U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CD-ROM BASED NATIONAL COAL ASSESSMENT FOR USE IN UNDERGRADUATE GEOLOGY LABORATORIES

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is in the process of completing a National coal resource assessment, the results of which are being published as digitally formatted CD-Rom products. The products are available at no cost from the USGS, Denver, Colorado. They are well suited for use in undergraduate geology, particularly in curricula addressing the accumulation, mining, and utilization of coal resources. The USGS’s 1999 Resource Assessment of Selected Tertiary Coal Beds and Zones in the Northern Rocky Mountains and Great Plains Region, Professional Paper 1625-A, is an example of these products. It is an excellent resource for introducing students to the geologic and economic controls on coal utilization, for developing their skills in problem-solving, and for evaluating real geologic data. Coal resource assessments are conducted to determine the quantity, quality, and minability of coal resources likely to be used within 20-30 years. The assessment is critical because (1) the utilization of coal, particularly for the generation of electrical power, is rising, (2) coal used in power generation needs to be low sulfur, low ash, and compliant with Federal environmental standards, and (3) the supply of coal that meets both socio-economic and environmental standards is being rapidly depleted. Utilization of USGS Professional Paper 1625-A can help students understand coal quality criteria and the location of quality coal resources in the northern Rocky Mountains and Great Plains regions. Environmental standards imposed on coal utilization and why Tertiary coal from the Fort Union Formation meets coal quality and utilization standards can also be explored. Examples of introductory laboratory exercises utilizing USGS Professional Paper 1625-A are provided as a demonstration of the appropriateness of digital data products for undergraduate education. A National coal assessment that is grounded in sound geologic principles provides a valuable tool by which students can be introduced to current and future coal utilization issues.