Coal Reserves of the Matewan Quadrangle, Kentucky - A Coal Recoverability Study

This report presents a US Bureau of Mines study that incorporates coal mining factors, coal recovery factors, and economic factors into the definition of an economically recoverable coal resource. The relationship between these factors to the Energy Information Administration's estimate of US coal resources -- the [open quotes]Demonstrated Reserve Base[close quotes] -- is discussed. The Matewan 7-1/2 minute quadrangle in eastern Kentucky was selected as the initial study area. Results indicate that of the original 1,193 million tons of resource in the quadrangle, only 89 million tons (7.5%) are economically recoverable at a cost of $25 per ton or less. At the current production rate of 5.3 million tons per year, this represents only 16.8 years of remaining reserves.