1. Coal in Pennsylvania
This presentation can be used to lead an interactive discussion about Coal in Pennsylvania

2. In groups, have the class make observations about the types of coal in PA, the distribution in general and based on rank, and any other trends.
Have each group name an observation until all of them have been mentioned.
Which type of coal is found in your county?
2. Does it surprise you that there are large parts of the state that do not have coal reserves? Why do you suppose this is the case?
Do you think coal in one region of the state is significantly older than that in the other regions?
The coal in western PA is the same age as the coal in the east, yet one region is of a higher rank…how is this possible?
What factors are important in increasing rank? (temperature and pressure)
5. Can you think of any reasons why the coal in the east was subjected to greater burial depth and higher temp?
Coal in Pennsylvania (2002)

3. Which type of coal is found in our county?

4. Why do you suppose this is the case?
Does it surprise you that there are large parts of the state that do not have coal reserves?
Why do you suppose this is the case?

5. Do you think coal in one region of PA is significantly older than the coal in the other regions?

6. The coal in western PA is about the same age as the coal in eastern PA, but the coal in the east is of a higher rank. How is this possible?
What factors are important in increasing rank? (temperature and pressure)

7. Why might the coal in eastern PA have been subjected to greater burial depth and higher temperature?

8. Work through the questions on the Coal in PA worksheet
DCNR (1999)
What is the terrain like in the coal bearing areas of western and eastern PA? What are the main geologic features in these areas? Do any of these features give you an indication of why the ranks of coal are distributed as they are in PA?
Draw the boundaries of any important geologic features from the physiographic province and relief maps on the coal distribution map
Anthracite coal in eastern PA was formed as the organic material was subjected to great burial depths and high temperatures during the building of the Appalachian Mountains in the late Paleozoic. Over 300 million years ago, Africa collided into North America. The sedimentary layers of the continent (containing the dead plant material) were forced deep into the earth and then compressed into folds. Erosion of the mountains piled more sediment onto the region, compressing the layers further. As temperature and pressure increased, the coal increased in rank. The coal maintained the rank it achieved at its maximum temperature and pressure; it does not decrease in rank when it is uplifted to the surface by tectonic activity or if overlying rock is eroded.
Coal in western PA is bituminous; the swampy plants were further from the mountain building in the east and were therefore subjected to lesser burial depths, little to no mountain building and folding.
Do you see a correlation between the ranks of bituminous coal in the west and the terrain?
Higher ranking bituminous occurs in the Area of the Allegheny Mountains…Part of the Appalachians, but is smaller than the main stretch of those mountains.
Coal in PA (2002)
DCNR (2000)

9. Describe the terrain in the coal-bearing areas of eastern Pennsylvania
Describe the terrain in the coal-bearing areas of western Pennsylvania.
Is the terrain consistent across the state, or does it vary?

10. What main geologic features are present in the coal-bearing regions of Pennsylvania?

11. List the proper names of 3 of these features, their locations, and the type of coal found there.

12. Draw the boundaries of any important geologic features from the physiographic province and relief maps on the coal distribution map.
Do you notice any relationships between geologic features and ranks of coal?

13. How might the formation of the geologic features you identified influence the process of coalification?

14. Note: There is an animation that is supposed to make the Distribution of Coal in PA map superimpose over the Digital Shaded Relief map – you may need to adjust the custom animation associated with this slide in case this feature does not work immediately on your computer
What is the terrain like in the coal bearing areas of western and eastern PA? What are the main geologic features in these areas? Do any of these features give you an indication of why the ranks of coal are distributed as they are in PA?
Draw the boundaries of any important geologic features from the physiographic province and relief maps on the coal distribution map
Anthracite coal in eastern PA was formed as the organic material was subjected to great burial depths and high temperatures during the building of the Appalachian Mountains in the late Paleozoic. Over 300 million years ago, Africa collided into North America. The sedimentary layers of the continent (containing the dead plant material) were forced deep into the earth and then compressed into folds. Erosion of the mountains piled more sediment onto the region, compressing the layers further. As temperature and pressure increased, the coal increased in rank. The coal maintained the rank it achieved at its maximum temperature and pressure; it does not decrease in rank when it is uplifted to the surface by tectonic activity or if overlying rock is eroded.
Coal in western PA is bituminous; the swampy plants were further from the mountain building in the east and were therefore subjected to lesser burial depths, little to no mountain building and folding.
Do you see a correlation between the ranks of bituminous coal in the west and the terrain?
Higher ranking bituminous occurs in the Area of the Allegheny Mountains…Part of the Appalachians, but is smaller than the main stretch of those mountains.

15. The Paleontology Portal - http://www.paleoportal.org/
385 Ma
325 Ma
300 Ma
The Paleontology Portal -
Blakey’s Appalachian Mountain Formation Paleomaps-
Africa collides into N America ~ 350 to 300 Ma to form the Appalachian mountains in eastern PA and the supercontinent Pangea.

16. Bituminous Coal & Anthracite in western and eastern PA
Edmunds’ Coal in PA (2002)

17. Pittsburgh Coal Seam
Field Photo and Geologic Record Comparison by University of Pittsburgh (2008)

18. Folded Seams of Anthracite
Field Photo by Cornell University (2006) –