Availability of coal resources of mining in Illinois: Galatia Quadrangle, Saline County, southern Illinois

This report is part of a series examining the availability of coal resources for development in Illinois. Many of the geologic and physiographic conditions common to the southernmost part of Illinois are found in the Galatia Quadrangle. Environmental and regulatory restrictions, cultural features, mining technology, geologic conditions, and economic conditions all affect resource availability. Interviews with experts from coal companies and state government indicated how these conditions restrict mining. Coal resources and related geologic features in the Galatia Quadrangle were described and mapped for this report. Of the more than 1 billion tons of original deep minable resources in the quadrangle, 369 million tons (36%) are found to be available for mining. In addition, 7 million tons of Herrin Coal less than 150 feet deep, and thus classified as surface minable, are also available for underground mining. Of the 89 million tons of original surface minable resources in the quadrangle, only 1.6 million tons (2%) are available for mining. -from Authors