ABSTRACT

Numerous coal beds are present in an 850-foot section of the thick Lower Tertiary Fort Union Formation in the Bearcreek area of Carbon County, Montana. The formation dips gently toward the southwest until it abuts the thrust faults surrounding the Beartooth Mountain Uplift of south central Montana. The near vertical dip of the competent Madison Limestone vividly displays the thrust faulting and the termination of the Fort Union sediments.

At least eight coal beds, varying from 4 to 11 feet thick, are present and have been defined with the drill over a 10,000-plus acre area near the small community of Bearcreek, located about five miles east of Red Lodge, Montana. Total reserves of coal were calculated to be well over 300,000,000 tons in place. Previous underground mining has probably removed 30 to 40 million tons.

Coal quality grades from a subbituminous B to subbituminous A, with heating values ranging from 10 to 11 thousand Btu's per pound.