List of coalfields

Last updated May 25, 2025

A coalfield is an area of certain uniform characteristics where coal is mined. The criteria for determining the approximate boundary of a coalfield are geographical and cultural, in addition to geological. A coalfield often groups the seams of coal, railroad companies, cultural groups, and watersheds and other geographical considerations. At one time the coalfield designation was an important category in business and industrial discussions. The terminology declined into unimportance as the 20th century progressed, and was probably only referred to by a few small railroads and history buffs by the 1980s. Renewed interest in industrial heritage and coal mining history has brought the old names of the coalfields before a larger audience.

Australia

New South Wales

Gunnedah Basin coalfields
Hunter Valley coalfields
South Maitland coalfields
Sydney Basin coalfields

Queensland

Bowen Basin coalfields
Galilee Basin coalfields
Surat Basin coalfields
Walloon coalfields

Victoria

Latrobe Valley coalfields

Western Australia

Collie coalfields

Belgium

Borinage Coalfield (Middle Ages – 1973)
Campine Coalfield (1917–1992)
Centre Coalfield (Middle Ages – 1973)
Charleroi Coalfield (Middle Ages – 1984)
Liege Coalfield (Middle Ages – 1980)

Canada

Coalfields of Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and Northern France CoalDNLBF.png — Coalfields of Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and Northern France

China

Colombia

Colombia has the largest coal reserves in Latin America and is a major exporter.

France

Aumance Coalfield
Blanzy Coalfield
Brassac Coalfield
Carmaux Coalfield
Champagnac Coalfield
Dauphiné Coalfield
Decazeville Coalfield
Epinac Coalfield
Gard Coalfield
Hérault Coalfield
Loire Coalfield
Lorraine Coalfield (1820–2004)
La Machine Coalfield
Messeix Coalfield
Nord-Pas-de-Calais Coalfield (1852–1990)
Provence Coalfield
St Eloi Coalfield

Germany

Aachen Coalfield

Erkelenz Coalfield (1914–1997)
Inde Coalfield (Middle Ages – 1944)
Wurm Coalfield (Middle Ages – 1992)

Ibbenbüren Coalfield (Middle Ages – 2018)
Lugau-Oelsnitz Coalfield (1844–1971)
Ruhr Coalfield (Middle Ages – 2018)
Saar Coalfield (Middle Ages – 2012)
Zwickau Coalfield (Middle Ages – 1979)

Great Britain

^[1]

England

Burnley Coalfield
South Lancashire Coalfield

Cheshire Coalfield
Manchester Coalfield
Oldham Coalfield
St Helens Coalfield
Wigan Coalfield

South Yorkshire Coalfield

Wales

Japan

Hokkaidō

Ishikari coalfield
Kayanuma coalfield
Kushiro coalfield
Rumoi coalfield
Tenpoku coalfield

Kyūshū

The Netherlands

Limburg Coalfield (Middle Ages – 1974)
Peel Coalfield (1955–1962)

New Zealand

Pakistan

Thar Coalfield

Poland

Lower Silesia Coalfield
Lublin Coalfield
Upper Silesian Coal Basin

Russia

Ulug-Khem coal basin

South Africa

Ermelo Coalfield ^[7]
Highveld Coalfield ^[7]
Klip River Coalfield ^[7]
Utrecht Coalfield ^[7]
Waterberg Coalfield ^[7]
Witbank Coalfield ^[7]

Ukraine

Bogdanovskoye coalfield
Dnieper Coalfield (lignite)
Donets Coalfield, sometimes known by its misnomer Donetsk Coalfield
Lviv-Volhynian Coalfield

United States

Illinois

Indiana

Southwestern Indiana

Iowa

Appanoose-Wayne Coalfield
Eldora Coalfield
Fort Dodge Coalfield
Walnut Creek Coalfield

Kansas

Pittsburg-Weir Coalfield

Kentucky

Cicinnatti-Southern Coalfield
Cumberland Gap Coalfield
Elkhorn Coalfield
Harlan Coalfield
Hazard Coalfield
Jellico Coalfield
Kenova Coalfield
Paintsville Coalfield
Thacker Coalfield
West Kentucky Coalfield

Maryland

Cassellman Coalfield
Georges Creek Coalfield
Lower Youghiogheny Coalfield
Upper Potomac Coalfield
Upper Youghiogheny Coalfield

North Carolina

Ohio

Amsterdam-Salineville Coalfield
Cambridge Coalfield
Coshocton Coalfield
Crooksville Coalfield
Federal Creek Coalfield
Goshen Coalfield
Hocking Coalfield
Ironton Coalfield
Jackson Coalfield
Lisbon Coalfield
Massillion Coalfield
Meigs Creek Coalfield
Palmyra Coalfield
Pittsburgh No. 8 Coalfield
Pomeroy Coalfield

Oklahoma

Arkoma Basin Coalfield
Northeastern Shelf Coalfield
Oklahoma Coalfield

Oregon

Coos Bay Coalfield

Tennessee

Cumberland Gap Coalfield
Jellico Coalfield
Lafollette Coalfield
Rockwood Coalfield
Soddy Coalfield
Wartburg Coalfield

Utah

Blacktail Coalfield
Book Cliffs Coalfield
Castlegate Coalfield
Coalville Coalfield
Emery Coalfield
Harmony Coalfield
Henry Mountains Coalfield
Kaiporonitis Plateau Coalfield
Kolob Plateau Coalfield
Sunnyside Coalfield
Teton Basin Coalfield
Vernal Coalfield
Wasatch Plateau

Virginia

Buchanan Coalfield
Clinch Valley Coalfield
Pocahontas Coalfield
Richmond Coalfield
Southwestern Coalfield (Big Stone Gap Coalfield)
Valley Coalfield (anthracite)

West Virginia

Wyoming

Bighorn Coalfield
Black Hills Coalfield
Goshen Hole Coalfield
Green River Coalfield
Hams Fork Coalfield
Hanna Coalfield
Jackson Hole Coalfield
Powder River Coalfield (aka Gillette Coalfield)
Rock Creek Coalfield
Wind River Coalfield

Venezuela

Guasare coalfield

References

"COAL". Pakistaneconomist.com. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
"Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation". www.pmdc.gov.pk. Archived from the original on 26 August 2001. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
"Coal Mining in Pakistan – Overview". Mbendi.co.za. 10 October 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2017.</ref>
<ref> "Archived copy". www.pakistan.gov.pk. Archived from the original on 24 October 2007. Retrieved 14 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
"USTDA Grant to Support Integrated Coal Mining, Power Generation Project in Pakistan - U.S. Embassy Islamabad Pakistan". islamabad.usembassy.gov. Archived from the original on 2 November 2007. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
Lesher, C.E. State of Kentucky – Coalfields and Producing Districts (Map). Scale 1:1,000,000. Washington D.C. U.S. Geological Survey. 1919
Lesher, C.E. State of West Virginia and Part of Maryland – Coalfields and Producing Districts (Map). Scale 1:1,000,000. Washington D.C. U.S. Geological Survey. 1919
Lesher, C.E. State of Ohio – Coalfields and Producing Districts (Map). Scale 1:1,000,000. Washington D.C. U.S. Geological Survey. 1919
Lesher, C.E. State of Pennsylvania – Coalfields and Producing Districts (Map). Scale 1:1,000,000. Washington D.C. U.S. Geological Survey. 1919
Lesher, C.E. State of Virginia – Coalfields and Producing Districts (Map). Scale 1:1,000,000. Washington D.C. U.S. Geological Survey. 1919
Lesher, C.E. State of Tennessee – Coalfields and Producing Districts (Map). Scale 1:1,000,000. Washington D.C. U.S. Geological Survey. 1919
Lesher, C.E. State of Alabama and Part of Georgia – Coalfields and Producing Districts (Map). Scale 1:1,000,000. Washington D.C. U.S. Geological Survey. 1919

Notes

↑ "BGS Report, single column layout" (PDF). Nora.nerc.ac.uk. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
↑ "A lithostratigraphical framework for the Carboniferous successions of southern Great Britain (onshore)" (PDF). Nora.nerc.ac.uk. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). www.og.decc.gov.uk. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 May 2015. Retrieved 14 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
↑ "UK COAL RESOURCE FOR NEW EXPLOITATION TECHNOLOGIES : Mining and New Technologies Summary Map" (PDF). Ukogl.org.uk. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
↑ E. G. POOLE (6 August 1971). "The Oxfordshire Coalfield" . Nature. 232 (5310): 394–395. Bibcode:1971Natur.232..394P. doi:10.1038/232394a0. PMID 16063056 . Retrieved 26 January 2017.
↑ Kingsley G. Dunham And Einar G. Poole (21 February 1974). "The Oxfordshire Coalfield". Jgs.lyellcollection.org. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
1 2 3 4 5 6 "About SA coalfields". Keaton Energy. Archived from the original on 14 June 2009. Retrieved 15 January 2010.

External links

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[1] "BGS Report, single column layout" (PDF). Nora.nerc.ac.uk. Retrieved 26 January 2017.

[2] "A lithostratigraphical framework for the Carboniferous successions of southern Great Britain (onshore)" (PDF). Nora.nerc.ac.uk. Retrieved 26 January 2017.

[3] "Archived copy" (PDF). www.og.decc.gov.uk. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 May 2015. Retrieved 14 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

[4] "UK COAL RESOURCE FOR NEW EXPLOITATION TECHNOLOGIES : Mining and New Technologies Summary Map" (PDF). Ukogl.org.uk. Retrieved 26 January 2017.

[5] E. G. POOLE (6 August 1971). "The Oxfordshire Coalfield" . Nature. 232 (5310): 394–395. Bibcode:1971Natur.232..394P. doi:10.1038/232394a0. PMID 16063056 . Retrieved 26 January 2017.

[6] Kingsley G. Dunham And Einar G. Poole (21 February 1974). "The Oxfordshire Coalfield". Jgs.lyellcollection.org. Retrieved 26 January 2017.

[keaton-sacoal-7] 1 2 3 4 5 6 "About SA coalfields". Keaton Energy. Archived from the original on 14 June 2009. Retrieved 15 January 2010.

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v t e Coal
Coal types by grade (lowest to highest)	Xylit Peat ¹ Lignite Sub-bituminous coal Bituminous coal Anthracite Graphite ¹
Coal combustion	Ash pond Asian brown cloud Asthma Black coal equivalent Char Charcoal Coal combustion products fired power station gas phase-out pollution mitigation power in China power in the United States preparation plant seam fire tar Coke Coking Energy value Flue gas Fly ash Fossil fuel Fossil fuel phase-out Great Smog of London Greenhouse gas emissions Metallurgical coal NOx Smog Sulfur dioxide Toxic heavy metals
Coal mining	Blackdamp Black lung disease Coal dust Coalfields Coal gas homogenization liquefaction mining disasters in the United States mining region refuse slurry town Environmental issues in Appalachia Environmental justice and coal mining in Appalachia Firedamp Health and environmental impact of the coal industry Health effects of coal ash History of coal mining Hydrogen sulfide Mining regions Outbursts Peak coal Problems in coal mining Refined coal Whitedamp
Note: [1] Peat is considered a precursor to coal. Graphite is only technically considered a coal type.