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Terms
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Description
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Accessed
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Coal
deposits that have been prepared for mining by construction
of portals, shafts, slopes, drifts, and haulage ways; by
removal of overburden; or by partial mining (see also virgin
coal).
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Accessibility
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In
reference to coal resources (core meaning), the absence of
land use restrictions and the assumption that ownership or
leaseholds will be obtainable for mining (see also
environmental restrictions, industrial restrictions). Many
technological restrictions were traditionally applied as
demonstrated reserve base criteria, but (extended meaning)
with the advent of available resource studies, specific
technologic restrictions may be incorporated in
accessibility factors (see also restricted resources).
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Accessibility
Factor
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The
estimated ratio of accessible reserve base to the
demonstrated reserve base or of accessible resources to
identified resources.
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Accessible
Reserve Base
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The
portion of the demonstrated reserve base estimated by EIA to
be accessible, determined by application of one or more
accessibility factors within an area. An accessible reserve
base may be referred to as accessible resources because it
is a subset of accessible resources and is usually part of a
single resource study.
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Accessible
Resources
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The
portion of identified resources estimated to be accessible,
determined by application of one or more accessibility
factors within an area.
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Acid Deposition
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The
transfer of acids or acid-forming substances from the
atmosphere to the earth's surface. Referred to as wet
deposition when the transfer occurs through precipitation
(rain, snow, fog); and dry deposition when the transfer
occurs through other processes such as absorption,
impaction, sedimentation, and chemical reaction.
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Acid sensitive
Environments
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Environments,
which can be easily damaged by acid deposition. Some
environments have natural buffering capabilities that allow
them to neutralize significant amounts of acid deposition.
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Agglomerating
Character
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Agglomeration
describes the caking properties of coal. Agglomerating
character is determined by examination and testing of the
residue when a small powdered sample is heated to 950
degrees centigrade under specified conditions. If the sample
is "agglomerating," the residue will be coherent,
show swelling or cell structure, and be capable of
supporting a 500-gram weight without pulverizing.
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Agglomeration
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A
family of processes that can be used to concentrate valuable
minerals (including coal) based on their adhesive
properties.
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American
Indian Coal Lease
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A
lease granted to a mining company to produce coal from
American Indian lands in exchange for royalties and other
revenues; obtained by direct negotiation with Indian tribal
authorities, but subject to approval and administration by
the U.S. Department of the Interior.
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Anthracite
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Coal
of the highest rank; it is almost pure carbon and is used
mainly for home heating and cooking in some developing
countries industrial purposes.
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Appalachian
Region:
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See
Coal-Producing Regions.
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Area
(Surface) Mining
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A
method used on flat terrain to recover coal by mining long
cuts or pits successively. The material excavated from the
cut being mined is deposited in the cut previously mined.
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Ash
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Impurities
consisting of silica, iron, alumina, and other incombustible
matter that are contained in coal. Ash increases the weight
of coal, adds to the cost of handling, and can affect the
burning characteristics. Ash content is measured as a
percent by weight of coal on an "as received" or a
"dry" (moisture-free) basis.
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As-Received
Condition or As-Received Basis
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Represents
an analysis of a sample as received at a laboratory.
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Auger
Mine
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A
surface mine where coal is recovered through the use of a
large-diameter drill driven into a coalbed in a hillside. It
usually follows contour surface mining, particularly when
the overburden is too costly to excavate.
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Availability
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In
reference to coal resources, the absence of land-use or
environmental restrictions and technological restrictions.
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Available
Resources
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In
U.S. Geological Survey studies, the quantity of remaining
identified resources available for development and potential
extraction at the time of determination after adjusting for
geologic considerations, land-use restrictions, and/or
technological restrictions (see also accessible reserve
base).
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Average
Annual Percent Change
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Where:
V0 = the value for the base period.
V= the value for the N period.
n = the number of periods.
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Average
Daily Production
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The
ratio of the total production at a mining operation to the
total number of production days worked at the operation.
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Average
Length of a Shift
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The
arithmetic mean number of hours worked during a production
shift. Overtime is included if usually worked during the
year.
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Average
Mine Price
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The
ratio of the total value of the coal produced at the mine to
the total production tonnage. (See F.O.B. mine price.)
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Average
Number of Employees
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That
means number of employees working each day at a mining
operation. Includes maintenance, office, as well as
production-related employees.
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Average
Number of Employees per Shift
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The
arithmetic mean number of employees working during a shift.
Includes all employees except office workers. (See direct
labor hours.)
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Average
Number of Miners Working Daily
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The
arithmetic mean number of miners working each day at a
mining operation. Includes maintenance as well as production
work performed.
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Average
Number of Shifts per Day
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The
arithmetic mean number of shifts each day at a mining
operation. Includes maintenance as well as production
shifts.
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Average
Open Market Sales Price
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The
ratio of the total value of the open market sales of coal
produced at the mine to the total open market sales tonnage.
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Average
Production per Miner per Day
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The
product of the average production per miner per hour at a
mining operation and the average length of a shift at the
operation.
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Average
Production per Miner per Hour
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The
ratio of total production at a mining operation to the total
direct labor hours worked at the operation.
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Average
Production per Miner per Shift
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Calculated
by multiplying average production per miner per hour by the
average length of a miner shift.
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Average
Quality of Coal
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Refers
to individual measurements such as heat value, fixed carbon,
moisture, ash, sulfur, major, minor, and trace elements,
coking properties, petrologic properties, and particular
organic constituents. The individual quality elements may be
aggregated in various ways to classify coal for such special
purposes as metallurgical, gas, petrochemical, and blending
usages.
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Average
Recovery Percentage
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Average
recovery percentage represents the percentage of coal that
can be recovered from coal reserves at reporting mines,
averaged for all mines in the reported geographic area.
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Barge Loader
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A port
facility where coal barges are loaded.
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Bed,
Coalbed
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All
the coal and partings lying between a roof and floor.
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Bench
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A
subdivision and (or) layer of a coal bed separated from
other layers by partings of non-coal rock.
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Bituminous
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an
intermediate ranked coal between anthracite and
sub-bituminous coal. It has a high carbon content and is low
in moisture content. Bituminous coal can be used for both
steel making and power generation. Low and medium volatile
bituminous coals are ranked by their carbon content, while
high volatile bituminous coals are ranked by their heating
value.
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Bituminous
Coal
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A
dense coal, usually black, sometimes dark brown, often with
well-defined bands of bright and dull material, used
primarily as fuel in steam-electric power generation, with
substantial quantities also used for heat and power
applications in manufacturing and to make coke. Bituminous
coal is the most abundant coal in active U.S. mining
regions. Its moisture content usually is less than 20
percent. The heat content of bituminous coal ranges from 21
to 30 million Btu per ton on a moist, mineral-matter-free
basis. The heat content of bituminous coal consumed in the
United States averages 24 million Btu per ton, on the
as-received basis (i.e., containing both inherent moisture
and mineral matter).
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Boiler
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A tank
in which water is heated or steam is generated.
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Brand
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The name
given to a particular coal product. Each brand has its
unique specification.
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Breaker
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A
machine that combines coal crushing and screening. Normally
consists of a rotating drum in which coal is broken by
gravity impact against the walls of the drum.
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Breeze
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The
fine screenings from crushed coke. Usually breeze will pass
through a 1/2-inch or 3/4-inch screen opening. It is most
often used as a fuel source in the process of agglomerating
iron ore.
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Btu
(British thermal unit)
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The
amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of 1 pound of
water by 1 degree Fahrenheit. The Btu is a convenient
measure by which to compare the energy content of various
fuels.
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Carbon
Dioxide
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A colorless, odorless, non-toxic
radiative gas that is essential to plant and animal life. It
is also emitted as a result of burning organic materials,
including fossil fuels.
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Cannel
Coal
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A
compact, tough variety of coal, originating from organic
spore residues, that is non-caking, contains a high
percentage of volatile matter, ignites easily, and burns
with a luminous smoky flame.
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Capacity
Utilization
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Capacity
utilization is computed by productive capacity and
multiplying by 100.
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Captive
Coal
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Coal
produced and consumed by the mine operator, a subsidiary, or
parent company (for example, steel companies and electric
utilities).
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Carbon
Dioxide (CO2)
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A
colorless, odorless, incombustible gas formed during
combustion in fossil-fuel electric generation plants.
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Census
Divisions
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The
nine geographic divisions of the United States established
by the Bureau of the Census, U.S. Department of Commerce for
statistical analysis. The boundaries of Census divisions
coincide with State boundaries. In some cases, the Pacific
Division is subdivided into the Pacific Contiguous and
Pacific Noncontiguous areas.
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Central
Appalachian Region
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See
Coal-Producing Regions.
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CFR
or C&F
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Cost and
freight. The word cost signifies the price of the goods as
loaded and to which is added the freight to get the goods to
the destination. The term is used with the name of the
destination port, eg. CFR Hamburg.
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Charcoal
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The residue, primarily carbon,
from the partial combustion of wood or other organic matter.
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Chatterer
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A person
or corporation who hires a vessel for the carriage of goods
(either a time charter or voyage charter, or leases the
vessel for their own management and control (a
bareboat/demise charter).
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CIF
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Cost,
insurance and freight. Basically the same as C&F but the
seller must also procure insurance against the risk of loss
or damage during the voyage. The seller contracts with the
insurer, pays the insurance premium, and then includes this
in the price of the goods.
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Clean-Coal
Technologies
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Technologies that allow coal-based
power or electricity generation to have improved
environmental performance, through decreased emissions.
These technologies decrease emissions by using coal in a
more efficient and cost-effective manner.
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Climate
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the long-term / overall weather of an area. Climate therefore, is the
cumulative grouping of separate weather patterns. (see
weather)
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Coal
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A fossil fuel composed mostly of carbon, with traces of hydrogen,
nitrogen, sulphur and other elements.
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Coal
Carbonized
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The
amount of coal decomposed into solid coke and gaseous
products by heating in a coke oven in a limited air supply
or in the absence of air.
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Coal
(coke)
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See
Coke (coal).
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Coal Desulphurization
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Removal of sulphur from coal or
coal gas.
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Coal
Exports
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Amount
of U.S. coal shipped to foreign destinations, as reported in
the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Census,
"Monthly Report EM 545."
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Coal
Financial Reporting Regions
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A geographic
classification of areas with coal resources, which is used
for financial reporting of coal statistics.
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Coal
Gasification
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Any of a variety of processes by
which coal is converted to a gas.
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Coal
Imports
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Amount
of foreign coal shipped to the United States, as reported in
the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census,
"Monthly Report IM 145."
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Coal
Mining Productivity
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Coal
mining productivity is calculated by dividing total coal
production by the total direct labor hours worked by all
mine employees.
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Coal
Preparation/Washing
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The
treatment of coal to reject waste. In its broadest sense,
preparation is any processing of mined coal to prepare it
for market, including crushing and screening or sieving the
coal to reach a uniform size, which normally results in
removal of some non-coal material. The term coal preparation
most commonly refers to processing, including crushing and
screening, passing the material through one or more
processes to remove impurities, sizing the product, and
loading for shipment. Many of the processes separate rock,
clay, and other minerals from coal in a liquid medium; hence
the term washing is widely used. In some cases coal passes
through a drying step before loading.
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Coal-Producing
Regions
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