Cutting Coal with Plows, a Trend toward Mining Thinner Coal Seams

Churth claimed in 1981 that, in the eastern United States, 49 billion tons (Bt) or 29% of a coal reserve base of 169 Bt minable by underground methods fall in the 0.7  m-1.1  m of thickness range. The underground reserve base includes bituminous and anthracite coalbeds more than 0.7 m in thickness to a maximum depth of 300 m, and thin coal seams will become of increasing interest in the future (Churth 1981).