Penn State Coal Database WWW Subset Glossary

This WWW implementation contains a subset of the records and fields in the full Penn State Coal Database. Five hundred seventy-eight whole-seam, working-section and run-of-mine samples with a basic set of analyses were selected from the 1468 samples in the full Database. Thirty-one of the most important descriptive and analytical values were chosen from the 447 fields. The other samples and data fields in the full database can be accessed, and subsamples can be acquired, through COPL.

PSOC: Samples collected beginning in 1967 received numbers in the PSOC- (Penn State/ Office of Coal Research) series. Letter suffixes were also used: P indicates a premium sample, small splits of which were sealed in glass ampoules; W indicates a washed (beneficiated) sample; A, B, C, and D in association with early sample numbers indicate lithotype samples; D in association with PSOC numbers in the 1440-1508 range was used in a U.S. Dept. of Energy study involving micronized particle size fractions, but does not signify a difference from the normal PSOC sample.

DECS: In 1989, as a result of research in coal sample preservation, improved sample storage and handling methods were implemented and the DECS (Department of Energy Coal Sample) sample designation was introduced. DECS samples are placed in steel drums with high-density lid gaskets and purged with argon at the time of collection. Following crushing and subsampling, all sample splits are sealed under argon in foil/polyethylene multilaminate bags which have demonstrated the ability to preserve coal sample properties.

Coal rank is determined following the general procedure of ASTM Standard D-388. For calculations to a moisture-containing basis, if equilibrium moisture content is known, it is used; otherwise, as-received moisture is used. Penn State codes (used for searching the database) and corresponding abbreviations for ASTM coal ranks are:

1 ma meta-anthracite
2 an anthracite
3 sa semianthracite
4 lvb low volatile bituminous
5 mvb medium volatile bituminous
6 hvAb high volatile A bituminous
7 hvBb high volatile B bituminous
8 hvCb high volatile C bituminous
9 subA subbituminous A
10 subB subbituminous B
11 subC subbituminous C
12 lig (ligA & ligB) lignite

Abbreviations used for coal-producing states of the U.S. are:

AL Alabama
AK Alaska
AZ Arizona
AR Arkansas
CA California
CO Colorado
GA Georgia
ID Idaho
IL Illinois
IN Indiana
IA Iowa
KS Kansas
KY Kentucky
LA Louisiana
MD Maryland
MI Michigan
MS Mississippi
MO Missouri
MT Montana
NB Nebraska
NV Nevada
NM New Mexico
NC North Carolina
ND North Dakota
OH Ohio
OK Oklahoma
OR Oregon
PA Pennsylvania
SD South Dakota
TN Tennessee
TX Texas
UT Utah
VA Virginia
WA Washington
WV West Virginia
WY Wyoming

In some areas, more than one series of names may be used for the same series of coal seams. In Pennsylvania, both a name series (e.g. Brookville, Lower Kittanning, Upper Freeport) and a letter series (Pennsylvania A, B, E) are in use for some seams. In Ohio, the same seams may be designated with numbers (Ohio #4, #5, #7). In Illinois, some seams have both numbers and names (e.g. Illinois #6 = Herrin). Some seam designations may be local to a mine or a small coal field, even though the seams may extend to nearby areas where they have other names.

EASTERN PROVINCE
&nbsp&nbsp Appalachian Region
&nbsp&nbsp Anthracite Region
&nbsp&nbsp Atlantic Coast Region

INTERIOR PROVINCE
&nbsp&nbsp Eastern Region
&nbsp&nbsp Western Region
&nbsp&nbsp Southwestern Region
&nbsp&nbsp Northern Region

NORTHERN GREAT PLAINS PROVINCE
&nbsp&nbsp Fort Union Region
&nbsp&nbsp North-Central Region
&nbsp&nbsp Denver Region
&nbsp&nbsp Raton Mountain Region

ROCKY MOUNTAIN PROVINCE
&nbsp&nbsp Bighorn Basin Region
&nbsp&nbsp Green River Region
&nbsp&nbsp Uinta Region
&nbsp&nbsp Wind River Region
&nbsp&nbsp San Juan River Region
&nbsp&nbsp Hams Fork Region
&nbsp&nbsp Hanna Field
&nbsp&nbsp Southwestern Utah Region

PACIFIC PROVINCE

GULF PROVINCE

ALASKAN PROVINCE

Proximate Analysis includes:
Moisture
Volatile Matter
Fixed Carbon (by difference)
Ash

Ultimate Analysis includes:
Carbon
Hydrogen
Nitrogen
Oxygen (by difference)

The forms of sulfur typically analyzed are:
Pyritic
Sulfate
Organic
Total

In this WWW database subset, calorific value is expressed in Btu/lb on a dry basis.

A sample which has not been exposed to drying conditions is brought to equilibrium with an atmosphere of 96 to 97 percent relative humidity before moisture analysis is performed.

Maceral analyses may be conducted in white light or in both white light and blue light (and the results mathematically combined), and using either high-rank or low-rank terminology. For this WWW site, only maceral group totals are presented. The full Penn State Coal Database contains percentages of individual macerals as well as group totals.

Representative subsamples (most commonly approximately 300g of minus 0.85 mm or minus 20 mesh) coal were originally available for distribution for each coal in the Sample Bank. Check our current prices and contact us for further information. Note that some older samples may no longer be in good condition.

NONE indicates that all reserves of the sample have been depleted.
DELAY indicates that the sample can be distributed, but requires crushing and subsampling from large amounts kept in bulk storage, which entails a delay in its shipment.
READY indicates that subsamples are ready for immediate shipment.