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The AAPG/Datapages Combined Publications Database

Grand Junction Geological Society

Abstract


Southeastern Piceance Basin, 1982
Pages 69-78

Stratigraphy and Geology of Some Coal Mines Along the North Fork of the Gunnison River, Somerset Coal Field, Colorado

Gerald J. Daub

Abstract

The Somerset coal field is in the southeastern Piceance Creek Basin in Delta and Gunnison Counties, Colorado. High-volatile C to high-volatile B bituminous coals are produced from the upper (Paonia Shale) and lower (Bowie Shale) coal members of the Upper Cretaceous Mesaverde Formation. The Bowie and Paonia Shale Members both contain at least three coal seams that are usually of commercial value.

The A, B, and C coal seams are in the lower member and the D, E, and F seams are in the upper member. Coal from these six seams is presently mined by six operators in the North Fork Valley. The active coal mines include the Orchard Valley, Blue Ribbon, Somerset, Bear, Hawk’s Nest West, and the Hawk’s Nest East, as well as the new Mt. Gunnison No. 1. These mines (excluding the Mt. Gunnison) had a combined 1981 annual production of 2,735,956 short tons (st) of coal.

There are also numerous inactive coal mines in the North Fork Valley. Accurate data from these mines are sketchy and incomplete. Available data from five of these mines (Farmers, King, Clark, Oliver, and Black Beauty) are presented.


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