ABSTRACT
The geology of coal bearing strata is represented from a geological point of view rather than engineering considerations, to provide the necessary introduction of the subject into the topic of coal mine mechanics. The coal strata of the Plains region extends southwards from Lesser Slave Lake and is bounded on the west by the Foothills coal belt. When dealing with the practical aspects of mining, the most important part of the coal bearing strata is the coal zone which corresponds to the production horizons. Mineralogical composition is variable for the various rock lithologies which make up the two general rock groups related to stability: mineralogically stable rock types are common for the majority of coal basins all over world; and, mineralogically unstable rocks are characteristic only for a limited number of beds of coal bearing strata, coal basins as a whole. The principal features of a coal seam profile’ should be the analysis of coal seam mineability and strata stability.
