserves of Coal I 

(Zone) because of uncertain correlations between beds 

in different localities. No attempt was made to calculate inferred reserves in these counties. Because of 

the small size of the mining operations in these 

counties, the operators are exempt by law from filing 

worked-out-area coal mining maps with the Indiana 

State Bureau of Mines and Mining. On the other hand,

the larger but older mines in or near Cannelton and in 

a few other areas were worked out and abandoned prior 

to the enactment of State laws requiring filing workedout-area maps. The amount of coal estimated to be 

mined out and lost in mining in the Coal I (Zone), therefore, is somewhat incomplete.

The following proximate analysis on an asreceived basis of a sample from Coal I (Kirksville) 

was taken from Logan (1922, p. 624):

Percent

Fixed carbon 32.96

Volatile matter 42.74

Moisture 1J.42

Ash 4.30

Sulphur 2.76

Btu: 14,599

Lower Block coal

Several coal beds appear in the stratigraphic 

section between the Zone I coals and Coal II (Silverwood 

or Upper Minshall). These beds, because of their 

characteristics or locations, have been identified by 

names rather than by roman numerals. The lowest of 

these beds of noteworthy commercial value is the Lower 

Block coal, which occurs at the base of the Brazil 

formation.

The Lower Block coal'has been recognized along 

the outcrop from southern Parke County to Greene 

County but because of a tendency to occur in narrow 

basins has rarely been recognized more than 4 miles 

from the outcrop. However, Wier (1950) reports 

4.2 feet of Lower Block coal at a depth of 212 feet in 

sec. 2, T. 8 N., R. 7 W., Greene County, approximately 6 miles from the outcrop. Correlations of both 

Upper and Lower Block coals with coals of nearby 

basins are often made on the basis of position in the 

stratigraphic section, because these coals thin or pinch 

out betweenbasins and do not always show the distinctive 

physical characteristics attributed to them. Coals in 

Dubois, Martin, Perry, and Spencer Counties apparently 

occupy the same stratigraphic horizon and exhibit 

enough common characteristics so that they may 

be correlated with the Lower Block coals of 

Clay County.

The Lower Block coal has an average thickness 

of 3 feet but has attained a maximum thickness of 

5 feet in the Brazil district. Here, the upper 6 to 

10 inches consists of normal banded bituminous coal, 

not jointed with any degree of regularity; the middle 

portion, 2 to 3 feet thick, has the pronounced joint 

crevices that produce the typical blocky appearance of 

the bed and a few inches to 1 foot of bone or soft coal. 

The blocky portion of the bed is often separated from 

the overlying and underlying coal by a thin layer of 

clay. The fire clay that underlies this bed is inferior 

in places. The roof rock of the Lower Block coal is 

usually sandy shale or sandstone. The greater portion of the known minable area of the bed has been 

mined out although in 1951 a few truck mines were 

producing coal which was said to be either the 

Upper or Lower Block coal. Known distribution 

of reserves of the Lower Block coal in Indiana 

is shown on figure 6. The estimated reserves in

15
EXPLANATION

I ij 'M 0 N R 0 E B R 0 W N .BARTHOLOMEW.

h _1ffi H ---L

WAS H IN6TON

 _J_

f* 1-,FLO Y D

____r~J

fWARRICK

40 Miles

Figure 5. Map showing reserves of Coal I (Zone) in Indiana.

16
1 ? ' 

(FOUNTAIN/ MONTGOMERY I B 0 0 N E

. _ _ _ J , 

^ --T !

___' M 0 R OOTN I JOHNSON J S HE L BY

MO N R 0 E B R 0 W N- BARTHOLOMEWr

| WAS H INQTON "

I P I K E

- ,L._

f* LFLOYD^

i r

> I W A R R I C K I

f* S P E N C E f

Figure 6. Map showing reserves of Coal IVa and the Lower Block coal in Indiana.

17
Table 7. Summary of coal reserves In Indiana by beds 

(in thousands of short tons)

Bed

Coal VII - 

Upper 

Millersburg. 

Lower & 

Upper Millersburg.s 

Lower Miller sburg.

Underrlder 

of Coal VI. 

Coal Vb 

Coal V 

Coal IVa 

Coal IV 

Coal III 

Coal Ha - 

Coal II 

Mlnshall 

Upper 

Block. 

Lower 

Block. 

Coal I 

(zone) .

Total-'; 

Original reserves

Coal 

14-28 in. 

thick

225,151 

264,594

58,460

170,604 

113,016

159,339 

90,813 

63,021 

719,104 

229,530 

1,910 

29,320 

37,554 

49,700

18,948 

130,088

2,340,552

Coal 

28-42 in. 

thick

2,357,577 

549,674

2,617

321,942

656,687 

9,816

75,911 

1,234,804 

16,175 

1,497,317 

590,760 

4,205 

81,313 

6,590 

25,055

49,067 

152,879

7,632,389

Coal more 

than 42 in, 

thick

1,191,199 

693,957

133,312

1,609,651

2,995,663 

3,226

11,524 

13,257,831 

28,674 

1,961,339 

5,209,914

30,311 

122,245 

7,677

6,928 

56,687

27,320,138

Total

3,773,927 

1,508,225

135,929

1,970,053

3,822,954 

126,058

246,774 

14,582,848 

107,870 

4,177,760 

6,030,204 

6,115 

140,944 

166,389 

82,432

74,945 

339,654

37,293,079

Mined and lost in mining 

to January 1, 1951

Coal 

14-28 in. 

thick

3,494 

107

537

" 94 

1,093

160 

597

6,082

Coal 

28-42 in. 

thick

10,766 

149

489 

361

10,704

11,921 

2,236

"878 

894

666

39,064

Coal more 

than 42 in. 

thick

16,152 

1,220

24,535

81 

139,646

809,673

279,864 

163,515

6~865 

606

1,442,157

Total

26,918 

1,369

24,535

4,064 

140,114

820,914

291,879 

166,844

7,903 

1,491

1,272

1,487,303

Remaining reserves 

as of January 1, 1951

Coal 

14-28 in. 

thick

225,151 

264,594

34,966

170,497 

113,016

159,339 

89,676 

63,021 

719,010 

228,437 

1,910 

29,320 

37,394 

49,103

18,948 

130,088

2,334,470

Coal 

28-42 in. 

thick

2,346,811 

549,525

2,617

321,453

656,326 

9,816

75,911 

1,224,100 

16,175 

1,485,396 

588,524 

4,205 

81,313 

5,712 

24,161

48,401 

152,879

7,593,325

Coal more 

than 42 in. 

thick

1,175,047 

692,737

108,777

1,609,570

2,856,017 

3,226

11,524 

12,448,158 

28,674 

1,681,475 

5,046,399

30,311 

115,380 

7,677

6,322 

56,687

25,877,981

Total

3,747,00

1,506,85

111,39

1,965,98

3,682,84

126,05

246,77

13,761,93

107,87

3,885,88

5,863,36

6,11

140,94

158,48

8o,94

73,67

339,65

35,805,77

'Assuming 80 percent recovenbility foe stripple cod and 50 percent reconmbUity lot noa«rippabl« cod. ' 2Estimnted us one bed, only in pact of Wurick County.
Table 8. Summary of original coal reserves In Indiana by beds, according to abundance and reliabilit

(in thou3ands of short tons)

Bed

Measured reserves

Coal 

l*-28in. 

thick

Upper Miller sburg. 

Lower & 

Upper Miller sburg. l 

Lower 

Millersburg.

Underrlder of 

Coal VI. 

Coal Vb 

Coal IVa 

Coal IV -

Coal Ila 

Coal II 

Upper Block 

Lower Block 

Coal I 

( zone ) .

8,112 

9,623

11,5*5

*,22* 

329

161 

6,876

8,179 

8,489 

1*1 

2,375 

*,868 

5,352 

860 

338

71,*72

Coal 

26-*2 In. 

thick

Coal more 

than 42 in. 

thick

Total

Indicated reserves

Coal 

14-28 In. 

thick

Coal 

28-*2 In. 

thick

Coal more 

than *2 In. 

thick

Total

Inferred reserves

Coal 

l*-28 In. 

thick

Coal 

28-*2 In. 

thick

Coal more 

than*2 in. 

thick

Total

Strippable reserves overburden range less than *0, 60, and 90 feet

110,864 

29,217

946

12,669 

6,322

115 

39,934 

370 

72,674 

15,954 

1,080 

2,046 

1,823 

3,583 

9,506 

1,031

308,134

103,333 

13,551

47,884

21,286 

203,388

821,098 

2,862 

107,901 

228,230

805 

17,943

3,394

1,571,675

222,309 

52,391

48,830

45,500

213,93* 

329

276 

867,908 

3,232 

188,754 

252,673 

1,221 

5,226 

24,634 

8,935 

13,760 

1,369

1,951,281

9,1*6 

4,170

1,*50

2,958 

1,**0

*39 

6,896

17,615 

**,*8l

6~388 

3,379 

7,377 

1,*97 

*,579

111,815

86,268 

17,308

135

9,220 

1*,715

57* 

35,**2 

2,138 

*7,657 

55,011 

1,68* 

8,0** 

l,*92 

*,38* 

10,537 

11,080

305,690

77,780 

1,*77

11,865

l*,58l 

71,*79

262,539 

*,*39 

72,*69 

73,128

7,1*3 

6*, 163

1,185 

10,*l6

672,66*

175,19* 

22,955

12,001

25,251

89/152 

1,**0

1,013 

30*,877 

6,577 

137,7*1 

172,620 

1,68* 

21,575 

69,03* 

11,761 

13,219 

26,075

1,090,169

*,967

1,207 

165

8,175 

878

6,*37 

9,090 

10,11*

*1,033

55,60* 

2,*72

756 

7,777

9,056 

1,661

2,837 

8,055 

23,*30

111,6*8

13,6*5

323 

12,757

226,865

15,850 

51,213

7,037 

2,3*9

330,039

7*, 21

2,*7

2,28

20,69

2**, 09

18,38

51,21

9,27

2*, 18

35,89

*82,72

Nonstrippable reserves overburden range more than *0, 60, and 90 feet

Upper 

Millersburg. 

Lower ft Upper 

Millersburg 1 

Lower 

Millersburg. 

Coal VI 

Underrider of 

Coal VT. 

Coal Vb 

Coal V- __ -

Coal IV 

Coal III 

Coal II 

Upper Block 

Lower Block- - 

Coal I

Total ----

State total29,61*

7,022

5,*75 

13,987

3*,758 

52,613

9,023

15,819

*5,566

297

5,21*

7,67*

*,862 

19,885

26*, 003

335,*75

1*2,508

26,*55 

1*0 

19,096

2ic fc.li

4,891 

22,*6l

51,638

1,799

58,202

25,410

1,363

13,753

rtOc

121 

16,073

*29,9*9

738,083

150, *67

7,798 

58,932 

**,6*5 

527,908

7*1 

*,57*

1 912 906

5

n2ift

495,698

2lfh 57fi

~*> QfiQ

3,792

3,709,6*1

5,281,316

322,589

*1,275 

59,072 

69,216

R87 6*Q

*0,390 

79,6*8

1 QT3! Kfft

20,666

CQQ hff.

518,880

1,660

22,936

21 8*6

*,983 

39,750

*,*03,593

6,35*,87*

62,025

23,73*

8,0*8 

*5,*35

76,*89

GO /TZTr*

33,021

*7,202

137,279

78,676

l,*72

15,3*3

15,196

23,019 

6,*77 

105,286

767,369

879,18*

*30,95l

58,763 

1,395 

58,731 

1^7 *0*

*,925 

52,761

20* *17

11,868

OCQ JiftTt

m Qjj.9

TO

57,*70

153

8,912 

5,59* 

12*,695

1,599,5*2

1,905,232

303,67*

21,251 

l*,63l 

231,678 

683,978

2,*85 

6,950

2,322,311

18,325

"^Rl QllR

1,155,395

ift ~ttb.

O^N OCO

6*0 

*2,*79

5,200,388

5., 873,052

796,650

103,7*8 

16,026 

298,*57 

876,817

83,899 

1*8,378

2,559,7*9

77,395

7*8,707

1 *06 013

1,550

91,207

*1,601

32,571 

12,071 

272, *6o

7,567,299

8,657,*68

111,287

220,0*5

10,735, 

103,835

17,*59

26,222

c/TQ EiPtf

85,690

 

1,08*,860

1,125,893

1 C-*-l -582

*15,*59 

221, *70

h-zjl 71 f^

89*,317

1,057,6*0

322, **3

*,877,*26

*,989,07*

5*2,300

6*9,880 

1,297,138

1 ilQfi 1 tV3;

917, *76

3,220,672

15,835,731

16,165,770

2 l8* 96

1,285,38

1,529,3*

2 (rail TO

17,*5

8,632,65

2

2iftii *rr

3,628,80

21,798,01

22,280,73

1 Estimated as one bed, only in pan of Varridc County.
Table 9- Summary of strlppable and nonstrlppable coal reserves in Indiana by beds 

(in thousands of short tons)

Bed

Original reserves

Coal 

14 -28 in. 

thick

Coal 

28-42 in . 

thick

Coal more 

than 42 in. 

thick

Total

Mined and lost in mining 

to January 1, 1951

Coal 

14 -28 in. 

thick

Coal 

28-42 in. 

thick

Coal more 

than 42 in. 

thick

Total

Remaining reserves 

as of January 1, 1951

Coal 

14-28 in. 

thick

Coal 

28-42 in. 

thick

Coal more 

than 42 in. 

thick

Total

Strippable reserves overburden range less than 40, 60, and 90 feet

Coal VII 

Upper 

Millersburg. 

Lower & Upper 

Millersburg 2 

Lower 

Millersburg. 

Coal VI 

Underrider of 

Coal VI. 

Coal Vb 

Coal V 

Coal IVa 

Coal IV 

Coal III 

Coal Ha 

Coal II 

Minshall 

Upper Block 

Lower Block 

Coal I 

(zone) .

13,793 

14,202

r >y*( 

1,769

600

21,947

26,672 

52,970

141

8

1-7/r-z

14,684

21,819 

12,471 

4,917

224,320

252,736

48,997 

1,082 

22,645 

28,814

££}n

84 432

2,508

121,992

2,764

10,090

16,022 

43,473 

12,111

725,472

194,758

15,028 

59,749 

36,190

oDr7 £To)l

1,310,502

7,301 

196,220

7 Q48

Qr\ -i f^f"

7,037 

6,928 

10,416

2,574,378

469,719

77,818 

60,831 

73,037 

323,785

1,769 

1,289

1,416,881

9,809 

344,884 

476,506

2,905 

26,801

102,942

44,878 

62,872 

27,444

3,524,170

3,494

107

71

"94

160

597

5,319

10,766

149 

489

7,819

9,410

878

894 

666

32,904

15,618

1,220 

15,559 

81 

79,578

294,374

59,289

Q7 titifi

3,129

606

566,900

26 384

1,369 

15,559 

4,064 

79,685

-ZfjO o£il

68,793 

100,075

4,167

1,491 

1,272

605,123

13,793

10,708 

7,240

1,769

21,876

26,578 

52,174

141

8,763

14,524

21,222 

12,471 

4,917

48,848 

1,082 

22,156 

28,814

689

2,508 

112,582 

69,132

2,764

10,090

5,274

15,128 

42,807 

12,111

692,568

179,140

13,808 

44,190 

36,109 

208 046

1,016,128

7,301 

136,931 

255,125

7,948

78,977

7,037 

6,322 

10,416

2,007,478

443,335

76,449 

45,272

68,973

OIL IL n nn

1,769 

1,289

1,114,617

9,809 

276,091 

376,431

2,905

26,801

98,775

43,387 

61,600 

27,444

2 Q1 Q fill 7

Nonstrippable reserves overburden range more than 40, 60, and 90 feet

Coal VII 

Upper 

Millersburg. 

Lower & 

Upper Millersburg. 2 

Lower 

Millersburg.

Underrider of 

Coal VI. 

Coal Vb 

Coal V 

Coal IVa 

Coal IV 

Coal III 

Coal II 

Minshall 

Upper Block 

Lower Block 

Coal I 

(zone) .

State total250,801 

24,258

111,247 

158,739

£-Q r\££

63,021

692,432 

i 7fi R^n

1,769

on ccv

22,870 

27,881

6,477 

125,171

2,116,232

12,340,552

2,104,841

500,677 

1,535

299,297 

627,873

9,816

13,667

1,375,325 

519,795

1,441

71,223 

438 

9,03? 

5,594 

140,768

6,906,917

7,632,389

QQ.fi iLlil

678,929 

73,563

1,573,461 

2,708,039

3,226 

11,524

11,947,329

21,373 

1,765,119 

4,857,343

22,363

40,139 

640

46,271

24,745,760

27,320,138

 z xnil Qfift

1,430,407 

75,098

1,897,016 

3,499,169

124,289

245,485

13,165,967

98,061

3,832,876 

5,553,698

3,210

114,143

63,447 

37,554 

12,071 

312,210

-z-z yfift QHQ

37,293,079

466

297

I-7/T-2

6,082

361

2,885

2,511 

403

6,160

39,064

ttk

8,976 

60,068

515,299

220,575 

66,069

3,736

1,442,157

c-xli

8,976 

60,429

518,650

223,086 

66,769

3,736

882,180

1,487,303

250,801 

24,258

111,247 

158,739

67,800

63,021

692,432 

176,263

1,769

or» KKV

22,870 

27,881

6,477 

125,171

2 115 469 , ji ?

2,334,470

2 T nit ftin

500,677

1,535 

299,297

9,816

1,147,487

13,667

1,372,814 

519,392

1,441

71,223

438 

9,033 

5,,594 

140,768

6 Q Ofi ftzr?

7,593,325

995,907

678,929 

64,587

1,575,461 

2,647,971

3,226 

11,524

11,432,030

?l,373 

1,544,544

22,363

36,403 

640

46,271

23,870,503

25,877,981

3,303,674

1,430,407 

66,122

1,897,016

-*. lixR vlin

124,289

245,485

98,06!

3,609,790 

c ij.86 npq

3,210

114,143

59,711 

37,554 

12,071 

312,210

32,886,729

35,805,776

'Assuming 80 percent recoverability for Strippable coal and 50 percent recoverability for nonstrippable coal. 'Estimated ss one bed, only in part of Varrick County.
Table 10. Summary of recoverable coal reserves in Indiana by beds, according to abundance and relia

(in thousands of short tons)

Bed

Measured reserves

Coal 

14-28 In . 

thick

Coal 

28-42in. 

thick

Coal more 

than 42 In. 

thick

Total

Indicated reserves

Coal 

14-28 In. 

thick

Coal 

28 -42 In. 

thick

Coal more 

than 42 In. 

thick

Total

Inferred reserves

Coal 

14-28 In. 

thick

Coal 

28-42 In. 

thick

Coal more 

than 4 2 In. 

thick

Total

Strlppable reserves overburden range less than 40, 60, and 90 feet

Coal VII 

Upper 

Mlllersburg. 

Lower & 

Upper Mlllersburg. 2 

Lower 

Mlllersburg. 

Coal VI 

Underrlder of 

Coal VI. 

Coal Vb 

Coal V ----- --

Coal IVa 

Coal IV 

Coal Ha 

Mlnshall -

Upper Block 

Lower Block 

Coal I 

( zone )

Total 

6,490

7,698 

6,440

3,293 

263

129 

5,443

6,467

6,155

113 

1,900

3

i-7£/r

3,803

688 

270

80,077

23,254 

756

9,745 

5,058

92

296 

50,612

n PQT

864

i-rr-fT

2,152 

7,071 

825

220,184

70,173 

9,865

25,861

16,964 

99,048

421 380

2,290

TjO QQn

644

11,851

2,231

803,822

1 Rfi 74n

40,817 

26,617

33,149

107,399 

263

221

452,515

2,586 

95,968

122,078

977 

4,l8l

16,373

5,955 

9,990 

1,095

1,076,924

3,336 

1,159

1,152

351

5,517 

14,093

35,535

5,110

2,703 

5,900 

1,198 

3,663

89,450

69,015

13,846 

109

7,375

11,771

459

28,355

1,710 

38,125

44 008

 *-,x" i 

6,435

1 T Oil

3,508 

8,429 

8,864

244,550

62,224

1,182 

9,492

11,666 

57,184

210,030 

3,551

57,975

2Uj 2\JJ

5,715

51,330

948 

8,333

538,133

138,555

18,364 

9,601

20,200

71,322 

1,152

810

243,902

5,261 

110,193

T ~zR r\r*£.

55,227

9,408 

10,575 

20,860

872,133

3,973 

966

132

6,540

702

5,149

7,271 

8,091

44,483

1,978

605 

6,222

7,245

1 ^9Q

6,445 

18,744

89,321

10,916

258 

10,204

l8l,492-

12,680

40,970

, 5,630 

1,879

264,029

59,3

1,9

1,8

16,5

195,2

14,7

40,9

7,4

19,3

28,7

386 

,

Nonstrippable reserves overburden range more than 40, 60, and 90 feet

Coal VII 

Upper 

Mlllersburg. 

Lower & 

Upper Mlllersburg. 2 

Lower 

Mlllersburg. 

Coal VI 

Underrlder of 

Coal VI. 

Coal Vb 

Coal V 

Coal IVa -

Coal III 

PrmT TTo

Coal II 

Upper Block 

Lower Block 

Coal I 

(zone)

FT1.-.4-Q T

State total14, 807

3,512

2,738 

6,993

17,379 

26,307

il P7Q

7,909

22,783

5,949

149

2,431 

9,944

131,624

184,542

n PR4

13,227 

70

9,548

2,445 

11,230

24,377

900

57 fUlK

12 5o4

£Qi

6

Qi-rQ

143

60 

8~036

211 894

432,078

7k Qf\7

3,898 

24,978

22,322 

Vi1! QPP

371 

2,287

698,802

1,524

207,604

1 Qfi4

5,075

1,894

1,417,188

2,221,010

161,028

20,637 

25,048

34,608 

263,611

20,195 

39,824

7P7 4^R

10,333

T DD T DD

226,057

830

11,469

9,055

2,491 

19,874

1,760,706

2,837,630

31,013 

11,866

4,024 

22,718

38,244 

44,333

16,512

23,601

68,636

39,336

7^6

7,598

11,510 

3,238 

52,644

383,680

473,130

215,475

29,381 

698

29,366

73,702 

2,463

26,381

102 206

5,933

129,744

85,970

39

Oft T3KC

77

4,456 

2,797 

62,348

799,771

1,044,321

151,836

10,627 

7,315

115,839 

~^4i Q88

1,242 

3,475

1,161,157

9,163

175,975 

K\T7 *7nn

9,197 

13,126

320 

21,239

2,6oo,199

3,138,332

398,324

51,874 

8,013

Iks, 229 

438,408

41,949 

74,189

1,279,875

 *8 fiQ7

374,355

775

45,603

20,801

16,286 

6,035 

136,231

5,783,650

^,65,5,783

55,643

110,022

5,367 

51,919

8,729

13,112

254,793

42,844

RliP lipQ

575,253

765,692

207,731 

110,735

447,157

r- r\Q QT O

161,223

 

2,438,713

2,528,034

271,150

324,939

648,569 

748,076

3,856,056

458,740

1 f\\ n ~x\ 7\}\.

7,917,864

8,181,893

642,6

764,6

8,7

1,242,3

1,814,4

10,899,0

11,285,1

'Assuming 80 percent recoverability for strippable coal and 50 percent for nonstrippable coal. 2 Estimated as one bed, only in pare of Tatrick County.
the Lower Block bed are summarized in tables 

7 through 10.

The composition on an as-received basis of several 

samples of Lower Block coal is shown in the proximate 

analyses tabulated at the bottom of the page (Logan, 1922, 

p. 624). The samples are: No. 1 from Gardenia near Cart 

No. 5, Brazil Block Coal Co.; No. ^Brazil, Mine No. 1, 

Brazil BlockCoalCo.; No. 3,Carbon, near Eureka, Brazil 

BlockCoalCo., No. l;No. ^Asherville, nearCrawford, 

BlockCoal Co., No. 3; Nos. 5,6, 7 southwest of Perth. Analyst 

offirstfouris W. A. Noyes; of the last three, F. M. Stanton.

Upper Block coal

The Upper Block coal, in the loweripart of the Brazil 

formation, contains estimated reserves in Clay, Daviess, 

Greene, and Owen Counties. C oal beds probably of equivalent age are found in Par ke, Dubois, Martin, and Spencer 

Counties.

The Upper Block coal shows commercial thickness 

in comparatively small basins, ranging in area from a 

few acres to several square miles. Thin, unminable coal 

connects these basins. The average thickness of the bed 

in the areas where the reserves were estimated ranges 

from 1.3 to 3.6 feet. A 2-inch layer of brittle coal is usually 

present near the middle of the bed. Immediately underlying 

this coal is a very fine fire clay, which is usually mined 

with the coal and is considered a good marker for cor relation purposes. The stratigraphic interval between the 

Lower and Upper Block beds ranges in thickness between 

15 and 30 feet. Much of the Upper Block coal has been strip 

mined, doubtless because of its valuable, underlying clay 

bed. The distribution of the estimated reserves in the 

Upper Blockbed is showninfigure 7. Tables 7 through 10 

give a summary of the estimated reserves in the bed.

The proximate analysis on the as-received basis 

of a sample of Upper Block coal from Woodside, Owen 

County, is shown by Logan (1922, p. 625) as follows:

Percent

Fixed carbon 47.40

Volatile matter 56.45

Moisture 12.73

Ash 3.42

Sulphur .55

Calories: 6,636

Minshall coal

The Minshall coal is 20 to 30 feet above the 

Upper Block bed. It has an average thickness of about 

4 feet and locally attains a maximum of about 6 feet.

This coal usually has fire clay underlying it and shale 

overlying it. Overlying the shale, and occasionally 

overlying the coal, is a dark-gray, fossiliferous, thinbedded limestone unit locally called the Minshall limestone. A coal believed to be the Minshall is mined 

near the surface at Switz City in Greene County. Similarly, in southeastern Daviess County on Sugar Creek, 

a coal bed 2 to 3 feet thick is overlain by a limestone, 

which has been correlated as the Minshall limestone 

(Kugler, 1951, p. 17). Numerous drill holes in this 

area show a coal bed having an average thickness of 

2.0 feet in the approximate stratigraphic position of 

the Minshall coal. South from Jasper in Dubois County, 

a coal with a limestone roof has been called the Holland 

coal at Buffaloville, Newtonville, and Lincoln City. 

This coal is also believed to be stratigraphically equivalent to the Minshall coal; however, it is too thin in 

most places to be worked. The distribution of the 

Minshall coal in Indiana is shown on figure 8. A summary of estimated reserves in the Minshall bed is 

shown in tables 7 through 10.

The proximate analysis on an as- received basis 

of a sample of the Minshall coal is reported (Logan, 

1922, p. 625) from' the Gifford No. 1 mine, Williamstown, 

as follows:

Percent

Fixed carbon 39-48 

Volatile matter 37-67

Moisture

Ash

Sulphur

13-12 

9-75 

2.95

Calories: 6,107

Coal II (Silverwood or Upper Minshall coal)

Coal II generally occurs 10 to 20 feet above the 

Minshall coal. Locally, however, the limestone overlying the Minshall coal may be absent, thus allowing 

the fire clay under Coal H to rest directly upon the 

Minshall coal. The bed was being mined on a small scale 

in 1951. Near Burns City in Martin County is a bed 

that is believed to be cor relative with Coal II. Similarly, 

in southeastern Daviess'County on Sugar Creek is a bed 

lying 20 to 25 feet above the Minshall coal. This bed 

has an average thickness of 2.4 feet and locally is ofconsiderable extent. Because of its stratigraphic 

position, this coal is also assumed to be equivalent to 

Cual H. The distribution of estimated reserves of 

Coal II is shown on figure 9, and the estimated reserves 

are summarized in tables 7 through 10.

Analyses of Lower Block coal, as-received basis 

(percent)

Fixed carbon 

Volatile matter 

Moisture 

AoVi __ _______ __________ _ __ _____ ___ __ ______ _____

Sulphur 

OoT i"*iT»1ft<! _ __

 Q4-,.

No. 1

49-16

37-11 

11.20

3.53 

.62

6

*7*7)1 iTf*

No. 2

49-96

35.16

13.82

1.06

1.47

6 pop

No. 3

50.42 ^ jKj.ytL ~*&

9.80 ~*> 46 >«*tu zjl

 y+ 

>7,050

No. 4

48.23 ~*£\ ~*ji

n

o£

4.16

.56

6

0.1-p ,05t5

No. 5

46 f>8

32.56

15.39

5.88

1.95

f. jigo

11,680

No. 6

46 o*5;

33.19

15-91 ii PI1.22

No. 7

 zQ QT 30.07

26.85

16.91

7.37

I

P/%

5 pen

r coll

- tO1-^

22
EXPLANATION

Mtesissipptan - Pennsylvanian

contact . W A R R E,

^JFOUNTAINf I MONTGOMERY | B o 0 N E

JOHNSON,SHELBY 

I

-.SULL.VAN

JACKSON I

- rL._

! D U B 0 I S

3 I B S 0 N I

WARRlCKf

SPENCER

Figure 7. Map showing reserves of Coal Vb and the Upper Block coal in Indiana.

23
FOUNTAIN MONT60MERY

0 R GOT N | JOHNSON \ S HELBY 

I

NROEJ BROWN BART HO LOMEWi

WAS H IN6TON T

 I Q R A N G E i

6 I B S 0 N I

fWARRICKf 

i /

"

Figure 8. Map showing reserves of the Minshall coal in Indiana.

24
___' M 0 R G^VN JOHNSON S HELBY

I /J 'M 0 N R 0 E B R OW N- (BARTHOLOMEW.

 ~~Hfa I i ! , L

_ J~T r

~. ~ ~ i i

f W A R R I C K 1

u r1

jVANDERBURGH .f S P E N C E Rr<

40 Mites

Figure 9. -Map showing reserves of Coal II and the underrider of Coal VI in Indiana.

25
Coal Ha

Coal Ha, which lies above Coal II, is a 

local bed that is of minable thickness in Daviess 

County. The range in average thickness in the 

area of estimated reserves is 1, 5 to 2. 7 feet. The 

reserves are summarized in tables J through 10.

Coal III (Seelyville or Staunton coal)

Coal III contains next to the largest estimated coal reserves in Indiana. It has been 

mined extensively at Coxville in Parke County 

and at Clinton in Vermillion County. This bed, 

which is the top unit of the Staunton formation, 

is 30 to 90 feet above Coal II and 15 to 30 feet 

below Coal Ela.

Coal III is typically developed in northeastern Vigo County. It can be traced north into 

Vermillion County, and borings show it to be 

continuous into the Danville/ HI., area. In 

Vermillion County, where it has been called the 

Hanging Rock coal, the average thickness of the 

estimated reserves is 6 feet.

Southward from Clay County, Coal IE may 

be traced into Greene County, where it thins 

rapidly on the outcrop. Identification of this coal 

is therefore uncertain at numerous localities in 

southern Indiana. However, a coal assumed to be 

Coal III was being mined in 1951 south of 

Cannelburg in Daviess County. Here, the coal has 

a sandstone roof and ranges from 1.5 to 4.2 feet 

in thickness. Locally this bed contains cannel 

coal (Ashley, 1899, p. 659). In several places in 

Dubois County, a coal bed ranging between 2 to 

4 feet in thickness and assumed to be Coal DI, 

has been opened. In Spencer County a coal bed 

ranging in thickness between 1. 5 to 4 feet appears 

at apparently the same horizon as Coal IE. Drillings in southern Gibson, eastern Vanderburgh, 

and western Warrick Counties show the presence 

of a coal bed, called Coal IE, having arraverage 

thickness of 5.5 to 6 feet. The distribution of 

Coal III in Indiana is shown on figure 10. The 

estimated reserves of Coal El are summarized in 

tables 7 through 10.

Clay and pyrite partings are common in 

Coal IE and range from 5 or 6 inches to more 

than 2 feet in thickness. Several i- to 1-inch 

bands of pyrite or shale are usually present.

Sandstone rolls impregnated with pyrite frequently 

occur in this bed. Coal El usually has a red 

ash due to the presence of the pyrite in the coal. 

At the Dyna mine in eastern Vanderburgh and 

western Warrick Counties, large amounts of salt 

water, encountered when the coal was opened, 

were so detrimental to the operation that the 

mine was abandoned.

The composition of Coal El on an as-received basis is given in the proximate analyses 

nos. 1 through 6 tabulated at the bottom of the 

page (Logan, 1922, p. 626). Analyses 7 and 8 

are of samples of cannel coal from this bed 

(Ashley, 1918, p. 20). The samples are as follows: 

No. 1, Coxville, Cox No. 3, Brazil Block Coal Co.; 

Nos. 2 and 3, Rosedale, Parke County Coal Co.; 

Nos. 4, 5, and 6, Hymera No. 4, Consolidated 

Indiana Coal Co. (see 33d Ann. Kept.. Ind. Geol. Surv.); 

Nos. 7 and 8, cannel coal from Coal III, Daviess 

County, Indiana (Ashley, 1918, p. 20).

Coal lEa (Velpen coal)

Coal Ela, which is 15 to 30 feet above 

Coal IE, is too thin for mining in many areas. 

No reserves have been estimated for this bed 

although it is exposed in several places in Spencer, 

Pike, Daviess, Clay, Parke, and Vermillion 

Counties. It is usually overlain by shale or sandstone. Locally, where the sandstone between 

Coal Ela and the next coal bed above is comparatively thick and massive, it resembles the 

Mansfield sandstone, and this fact has, doubtless, 

caused erroneous correlations in the past.

Coal TV (Linton or Survant coal)

Coal IV is estimated to contain the third 

largest reserves in Indiana. Because of its exceptionally desirable qualities, it has been extensively 

worked and prospected near Linton, Green County. 

The average thickness near Linton is more than 

4 feet, the maximum thickness is 7 feet. Although it is too thin to be mined in some places, 

it is of workable thickness in Daviess, Greene, 

Knox, Parke, Pike, Vermillion, Vigo, and 

Warrick Counties. A bed 8 feet thick believed by 

Ashley (1899, p. 1301) to be at the stratigraphic 

position of Coal IV formerly was worked at the 

Coal Knobs, north of Rockport, Spencer County. 

Coal TV has been mined in Khox County north of

Analyses of Coal III, as-received basis 

(percent)

\7"rtT n t"1 T A Tun H"£4Y» M. MM.

A oh--- - __ - ______ - ____ ___

Sulphur 

Calories - - 

 R-l-ii ___________ _____ ________ ________ _

No. 1

hf. lie

k-i PP

6.49

5

-, 0

2.95

6,897

No. 2

59-55 *Q IIQ

11.54

9-62

4.41

6,475

n

ficx; »^jO

No. 5

40.80

58.62

12.26

8.52

4.71

No. 4

41.55

58.62

10.45

Q "S8

h. oh.

6,525

U 711.R , I^-J

No. 5

41.85

-9i-t rf£ 57 -7o

9.22

11.17

5-94

No. 6

40.49

56.09

10.45

12.62

4.59

6,214

11,185

No. 7

26.50

49.00

25.10

1.40

No. 8

42.00

48 RO

6.00.

1.00

26
EXPLANATION

Mississipplan - Pennsylvania!) 

contact

FOUNTAIN MONTGOMERY BO 0 N E

__i_,(!/! o R GT'VN | JOHNSON; SHELBY

I )j) JMONROEBROWN (BARTHOLOMEW 

 ~- - '

JACKSON |

_ _ _ j~r *- __ T " "

.

* " " ' ° " '^^ *» ^ P E A Y *^~'} )

>K ^- ^-'

Figure 10. Map showing reserves of Coal IE in Indiana.

27
Edwardsport. It is presently being worked in Sullivan, 

Greene, Daviess, and Pike Counties. The distribution 

of Coal IV in Indiana is shown on figure 11 and the estimated reserves are summarized in tables 7 through 10.

Northward from Linton, Coal IV maintains its 

normal thickness in places but generally is thinner. 

Southwest of Linton, a medial parting becomes prominent, attaining a thickness of 10 to 20 feet and separating the upper 2 to 3 feet of coal from the lower 1 to 

2 feet. Southward, Coal IV maintains its normal thickness in eastern Knox County but thins to the west. 

Coal IV is about 3 feet thick in Daviess and Pike 

Counties but thins in Warrick County and either

disappears or is unworkable in Vanderburgh County. 

The Survant coal of Fuller and Ashley (1902a, b) in 

Pike County is Coal IV.

The roof of Coal IV, the top unit of the^Linton 

formation, is usually gray shale but occasionally is 

sandstone, and the floor is usually sandstone or clay. 

The stratigraphic interval between Coal IV and Coal El 

is normally 60 to 65 feet but occasionally thins to as 

little as 20 feet.

The composition of Coal IV on an as-received 

basis is given by Logan (1922, p. 626) in the following 

proximate analyses of samples from six localities:

Analyses of Coal IV, as-received basis 

(percent)

Volatile matter 

Moisture 

AqVi _ _ __ _ ____ __ _ __ __ _ __ __ __ _ ____ _ __ ,_ ____ _

Sulphur 

Calories 

No. 1

45.58 

55^54 

15-55 

7.55 

.95

6,521 

11,758

No. 2

52i57 

15.98 

7.10 

.96

No. 5

46.20 

52.07 

15.58 

8.15 

.91

6,544 

11,419

No. 4

55^94 

15.70 

5.90 

2.66

6,628 

11,950

No. 5

47.01 

55.04 

14.25 

5.72 

.89

6,512 

11,722

No. 6

46.25 

55.48 

12.15 

8.14 

1.41

6,554 

11,761

The samples are as follows: Nos. 1, 2, and 3 from 

northwest of Linton, Greene County; No. 4, Diamond, 

northwest of Mine No. 9, Brazil Block Coal Co., 

Parke County; Nos. 5 and 6, Dugger No. 4 mine, 

Island Coal Co., Sullivan County.

Coal IVa (Houchin Creek coal)

Coal IVa in the Petersburg formation occurs 

typically about 20 feet above Coal IV. A coal bed 

appear ing to be IVa has been called Houchin Creek coal 

(Fuller and Ashley, 1902a, b) in southern Pike and 

northern Warrick Counties. The coal bed is thin, ranging generally from 12 to 18 inches in thickness; however, 

it is mined locally in small areas. The coal bed is overlain at Houchin Creek by black shale and limestone. 

The distribution of the estimated reserves in this bed 

is shown in figure 6, and the estimated reserves are 

summarized in-tables 7 through 10.

Coal V (Petersburg coal bed or Alum Cave coal)

Coal V in the Petersburg formation contains the 

largest estimated reserves in Indiana and is the most 

widespread minable coal in the eastern interior basin, 

cropping out almost continually from the Ohio River

Analyses of Coal V, as-received basis 

(percent)

to Vermillion County. In 1951 Coal V was being mined 

inGibson, Daviess, Knox, Greene, Pike, Sullivan, Vigo, 

Vermillion, and Warrick Counties. The distribution of 

CoalV in Indiana is shown on figure 12, and a summary of 

the estimated reserves is given in tables 7 through 10.

CoalV has an average thickness of 5 feet; locally, 

however, it has attained a maximum thickness of 

11 feet. Although the bed is persistent, it may be cut 

out locally for some distance. The areas of coal 

cutouts appear to have restricted, channellike forms. 

The top of Coal V has an undulating surface giving rise 

to many small so-called "plains type structures. " The 

quality of the coal varies, but it is usually a good steam 

coal and is generally sold for household use. Locally, 

the bed becomes very shaly and has a high ash content. 

Although in places the roof is composed of sandstone, 

it is usually composed of 3 to 10 feet of black shale 

containing large pyrite concretions, many of which 

project downward into the coal. - The black shale or 

sandstone is overlain in turn by 4 to 6 feet of limestone 

called the Alum Cave limestone member, which is the 

top member of the Petersburg formation. The interval 

between Coal V and Coal IV is generally 100 to 125 feet.

The composition of Coal V on an as-received 

basis is shown in the following proximate analyses:

Fixed, carbon 

Volatile matter 

AqV,

Sulphur 

Calories 

154-11

No. 1

49.16 

57-99 

6.50 

6.55 

1.85

6,981

No. 2

41.64 

56.51 

10.50 

11.75 

4.25

6,252 

11,218

No. 5

r 44.42 

52.48 

12.08 

11.02 

5.65

6,117 

11,011

No. 4

47.27 

54.71 

12.88 

6.14 

1.70

6,556 

11,801

No. 5

42.17 

42.60 

6.49 

8.74 

5.18

7,002

No. 6

45.55 

40.64 

7.06

8.77 

5.64

6,811 

12,260

28
EXPLANATION

FOUNTAINS MONTGOMERY I B 0 0 N E

' ! I N |JOHNSON,SHELBY 

I

N R 0 E BROWN' BARTHOLOMEW!

r L

I JACKSON |

I i

WASH ING TON

I P I K E

U "1 x** ! D U B 0 I S

f L.FLOY

%_._r '

f W A R R I C K

( r!

JVANDERBURGH r S P E N C E

Figure 11. Map showing reserves of Coal IV in Indiana.

29
EXPLANATION

FOUNTAIN( MONTGOMERY I BO 0 N E

,M o R cry N |JOHNSON;SHELBY

 _ -_ V. _ ... I - -- -1-

0 E ' BROWN' (BARTHOLOMEW) 

-.1

JACKSON | 

' i

I WAS HIN6TON H

Figure 12. Map showing reserves of Coal V in Indiana. 

30
The samples are as follows: No. 1, Cabel and Kauffman, Mine No. 9,. three miles southwest of Washington, 

Daviess County; No. 2, West of Linton, Greene County; 

No. 3, Bicknell, Knox County; No. 4, Ayrshire, Pike 

County; No. 5, Alum Cave, Phoenix No. 1 mine, New 

Pittsburg Coal and Coke Co., Sullivan County; No. 6, 

Booneville, Big Four mine, Warrick County.

Coals Va and Vb

Coals Va and Vb are two thin beds of the Bugger 

formation lying between Coals V and VI. Bed Va is the 

lower of the pair and is 10 to 15 feet above Coal V; bed 

Vb is 30 to 35feet above Coal V. The estimated reserves 

inCoalVb, which is of workable thickness locally, are 

limited to Knox County. (See fig. 7.) The reserves of 

Coal Vb are summarized in tables 7 through 10; no 

reserves have been estimated for Coal Va.

Coal VI (Bugger coal)

Coal VI of the Bugger formation is typically developed in Sullivan County, where it is locally 6 to 

8 feet thick. The coal is characterized by a shale roof 

and floor and two thin shale partings in the middle of 

the bed. The interval between Coal V and Coal VI is 

normally about 75 feet but has a range in thickne'ss of 

60 to 100 feet. North of Sullivan County Coal VI splits 

or pinches out. Sullivan and Knox Counties contain the 

largest estimated reserves. In Gibson County the bed 

included as Coal VI (see fig. 13) is possibly the lower 

unit of the Millersburg bed. A coal in Posey County 

called Coal VI by the petroleum companies is included 

with the estimated reserves of the lower unit of the 

Millersburg coal bed. The estimated reserves of 

Coal VI are summarized in tables 7 through 10.

Tabulated at the bottom of the page are proximate analyses on an as-received basis of samples 

from Coal VI. Analysis No. 1 was made by the 

U. S. Bureau of Mines. Analyses Nos. 2 through 6 

were taken from Logan (1922, p. 628). The samples 

are as follows: No. 1, Vandalia Coal Co., Mine No. 17, 

Sullivan, Sullivan County; No. 2, Bicknell Coal Co., 

Knox County; Nos. 3 and 4, Star City mine 29, 

Consolidated Indiana Coal Co.; Nos. 5 and 6, West 

Terre Haute, Fauvre Coal Co., Vigo County.

An underriding coal 3 to 8 feet below Coal VI 

occurs in Knox County and is possibly a split of Coal VI. 

The distribution of the estimated reserves in the underrider is shown in figure 9, and the estimated reserves 

are summarized in tables 7 through 10.

Analyses of Coal VI,

Millersburg coal

The Millersburg coal, which consists of two 

widely separated benches, is at the approximate stratigraphic position of both Coal VI and Coal VIE. Because 

the correlation of the Millersburg coal is uncertain, 

the bed was considered to be a separate bed in estimating 

the reserves.

The Millersburg coal is best developed at Little 

Bitney Hill about three miles south of Elberfeld in 

Warrick County, where it is 70 to 100 feet above CoalV. 

At this locality it averages 7 feet in thickness and is 

a maximum of 10 feet thick. The thickness of a medial 

parting in the coal becomes so great in places that in 

effect the Millersburg is two coal beds, separated by 

a stratigraphic interval ranging from ijf to 22 feet in 

Warrick County, 12 to 40 feet in Gibson County, and 

30 to 40 feet in Posey County. The distribution of the 

reserves is shown in figures 14 and 15, and tables 7 

through 10 summarize the estimated tonnages.

Following is a proximate analysis on an as-received* 

basis of a combined sample of both benches of the 

Millersburg coal (No. B-52964, U. S. Bureau of Mines):

Percent

Fixed carbon 46.80

Volatile matter 28.40

Moisture 15-90

Ash 8.90

Sulphur .90

Calories: 

Btu: 10,610

This sample was taken from Ingle Coal Co. mine, at 

Ditney Hill, 2 miles south of Elberfeld, Warrick 

County.

Coal VE

Coal VIE, which lies normally 35 to 50 feet above 

Coal VI, contains its largest reserves in Sullivan 

County. In Sullivan and Greene Counties, it lies 

15 to 20 feet above the Universal limestone member of 

the Bugger formation and immediately below the massive 

Busseron sandstone member of -the Shelburn formation. 

The average thickness of the bed is 3.4 feet where the 

reserves were estimated. The roof is usually shale, 

but locally it may be sandstone, which is rolling and

as-received basis

(percent)

Fixed carbon 

Volatile matter-. 

AqV.

Sulphur - 

Calories 

TJ4...

No. 1

JlO T\

33.91

11.15

12.23 

2.01

6,137

nf oitfi V-J*rU

No. 2

48 *f-w .^"R4

"W 9P .?.? «-

7

£--i 

.61

8

ZT-Z

1

&TT °7

6 U,tU;7 48Q

No. 3

46 14

31.65

13-99 

14.32

2.31

6,291

1 1 ^pii J-J-* ?£ '+

No. 4

42.29

OQ kn

12.17

9

-]«C

4 66

R 7^5P _?» (J1- 

10,318

No. 5

ho 08

 xli ftO

12.82

10.30

3-27

6

-t -| ry ,117

11,119

No. 6

40.91 5Ui ftn

13.53

10.76

3.15 

6,082

in Qiifi

31
C <~ I h~ I

I z ;IFOUNTAIN{I MONTGOME RY I B o 0 N E

__1_M 0 R SOT N JOHNSON j S HE L BY

! I Ij |M 0 N R 0 E B R OW It [BARTHOLOMEW, f-- L -ftfe -\ _-_

WASHIN6TON

i j i t~ h r1

Figure 13. Map showing reserves of Coal VI in Indiana.

32
_ _ __ _ __ _.

J z ;FOUNTAIN(I MONTSOMERY | B o 0 N E

|_________

___' M 0 R GOT N JOHNSON S H E L B Y

MONROE 1 BROWN .BARTHOLOMEW

L._____!

JACKSON | 

I i

'KNOX ^DAVIESS

WAS HIN6TON H

 L_

J_CJiSpW FO R D f

Figure 14. Map showing reserves of the lower Millersburg coal in Indiana.

33
EXPLANATION

I_______ __

I -"1 ^) I

j z IFOUNTAIN(| MONTGOMERY I B 0 0 N E

X--J '-;

H~- MONROE BROWN iBARTHO LOMEWi i fefc H

LCjWkW FOR D

Figure 15. Map showing reserves of the upper Miller sburg coal in Indiana.

34
irregular. Coal VII is mined extensively west of 

Terre Haute in Vigo County and a small amount is 

mined south of Oakland City in Gibson County. A coal 

in Vanderburgh and Posey Counties called Coal VII by 

the petroleum companies may jusfas logically be 

called Millersburg (upper bench) and has been treated 

as such in this report. The distribution of estimated 

reserves of Coal VII in Indiana is shown on figure 16 

and the-estimated reserves of Coal VII are summarized 

in tables 7 through 10.

The proximate analysis on an as-received basis 

of a sample of Coal VII is given below:

Percent

Fixed carbon 42.10

Volatile matter 55-50

Moisture 15-70

Ash 8.70

Sulphur 5-00

Calories: 6,511 

Btu: 11,560

The sample was taken from Macksville, Red Bird 

mine (U. S. Bureau of Mines, 1920, p. 29).

At least four thin coal beds occur above Coal VII 

in the southwestern part of the State. Although all of them 

probably have been worked locally, these beds are of 

small economic importance, and no reserves were 

calculated for these beds.

PRODUCTION OF COAL IN INDIANA

During the 112 years of commercial coal production in Indiana, more than one billon tons of coal has 

been mined. The maximum production for one year 

was 30 million tons in 1918. In 1944 almost 28 million 

tons was produced, and the production of 20 million tons 

in 1950 placed Indiana sixth in the ranks of coal producing states. (See table 11.)

History of production

The presence of coal in Indiana was noted as 

early as 1763 (Ashley, 1899, p. 5). A small amount 

of coal was dug by Robert Fulton for his steamboat 

"Orleans" in 1812. Twenty years later, in 1832, coal 

was being mined at numerous points in Indiana, and 

as early as 1840 was being transported on the White, 

Wabash, arfQ Ohio Rivers. During the year 1870, nearly 

500,000 short tons of coal was mined in the State. 

Since 1876, Indiana has been among the first eight 

bituminous coal-producing states. The Office of State 

Mine Inspector was created in 1879, and the U. S. 

Bureau of Mines office for the State of Indiana was 

established at Vincennes in the,fall of 1918. An interesting account of early mining in the State is contained 

in a report by Eavenson (1942).

Coal mining had become a large industry by. 1892; 

in that year over 4,494,811 tons of coal were mined with 

more than 7,600 people employed in the mines. In 

1897 Indiana was eighth (Nicolls, 1897, p. 115) in

bituminous coal production. Production tonnages 

rose to peaks during the war years of 1916-1919 and 

1942-1946 with the maximum annual production of 

30, 678, 634 tons in 1918. Coal production for 1950 was 

19,957,029 tons. The total known production of coal 

in Indiana from 1840 through 1950 is 988, 000, 000 tons. 

Table 11 shows the production of Indiana by counties 

from 1900 through 1950. Clay, Greene, Khox, Pike, 

Sullivan, Vigo, and Warrick Counties produce more 

than 90 percent of the State's present coal production. 

In 1950, a total of 170 mines were known to be operating in 17 counties, and 9, 500 men were employed in 

the industry. Doubtless several more small mines 

were operated of which there has been no mention in 

inspectors' reports.

From 1917 through 1950, Coal V has furnished 

more than 50 percent of the coal production of Indiana; 

in some years the percentage has closely approached 

70 percent. The second largest production came from 

Coal IV for the period 1917-41; percentages of the State 

production from Coal IV ranged from 12 to 32 percent. 

During the years 1942-43 and 1945-50, Coal VI supplanted Coal IV as second largest producing coal bed 

with a total of 11 to 18 percent of the State's total 

production. Coal III held second place in production 

for the year 1944 but dropped to third-place from 1945- 

50 with an average of 11 to 13 percent of Indiana's 

annual production (Coal Trades Association of Indiana, 

1951, p. 21-22).

Underground mining

The first methods used in mining were of necessity 

quite simple. Coal was opened along the outcrop and 

drifts driven down the dip. Cross entries were driven, 

and then rooms were worked from these. These early 

coal mines were called "coal banks, " undoubtedly 

because they often were developed near the bank of a 

stream where the coal cropped out above the water 

level.

Later, methods used to reach coal buried too 

deepi or impossible to drift upon involved the sinking 

of a slope. As- the demand for coal increased and 

better machinery became available, shafts were sunk, 

and hoists and loading equipment were installed. Most 

of the mines are now mechanized. Of the 19,957,029 tons 

mined in 1950 in Indiana, 9, 217,462 tons or 46 percent 

were mined, by approximately 6, 400 men using underground methods.

Strip mining

Production by strip mining was first recorded 

in 1917, and as early as 1924-25 Indiana led the Nation 

in tonnage of strip-mined bituminous coal. Approximately 

43 percent of the State's production was strip mined 

in 1935 as compared to the national average that year 

of 6. 4 percent. Of the 19,957,029 tons of coal produced, 

10,739, 567 tons or 54 percent of the State's production 

in 1950 came from the strip pits.

More than 3,000 people were employed during 

1950 in the strip-mining industry. Heavy equipment 

is in use in the State; of 25 stripping shovels employed 

in the industry, four have a capacity of 40 cubic yards 

or more and several handle 15 to 25 cubic yards.

35
Table 11. Recorded coal production in

Year

1901 

1902 _________

1903 

1904 ----- ~

1905 

1906 

nonA __ _ __

1909 

1910 

1911 

1912 

1913 - 

1914 ___ ___ .

1915 

1Q"l£

1917 _____ 

IQlA _______

1 Q1 Q

1920 

1921' _ 

1QPP__ ___ _

1QPX____ ___

1924'- 

nope _ _ ____

1925- ___

1927 

l noQ

1929 

iQ-iri..

1931 

1 Q^P _ _

1933 

1 Q^Jl__ ____

1935 

1 Q^V^

1937 -

IQxA _-

1939 -

1940 

1041 _______

1 QllP

1943 .......

1944 _______

1945 

IQiifi

10217

IQilft

1 QZlQ

1950 -

Total 

1900-50 

Clay

1,165,302

1,080, 164 

1,315,046 

1,242,958 

960,094

781,574 

1,101,228

1,266,507 

863,649 

958,732

980,016 

779,372 

700,323 

564,957 

454,009

295,451 

629,522 

1,141,029 

1,572,582 

1,006,780

1,370,402 

547,480 

452,901 

645,393 

730,617

974,415 

1,176,169 

783,412 

883,957 

1,073,364

942,954 

637,100 

594,925 

641,533 

916,287

1,058,949 

1,077,917 

1,256,247 

1,137,434 

1,318,283

1,358,941 

2,013,710 

2,129,947 

1,916,129 

1,901,383

1,857,074 

1,874,585 

2,077,4-12 

1,902,673 

1,156,039 

1,199,396

,56,466,323

Daviess

* 276,625 

4 238,699 

217,326 

183,692 

143,877

101,429 

135,985 

120,996 

77,034 

73,877

87,374 

79,466 

105,079 

84,030 

91,608

79,061 

78,537 

147 ,'224 

215,808 

320,249

343,572 

271,104 

123,794 

171,931 

96,422

38,247 

29,732 

56,803 

75,906 

50,658

23,161 

17,863 

22,947 

17,151 

23,740

25,807 

33,233 

46,001 

66,033 

60,369

69,342 

83,139 

123,730 

126,712 

69,394

84,577 

46,485 

61,122 

507,934 

353,258 

411,178

6,389,321

Dubois

10,094 

* 8,546 

* 13,833

* 7,200 

* 14, 700 

* 8,460 

b 12,320 

4 35,404

b 8,290 

b 4,119 

* 16,500 

* 7,948 

4 5,400

4 3,000 

(e)

8 25,500

* 7,675 

* 9,144 

* 1,200 

8 7,455 

g 10,241

( )

* 8,300 

4 7,578

b c 300 

* 7^650 

* 18,263

( )"

25,424 

19,265 

14,172

8,751 

13,906 

14,947 

9,088 

17,458

CO

22,340

24,789

31,997 

7,410 

7,900

482,067

Fountain

44,232 

34,826 

17,099 

18,660 

41,452

. I2' 655 

d 84,469 

d 41,270 

d 4,800 

d 12,650

' 8,422

- 5 ' 625

d 5,066 

d 64,902 

d 40,764

d 23,800

~ 13,911 

" 20,910 

* 15,280 

d 13,317

. 2 ' 571 

_ 2,527 

d 2,640 

d 2,514 

d 2,083

* 73.452 

\ 4,695 

* 4,086 

* 2,230

* 21,846

1:1

( )

43,117 

39,637

44,746 

32,591

58,489 

85,844 

86,931 

81,686 

( >

88,245 

87,338 

. 78,215 

* 169,091 

69,188 

69,858

1,737,730

Gib son

66,889 

116,526 

105,468 

8i,946 

98,257

99,322 

142,444 

207,472 

188,500 

232,599

296,753 

247,128

228,557 

227,100 

280,636

271,177 

333,980 

471,575 

609,693 

476,613

823,057 

658,127 

513,702 

542,200 

846,362

1,003,766 

1,315,129 

1,031,913 

1,104,149 

1,091,975

857,189 

862,131, 

1,138,834 

1,097,863 

1,067,526

1,205,334 

1,207,177 

1,289,822 

1,050,714 

( )

973,715 

1,157,862 

1,212,387 

1,035,661 

( )

1,019,007 

745,581 

951,142 

774,806 

456,471 

669,408

32,485,645

Greene

723,255 

944,621 

1,663,785 

2,303,512 

2,440,420

2,458,665 

2,307,486 

2,773,944 

2,361,404 

2,612,686

3,439,002 

2,563,366 

2,636,509 

2,780,708 

2,230,085

2,324,634 

2,440,311 

3,498,038 

3,426,168 

2,021,868

2,878,868 

1,885,479 

1,946,445 

2,393,322 

1,873,695

1,274,544 

1,275,647 

1,122,967 

I,439,6l8 

1,447,495

1,722,181 

1,622,929 

1,729,638 

1,694,687 

1,614,489

1,604,419 

1,852,959 

2,099,896 

1,908,372 

2,147,834

2,247,473 

2,591,754 

2,925,090 

2,663,606 

2,443,267

1,159,099 

1,090,684 

1,357,598 

930,402 

671,211 

464,855

102,031,790

Knox

60,749 

94,579 

119,225 

117,046 

173,406

293,480 

333,833 

374,099 

428,821 

642,727

1,003,909 

879,323 

1,212,596 

1,760,748 

1,619,083

2,212,315 

2,752,213 

3,119,922 

3,822,853 

2,965,658

3,705,711 

2,736,111 

2,507,063 

3,510,842 

2,364,015

2,821,785 

3,101,144 

1,289,762 

418,940 

1,473,171

1,434,581 

1,459,138 

I,56l,3l8 

1,368,634 

1,413,493

1,596,196 

1,977,198 

1,933,215 

1,599,582 

2,122,107

2,466,614 

2,868,350 

3,142,857 

3,525,675 

3,957,887

3,969,151 

3,496,951 

3,699,743 

3,205,688 

2,237,527 

3,128,026

100,079,060

Owen

15,904

10,690 

22,693 

30,707 

127,283 

111,355

9f;?l8

8 87,378 

* 266,520 

97,115

121,928 

77,345 

40,827 

93,986 

107,671

83,148 

77,794 

22,830 

23,455 

88,936

92,178 

110,571 

142,380 

48,178 

( )

141,680 

211,969 

159,835 

92,561 

( )

30,992

( )

43,319 

222,162 

199,130

1,962 

14,731 

8,741 

15,401 

126,084 

189,307

3,450,064

Parks

649,665 

631,032 

1,155,457 

989,983 

924,001

750,314 

707,027 

655,312 

644,062 

730,082

764,115 

521,567 

523,150 

507,508 

331,845

166,648 

281,697 

387,055 

313,996 

92,912

105,254 

28,249 

116,546 

110,263 

84,534

:i L

18,091 i::

33,435

34,150 

115,203 

113,929 

118,230 

132,949

143,899 

118,957 

122,544 

65,182 

21,995

41,164 

30,644 

95,830

( 'l 

70,605

19,200

1>, 468, 281'

"Figures, 1900-23, from U. S. Geol. Survey, Mineral Resources of the United Ststes; 1924-31, from U. S. Bureau of Mines, Mineral Resources of the United States; 1932- 50, from U. S. Bureau of Mines, Minerals Yearbook. Includes Martin Co. c Includes Martin and Warren Co.. Includes Warren Co. e Small production combined with another county or included in column headed "Other counties.* 'Includes Owen, 

Perry, and Dnbois Co. 8 Includes Perry Co. Includes Crawford Co. 'Exclusive of wagon mine production. 'Wagon mines served by rail. Inclodes Patlce Co. Includes Spencer, Vanderburgh, and Dubois Co.

36
Indiana, 1900-50a (In short tons)

Perry

24,077 

16,822 

21,577 

24,941 

26,218

17,018 

13,261 

17,965 

10,601 

15,603

26,317 

16,683 

15,904 

14,910 

13,800

11,075 j:

( :

15,997 

8,064 

8,500

I:)

9,213 

6,212

!:) 9,515

( ) 

7,508

i-1

ii!

24,110 

26,844

29,881 

41,054 

45,354 

25,465 

8,298

2,450 

2,450 

1,200 

1,220 

3,200

563,307

Pike

245,433 

269,268 

510,017 

505,564 

408,391

^52,396 

497,957 

516,418 

460, 180 

447,122

697,385 

467,623 

559,337 

583,637 

578,693

646,166 

815,304 

983,974 

1,139,412 

1,024,973

1,422,013 

1,035,469 

1,359,328 

I,8l8,324 

2,000,247

2,136,333 

2,597,749 

2,719,593 

1,949,578 

2,484,370

2,709,804 

2,721,304 

2,697,570 

2,068,234 

2,440,081

2,728,767 

3,121,493 

3,208,339 

2,649,045 

3,396,684

3,580,896 

4,253,896 

4,426,500 

3,905,445 

4,197,668

4,093,828 

3,458,8l6 

4,050,615 

3,665,386 

2,603,867 

3,127,263

100,437,755

Spencer

9,106 

18,885 

16,274 

19,948 

17,511

16,935 

19,256 

25,916 

13,206 

11,118

9,096 

9,551 

10,306 

8,479 

8,510

6,695 

6,746 

5,o8i 

8,456 

25,720

32,713 

7,472 

12,740 

6,877 

9,933

CO 

 287,224

( ) 

( ) 

( )

" 225,815 

8 9,714 

8 9,556 

( )

« 11,154 

8,104 

22,046 

81,318 

( )

91,791 

144,940 

121,625 

110,351 

180,254

205,888 

248,350 

221,614 

204,730 

168,408 

84,283

2,773,695

Sullivan

939,989 

910,725 

1,268,945 

1,788,358 

2,061,212

2,571,818 

2,415,847 

2,897,840 

2,602,543 

3,227,515

4,035,934 

3,261,787 

3,091,368 

3,084,419 

2,999,148

2,587,108 

2,763,433 

3,528,902 

4,346,857 

3,096,059

4,523,306 

3,418,435 

3,184,684 

5,510,510 

4,919,197

4,572,830 

4,661,026 

3,588,488 

2,984,478 

2,949,614

2,778,758 

2,257,984 

1,532,541 

2,104,447 

2,288,226

2,261,687 

2,248,518 

1,916,977 

1,393,515 

1,498,804

1,638,087 

2,059,467 

2,094,488 

2,276,089 

3,044,807

3,087,887 

2,844,162 

3,802,850 

3,399,350 

2,360,902 

2,496,945

143,178,866

Vanderburgh

192,532 

193,716 

218,112 

241,088 

258,254

300,112 

302,919 

317,371 

263,171 

271,644

398,293 

279,109 

302,074 

280,522 

288,191

227,331 

330,135 

384,199 

347,440 

264,760

370,993 

224,665 

208,678 

308,584 

287,403

I:( ) 

( )

( ) 

( )

205,444 

135,251

160,649

( ) 

154,174 

151,081 

( ) 

( )

» 106,390 

90,609 

( )

( )

8,064,894

Vertnillion

649,525 

684,253 

718,102 

915,171 

1,068,427

1,302,667 

1,342,478 

1,442,103 

1,142,802 

1,443,099

1,635/623 

1,673,621 

1,547,126 

2,085,311 

2,135,836

2,734,546 

3,420,088 

4,212,638 

4,205,808 

2,844,845

3,551,187 

2,185,886 

2,146,848 

3,247,298 

2,208,293

2,326,337 

2,371,258 

1,922,491 

2,060,776 

2,190,892

1,682,563 

1,433,158 

1,049,310 

1,344,433 

1,268,344

1,091,780 

884,044 

637,538 

524,393 

487,621

562,593 

519,039 

501,138 

472,883 

509,235

399,006 

268,079 

450,303 

558,189 

442,501 

393,719

76,895,204

Vigo

1,151,643 

1,362,041 

1,652,798 

1,826,393 

1,756,250

2,189,603 

2,197,^59 

2,724,743 

2,735,399 

3,562,534

4,181,799 

2,793,352 

3,564,046 

4,237,274 

4,767,828

4,688,838 

5,285,542 

7,303,343 

8,935,376 

5,802,244

8,232,106 

6,364,245 

5,519,218 

6,781,735 

5,079,692

4,781,606 

5,262,588 

3,700,573 

3,364,612 

3,955,684

2,963,978 

2,049,717 

1,578,485 

2,274,609 

2,549,449

2,892,804 

3,561,278 

3,465,691 

2,889,998 

3,279,406

3,903,394 

3,751,630 

4,329,483 

4,655,755 

5,643,213

5,205,128 

4,004,972 

4,315,096 

4,590,215 

3,238,395 

4,426,343

201,329,603

Warrick

249,064 

286,068 

416,062 

435,797 

416,311

447,576 

447,995 

568,522 

482,613 

488,194

768,706 

545,132 

691,475 

685,020 

624,770

577,473 

774,116 

1,169,386 

1,399,746 

781,317

1,583,232 

859,707 

805,310 

986,661 

859,808

891,474 

1,019,639 

1,290,740 

1,767,073 

1,226,712

1,023,355 

860,523 

1,019,202 923,361 883,931

965,516 

1,304,529 

1,358,516 

1,031,027 

1,251,760

1,597,437 

2,611,389 

3,960,521 

3,877,079 

4,375,701

3,920,772 

3,459,445 

4,252,827 

3,892,175 

2,581,776 

3,268,301

71,964,842

Other 

counties and 

small mines

36,000 

36,000 

c 21,037 

* 31,089 

* 34,275

h 32,488 

28,216 

26,775 

23,785 

52,769

38,091 

51,838 

45,595 

60,915 

59,571

. 59,516 

/ 167,993 

78,675 

52,639 

52,358

260,000

1 182,465 

' 91,204

' 237,816

» 402,100 

" 303,808 

° 301,972

" 232,869

' 35,465 

f 25,465 

' 115,730

s 135,971 

' 21,623 

" 40,560 

" 128,141 

" 1,173,348

" 106,277 

* 168,992

b 5,006 

y 1,392,193

z 47,373 b 1,334

? 2,914 

* 1,047

6,403,298

Total

6,484,086 

6,918,225 

9,446,424 

10,734,692 

10,842,189

11,895,252 

12,092,560 

13,985,713 

12,314,890 

14,834,259

18,389,815 

14,201,355 

15,285,718 

17,165,671 

16,641,132

17,006,152 

20,093,528 

26,539,329 

30,678,634 

20,912,288

29,350,585 

20,319,509 

19,132,889 

26,229,099 

21,480,213

21,224,966 

23,186,006 

17,935,758 

16,378,580 

18,344,358

16,489,962 

14,295,165 

13,323,573 

13,761,052 

14,793,643

15,754,214 

17,822,536 

17,764,754 

14,758,484 

16,942,772

18,868,572 

22,483,929 

25,388,051 

25,064,5§3 

27,961,883

25,182,611 

21,696,947 

25,449,097 

23,849,257 

16,549,756 

19,957,029

928,201,745

"includes Vanderburgh Co. "includes Spencer, Vanderburgh, and Perry Co. "includes Spencer, Vanderburgh, and Martin Co. ' Includes Fountain, Parke, and Warren Co. ? Includes Perry and Spencer Co. 'includes 

Fountain, Oven, and Warren Co. S Includes Fountain, Vanderburgh, and Warren Co. Includes Dubois, Martin, and Perry Co. "includes Perry, Warren, and Martin Co. "includes Vanderburgh, Warren, and Martin Co. 

'"includes Gibson, Owen, Spencer, Vanderburgh, Martin, and Warren Co. "includes Martin, Owen, Vanderburgh, and Warren Co. * Includes Fountain, Gibson, and Vanderburgh Co. z Includes Dubois and Vanderburgh Co

37
EXPLANATION

^~ -v» ^ |

Mlssisslppian - Pennsylvania*! 

contact |

E N T 0 N j j

FOUNTAIN/| MONT60MERY

JOHNSON I S HE L

BROWN- [BARTHOLOMEW

JACKSON

_ _______J-T

j_Cj£AW FOR D f 

P j

"1 ("* H A R R I S ON^ 

i ^^\

f W A R R I C K f

r' ' / - /

p 0 S E Y |VANDERBUR^ /S P E N C E Rr

''

40 Miles

Figure 16. Map showing reserves of Coal VII in Indiana. 

38
There are more than 80 loading shovels used in the 

industry ranging in size from 1 to 5 cubic yards. 

Approximately 65 draglines, which vary in size from 

2f to 25 cubic yards, are in use. More than 50 bulldozers of varying sizes and 100 large capacity tractor 

trucks of 18- to 32-ton capacity are employed in the 

industry; numerous smaller trucks are also employed. 

Eleven steam locomotives and three electric locomotives 

pull a total of 110 railroad cars, exclusive of regular 

haulage from the mines by feeder lirife railways.

The average overburden moved is approximately 

35 feet. The maximum overburden stripped in most 

mines is less than 90 feet, but occasionally overburden 

more than 100 feet thick has been moved from small areas.

RECOVERABILITY IN MINING

Underground mining operations in various parts 

of the United States usually have a recovery of not 

more than 50 percent of the original reserves. The 

recovery is dependent on methods and conditions 

existing in the mines. Careful estimations of tonnages 

mined and lost in mining were made during the progress 

of this study. Comparisons of calculated tonnages of 

coal in the ground with actual production tonnages in 

Knox, Vanderburgh, and Warrick Counties show an 

extraction of 5 5 to 60 per cent and a corresponding loss 

of 40 to 45 percent. These calculations were made on 

mines having no wash plant.

Most of the larger mines in the State have wet 

cleaning plants. As impurities are extracted and 

discarded, there also exists another pair of efficiency 

factors. The first is the qualitative efficiency or the 

percentage .loss of impurities removed from the coal. 

The second is the quantitative efficiency or "bankloss" 

which is the loss of coal in the refuse dump in terms 

of feed coal. Neither of these losses are actually 

mining losses, but they contribute to the total coal loss 

and therefore are included in the percentage of loss 

by mining.

Some other factors which contribute sizable loss 

in extraction efficiency are: coal left in the roof, coal 

lost because of faults, and loss of coal between adjacent 

mines and in hazardous mining areas. Certainly these 

and other factors are sufficient to produce final tipple 

production figures showing extraction of not more 

than 50 percent of the original reserves for coal mined 

by underground methods. This convenient figure is 

therefore the one used in computing recoverable reserves of coal to be mined by underground methods.

Roy Kattman (1950), Chief Engineer of Enoco 

Collieries, Inc., estimates mining loss at approximately

40 percent for his company; however, washing losses 

reduce the actual recovery to 50 percent.

H. P. Miller (1951), as sistent to the Chief Engineer, 

Ayrshire Collieries Corporation, has conducted washability studies on samples collected from diamond-drill 

cores on deep reserves of Coals IH, V, VI, and VII 

and estimated the amount of recoverable coal using, the 

washing yield percentages obtained in their laboratories 

and us ing extraction percentages given at the bottom of the 

page. The estimated total recoveries are as follows:

Seam

IIIVVIVIIWashing plant

yield 

percentage

71.8

84.9

76.1

84.5

Extraction 

percentage

50 

55 

55 

55

Total

recovery 

(percent)

36

47 

1 40 

47

1 Includes a 2 percent total loss for clay seams.

The recovery of coal in strip mines is relatively 

high, depending upon mining conditions. Mr. Miller 

(1951) estimates a 10 to 25 percent loss of the attempted 

mined tonnage in strip mines in Indiana. The tabulation 

at the bottom of the page is the recovery cited by 

Miller (1951) for individual strip operations of the 

Ayrshire Collieries. Robert A. McClevey (1951), 

Engineer of Sunlight Coal Corporation, Warrick County, 

estimates a 15 percent loss of the attempted mined 

tonnage on the Millersburg coal bed. Charles R. Barnard 

(1950), Engineer of Enoco Collieries Company, Pike 

County, estimates that usually the loss is 20 percent 

of the attempted mined tonnage on Coal V. The foregoing data from the engineers of three of the largest 

strip-mining organizations in the State suggest that 

80 percent is the average recovery of the coal in the 

ground in strip mining in Indiana; and this convenient 

figure has been used in this report to compute recoverable reserves of strippable coal.

USE OF COAL IN INDIANA

Although Indiana produces more than 20 million 

tons of coal annually, and exports about 25 percent of 

this amount, the coal is not suitable for making 

metallurgical coke. Indiana's thriving steel industry 

is thus dependent upon the Appalachian Basin states 

for coking coal, which is imported in amounts greatly 

exceeding the exports of noncoking coal. A study of the 

distribution and use of coal in the United States during 

1946, prepared by the U. S. Bureau of Mines (1948), 

which takes into account about 90 percent of the total

Recovery in some Indiana strip mines

Sunspot mine, Vermillion County 

Chinook mine, Clay County 

Ayrshire mine, Pike County 

Ayrshire mine, Pike County 

Patoka mine, Pike County 

Patoka mine, Pike County 

Undeveloped Boonville field, Warrick CountyUndeveloped Newburgh field, Warrick CountyUndeveloped Millersburg field, Warrick

County._________________________

No. VII 

No. Ill 

No. V 

No. IV 

No. V 

No. VI 

No. V 

No. V 

Millersburg.

Seam 

Seam 

Seam 

Seam 

Seam 

Seam 

Seam 

Seam 

Seam

75 percent 

75 percent 

90 percent 

85 percent 

90 percent 

80 percent 

80 percent 

80 percent 

80 percent

(Raw)

(Washed)

(Raw)

(Raw)

(Raw)

(Raw)

(Assumed washed

(Assumed washed

(Assumed washed

39
coal production, provides a reasonably accurate 

picture of the movements and use of coal in 

Indiana in that year. The results of this study, 

which are summari-zed in the tabulation at the 

bottom of the page, show that Indiana produced 

nearly 22 million and imported 16 million tons of 

coal in 1946 to make a total of 38 million tons 

produced and imported. Nearly 14 million tons 

of the imported coal was obtained from West 

Virginia, eastern Kentucky, and Virginia, and most 

of this amount was used in byproduct ovens to 

manufacture coke for the steel industry. Of the 

noncoking coal produced in Indiana, nearly 7 million tons was used by railroads in Indiana, and 

surrounding States and Canada; and 5 million tons 

was shipped to surrounding States, particularly 

Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota, for use 

other than by railroads. The remainder was used 

for heat, light,- and power by industry, for the 

production of electricity by the utilities, and for 

domestic heating.

Although the use of coal as a source of energy in 

Indiana has decreased somewhat in recent years owing 

to the availability of natural gas and fuel oil, a relatively large proportion of the energy produced in 

Indiana is obtained from coal. A breakdown of the use 

of bituminous coal and competing fuels prepared by 

the Bituminous Coal Institute (1951, p. 96) shows that 

of the total energy used in Indiana in 1949, bituminous 

coal supplied 72. 3 percent; fuel oil, 20.0 percent; 

natural gas, 7.1 percent; and hydroelectric power, 

0. 6 percent.

The coal of egg and nut sizes is used by the 

railroads. Nut and slack sizes are largely used by 

general industries and electric generating plants throughout Indiana and in the several surrounding States. Both 

coarse and small sizes are used by other phases of 

general industry. Large quantities of specially washed 

coal are consumed by household stokers.and small 

industries. Locally, small mines produce mine-run 

and unprepared screened coal for household use.

Coal produced and used In Indiana In 1946

(Sources: U. S. Bur. Mines, L948a, b)

Origin Produced or imported (tons) 

Produced in Indiana.................................................................. 21,696,947

Imported from:

West Virginia, Virginia, and eastern Kentucky.................. 13,738,744

Illinois........................................................ 1,989,664

Western Kentucky............................................... 414,594

Pennsylvania................................................... 209,516

Ohio........................................................... 147,426

iTotal imported.............................................................. 16,499,944

Total produced and imported..................................................... 38,196,891

Destination Used "by railroads or 

exported (tons)

Used "by railroads in Indiana, surrounding States, and Canada......................... 6,877,142

Exported to:

Illinois....................................................... 3,330,446

Wisconsin....

Iowa.........

Minnesota....

Michigan.....

Lake ports... 

Ohio.........

Kentucky.....

Missouri.....

South Dakota. 

Nebraska.....

Kansas.......

728,665

620,881

118,399

101,930

61,790

30,832

5,907

4,843

2,143

1,543

103

Total exported............................................................. 5,007,482

Total used by railroads and exported.................................. 11,884,624

Total used in Indiana "by other than railroads......................... 26,312,267

Total used in Indiana, and exported............................................. 38,196,891

40
CONCLUSIONS

On the basis of the conservative estimate of reserves presented herein, it is apparent that Indiana's 

coal supplies are more than adequate for the foreseeable future.

Because of the many variable factors that must 

be taken into account, however, it is impossible to 

estimate the life expectancy of the reserves with any 

satisfactory degree of accuracy. These factors include 

the observed increase in population and use of energy 

in this country, the ready interchangeability of fuels 

at most installations, the variations in efficiency in 

the recovery and use of fuels, the availability of petroleum from other continents, and the possibility of 

new fuels being developed or old fuels being exhausted.

If, for example, it should become desirable to manufacture synthetic liquid fuels from coal, the needs for 

coal will be enormous, for our use of liquid fuels is 

very great, and half of the energy in coal is consumed 

in the conversion. Nevertheless, it is possible to 

make interesting comparisons between present rates 

of production and the total estimated recoverable 

reserves.

Taking into account only beds 14 inches or more 

thick for strippable reserves and beds 28 inches or 

more thick for nonstrippable reserves, and using the 

1947 peak production rate of 14 million tons for strip 

mined coal, and the 1918 peak production rate of 

29 million tons for deep mined coal as the assumed 

average rates of production of these two classes 

of coal in the future, the following are obtained:

Relation of maximum annual production to total estimated, recoverable reserves in Indiana

Class of reserves

Strippable (Beds 14 inches or more thick under 

thin overburden) 

Nonstrippable (Beds 28 inches or more thick

rp/i'hfll ____ ___

Years of

Measured

ryQ 

70

-A- 561

134

production £

Indicated

63

-11 O

-t Q-i

it rates ass

Inferred

28

362

370

jumed

Total

169

536

«-7/-\r~ ?ob

It is therefore apparent that Indiana has recoverable strippable coal reserves sufficient to supply the 

needs of several generations, and that the recoverable 

reserves of coal in more deeply buried beds are at 

least 3 times that of the strippable reserves. These 

reserves vary considerably in accessibility, and only 

the measured reserves in the thicker beds are regarded 

as being immediately available. The total reserves in 

all categories, however, give comfortable assurance 

that the needs of the State for noncoking coal can be 

met in any emergency for many years to come.

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY

Ashley, G. H., 1899, Coal deposits of Indiana: Indiana 

Dept. Geol. and Nat. Res. 23d Ann. Rept.

_______ 1902, The eastern interior coal field:

U. S. Geol. Survey 22d Ann. Rept. pt. Ill, p. 265-305. 

1909, Supplementary report on the coal

deposits of Indiana: Indiana Dept. Geol. and Nat. 

Res. 33d Ann. Rept.

1910,. Stratigraphy and coal beds of the

Indiana coal field: U. S. Geol. Survey Bull. 381a, 

p. 9-18.

1918, Cannel coal in the United States:

U. S. Geol. Survey Bull. 659, p. 20. 

Bituminous Coal Institute, 1950, Bituminous Coal

Annual: 200 p.

_______ 1951, Bituminous Coal Annual: 204 p. 

Cady, G. H., 1944, Coal resources based on information obtained from rotary drilling: Illinois Geol.

Sur. Rept. of Investigations 93, p. 33-87. 

Campbell, M. R., and Leverett, Frank, 1900,

Danville quadrangle: U. S. Geol. Survey Folio 67. 

1913, Coal reserves of the United States:

Coal resources of the world, Morang & Co., Toronto,

v. 2, p. 534-535.

Coal Trades Association of Indiana, 1951, Report of

coal production by rail shipping mines in the state

of Indiana during calendar years 1917 to 1950. 

Collett, John, 1871, Second Report of the Geological

Survey of Indiana for 1870, p. 199-200, 208. 

_______ 1884, Thirteenth Annual Report: Indiana

Dept. Geol. and Nat. History, p. 61-62. 

Cox, E. T., 1876, Seventh Annual Report of the

Geol. Survey of Indiana for 1875, p. 95-109. 

Crider, A. F., 1913, Economic geology of the Tell

City and Owensboro quadrangle: Kentucky Geol.

Survey 1st Ann. Rept., Ser. 4, v. 1, para. 1,

p. 263-316. 

Cumings, E. R., 1922, Nomenclature and description

of the geological formations of Indiana, in Handbook

of Indiana Geology: Indiana Dept. Cons. Pub. 21,

pt. 4, p. 403-570. 

Eavenson, H. N., 1942, The first century and a

quarter of American coal industry, Privately printed,

Koppers Building, Pittsburgh, Pa., p. 275-285. 

Fuller, M. L., and Ashley, G. H., 1902a, Ditney

quadrangle: U. S. Geol. Survey Folio 84. 

_______ 1902b, Recent work in the coal field of

Indiana and Illinois: U. S. Geol. Survey Bull. 213,

p. 284-293.

Fuller, M. L., and Clapp, F. G., 1904, Patoka quadrangle: U. S. Geol. Survey Folio 105. 

Hopkins, T. C., 1896, Carboniferous sandstones of

western Indiana: Indiana Dept. Geol. and Nat. Res.

20th Ann. Rept., p. 188-327. 

Huchinson, F. M., 1912, Geology and coals in the

Central City, Madisonville, Calhoun, and Newburg

quadrangles of the western coal field: Kentucky

Geol. Survey Bull. 19. 

Kottlowski, Frank E., Geology and coal deposits

of Dugger quadrangle, Sullivan County, Indiana:

U. S. Geol. Survey Coal Ihv. Map C-ll (in

press).

41
Kugler, Harry, 1951, The structure and stratigraphy

of the Alfordsville area, Daviess County, Indiana:

thesis on file at Indiana University, Geology

Department Library. 

Lesquereux, Leo, 1862, Report on the distribution of

the geological strata in the coal measures of Indiana,

in Report of a geological reconnaissance of Indiana

EyR. Owen, p. 279, 294-297. 

Logan, W. N. , 1922, Economic geology of Indiana,

in Handbook of Indiana geology: Indiana Dept. Cons.

Pub. 21, pt. 5, p. 571-1058. 

_______ 1932, Geologic map of Indiana: Indiana

Dept. Cons., Div. Geology, Pub. 112. 

Malott, C. A., 1922, The physiography of Indiana,

in Handbook of Indiana geology: Indiana Dept. Cons.

Pub. 21, pt. 2, p. 59-256.

1948, The geology of the Dicksburg Hills,

Knox County, Indiana: Indiana Acad. Sci. Proc. ,

v. 57. 

Moore, R. C., Wanless, H. R. , and Weller, J. M. ,

et al. , 1944, Correlation of<Pennsylvanian formations of North 'America: Geol. Soc. America Bull. ,

v. 55. 

Newsom, J. F. , 1903, A geologic and topographic

section across southern Indiana: Indiana Dept. Geol.

and Nat. Res. 26th Ann. Rept. , p. 227-302. 

Nicolls, W. J. , 1897, The story of American coals. 

U. S. Bureau of Mines, 1920, Analyses of Indiana

coals: Tech. Paper 417.

, Analyses of Illinois coals: Tech.

U. S. Bureau of Mines, Minerals Yearbooks, annual 

volumes.

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Soc. America Bull., v. 43, p. 1003-1016.

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UNPUBLISHED REPORTS

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42 IHT.-DW. JSWJ.. WASH., D.C. S1Z81