A geological appraisal of the coal resources of Nova Scotia

CIM Bulletin, Vol. 72, No. 802, 1979

PETER A. HACQUEBARD, Geological Survey of Canada, Atlantic Geoscience Centre, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia

Recent drilling programs have shown that the in-situ coal resources of Nova Scotia are very substantial. The grand totals of the measured, indicated and inferred categories amount to 232 m, 646 m and 993 m tons, respectively. This vast quantity of coal occurs essentially in five main fields: Sydney, Mabou, Port Hood, Pictou and Springhill. The largest resources (84% of the total) occur in the submarine area of the Sydney coalfield.With a 65% recovery rate, there are at present 150 m tons of proven, recoverable coal in Nova Scotia. At a predicted maximum annual production of 5 m tons, this amount equals a lifespan of 30 years. However, additional drilling, particularly in the Sydney offshore area, holds promise of increasing the recoverable reserve tonnage to at least 350 m tons. This figure may be compared with the 484 m tons production obtained

Keywords: Coal resources, Nova Scotia, Coal geology, Sydney coalfield, Mabou coalfield, Port Hood coalfield, Pictou coalfield, Springhill coalfield, Offshore exploration, Riversdale Group, Cumberland Group, Pictou Group, Seam splitting Phalen seam