Damon Mcknight
Coal is a sedimentary rock formed from dead plant matter. It is mined in every state of Australia, with the largest black coal resources occurring in Queensland and New South Wales. Coal was first discovered in Australia in 1791, and coal mining and exports began in 1799. The coal industry in Australia is expected to continue to thrive due to the low-ash, high-quality energy production and the ongoing demand for steel and cement-making in Asia. In this paragraph, we will explore how coal is found and extracted in Australia, including the methods used to extract coal and the basins where it is found.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Types of coal | Black coal, brown coal, bituminous coal, lignite, anthracite, sub-bituminous coal, coking coal, thermal coal |
| Composition | Combustible rock, carbon, hydrogen, sulphur, oxygen, nitrogen, methane |
| Location | Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, Western Australia |
| Extraction methods | Open-cut mining, underground mining, Bord and Pillar method, longwall mining |
| Environmental impacts | Greenhouse gas emissions, carbon dioxide emissions, water extraction, land subsidence, stream diversions |
| Uses | Electricity generation, steel production, iron production, manufacturing, chemicals |
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What You'll Learn
- Open-cut mining is used for 80% of coal extraction in Australia
- Underground mining is required for coal deeper than a few hundred metres
- Coal is found in every state of Australia, with the largest deposits in Queensland and New South Wales
- Coal seam gas extraction involves drilling wells through coal seams and reducing water pressure to release natural gas
- Coal mining in Australia is subject to strict environmental and sustainability regulations
Open-cut mining is used for 80% of coal extraction in Australia
Open-cut mining, also known as open-pit or open-cast mining, is a process of resource extraction where the coal is dug up from the surface using a three-stage process of soil removal, rock blasting, and transport. This method of extraction is possible because coal seams are found close to the surface and is used for 80% of coal extraction in Australia, compared to 40% in the rest of the world.
Open-cut mining is preferred because it is cheaper than underground mining and enables up to 90% recovery of the resource. The process starts with removing the topsoil and storing it for later use in restoring the disturbed land. The surface rock, or overburden, covering the coal is then blasted with explosives and removed by excavators. The uncovered coal is then blasted to break up the layers and loaded into large trucks that can hold up to 300 tonnes of material. The coal is then transported to a processing plant where impurities are removed.
Open-cut mines have been found to be safer for workers as they have a fatality rate of less than half that of the US rate. They also have a strong safety focus, with advancements in technology leading to the introduction of automated longwall mining systems, remote-controlled devices, better pit slope design, and slope stability monitoring. However, one disadvantage of open-cut mines in Australia is that they are responsible for more than half of the total methane emissions from coal mining in the country.
In Australia, coal is mined in every state, with the largest black coal resources occurring in Queensland and New South Wales. About 70% of the coal mined in Australia is exported, mostly to eastern Asia, and the remaining is used in electricity generation and steel production. The country has been a significant producer and exporter of coal for decades, with coal-mining supporting thousands of jobs and contributing to the economy.
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![Entrained-bed carbonization of bituminous coal : tests on an Australian coal / by W.S. Landers ... [et al.]. 1965 [Leather Bound]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61IX47b4r9L._AC_UY218_.jpg)
Underground mining is required for coal deeper than a few hundred metres
In Australia, nearly 80% of coal is produced from open-cut mines, which are possible because coal seams are close to the surface. However, coal that is deeper than a few hundred metres underground must be extracted using underground mining methods. Underground mining is more expensive and challenging than surface mining, and it poses health risks to workers due to the fine dust produced in the process.
There are two primary underground mining methods used in Australia for extracting coal that lies deeper than a few hundred metres. One is the Bord and Pillar method, also known as "room and pillar". This method involves dividing the mine into a series of 20-to-30-foot "rooms" or work areas cut into the coal bed. A machine continually cuts into the coal, tunnelling through the coal seams and leaving pillars supported by roof bolts to hold up the roof. The other method is longwall mining, which uses a large cutting blade to slice across the coal layer and remove the coal seam. The coal is then transported to the surface on a conveyor belt.
Longwall mining has become more efficient with the introduction of automated systems and the use of driverless trucks, trains, and drones to improve safety and gather information. However, as technology advances, health and safety considerations must also adapt to address new challenges. For example, the fine dust produced by underground mining is hydrophobic, which means it repels water even when sprayed. These fine particles are the most hazardous to health, leading to diseases such as black lung and silicosis.
Underground coal mining has a long history in Australia, dating back to the early 19th century. It has played a significant role in the progress of European settlement, the economy, and the development of various regions, particularly Queensland and New South Wales, which hold most of the country's black coal resources. Today, Australia is a major exporter of coal, with about 70% of mined coal being sold to foreign markets, mainly in eastern Asia.
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Coal is found in every state of Australia, with the largest deposits in Queensland and New South Wales
Coal is found and mined in every state of Australia. The largest black coal resources occur in Queensland and New South Wales, with about 60% of the known economic reserves located in Queensland and about a quarter found in New South Wales. Australia has the fourth-largest share of coal reserves in the world and is the world's largest exporter of metallurgical coal and second-largest exporter of thermal coal.
Coal is a combustible sedimentary rock composed mainly of carbon, along with variable quantities of other elements, mostly hydrogen, sulphur, oxygen, and nitrogen. It occurs as layers, called coal beds or coal seams, that are found between other sedimentary rocks. Coal is formed in sedimentary basins, which are regions where the Earth has sunk down and filled with layers of sediments. Australia's black coal resources range from Permian to Jurassic in age (299 to 145 million years old), although most are Permian in age.
Black coal, also known as anthracite or bituminous coal, dominates in central Queensland and the Sydney Basin in central New South Wales. It is mined underground or in open-cut mines and is used for both domestic power generation and export. Open-cut mining is cheaper than underground mining and enables up to 90% recovery of the resource. In open-cut mining, the topsoil is first removed and stored for later use in restoring the disturbed land. The surface rock covering the coal is then blasted with explosives and removed by excavators. The coal is then blasted to break up the layers and loaded into large trucks.
Brown coal or lignite is found in Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia, as well as in other regions in Queensland and New South Wales. It is mined in Victoria and is of lower quality due to a high water content, which also makes it problematic for power generation as it crumbles easily and requires specialized storage. Brown coal is used to produce soil conditioners and fertilizers, as well as briquettes for industrial and domestic use.
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Coal seam gas extraction involves drilling wells through coal seams and reducing water pressure to release natural gas
Coal is mined in every state of Australia. The largest black coal resources occur in Queensland and New South Wales, with about 70% of coal mined in Australia being exported, mostly to eastern Asia. The remaining coal is used in electricity generation.
Coal seam gas is a natural gas held in coal seams under pressure by groundwater. Coal seam gas extraction involves drilling wells through coal seams and reducing water pressure to release natural gas. This process is also known as hydraulic fracturing or fracking. The gas and water are separated, and the gas is then piped to compression plants for transportation via gas transmission pipelines. The extracted water is called 'co-produced water' and requires treatment and safe discharge or beneficial use.
The volume of co-produced water varies depending on the well, coal seam, and basin's geological conditions. The treatment of co-produced water may include processes such as reverse osmosis to reduce salinity and remove contaminants. Treated water can then be used for irrigation, livestock, urban and industrial uses, dust suppression, aquifer reinjection, and supporting local environmental values.
Before drilling and extraction, detailed evaluations, tests, and analyses are conducted to assess the potential environmental impacts and determine the suitability of the site. Technologies such as seismic mapping, three-dimensional geophysical surveying, mathematical modelling, and imaging of underground reservoirs are used to observe and understand the subsurface aquifers and geological strata. These techniques help predict water movement, identify potential leakage pathways, and assess the potential for groundwater contamination.
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Coal mining in Australia is subject to strict environmental and sustainability regulations
In Queensland, coal and coal seam gas operations are assessed by two main departments: the Department of Environment and Science and the Office of the Coordinator-General, which operates under the Department of State Development. The Coordinator-General is responsible for declaring 'coordinated projects', which require an environmental impact statement. The majority of coal and coal seam gas projects in Queensland are assessed under the bilateral agreement with the Queensland Government. Queensland also has an independent statutory body, the GasFields Commission, which is responsible for managing and improving sustainable coexistence among rural landholders, regional communities, and the onshore gas industry.
The Australian Government's Department of the Environment also becomes involved when a coal seam gas development or large coal mine is likely to have a significant impact on a water resource or another matter of national environmental significance. There are two stages in the environment assessment process required by the EPBC Act: Referral – to determine if a project requires approval under the Act, and Assessment/decision – to decide whether to approve. If a significant impact on water resources is likely, the activity will need to be assessed and approved before it can proceed.
In addition to government regulations, coal mining companies in Australia have their own sustainable mining approaches. For example, Bravus Mining & Resources pre-plans its projects, monitors air and water quality throughout the project, and minimises the impacts on the site and its surroundings. They also conduct land rehabilitation and ensure safe and secure storage of waste products.
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Frequently asked questions
Coal is formed in layers, known as strata, in basins. Coal occurs as layers, called coal beds or coal seams, that are found between other sedimentary rocks. Coal is a combustible rock mainly composed of carbon along with variable quantities of other elements, mostly hydrogen, sulphur, oxygen and nitrogen.
Coal is mined in every state of Australia. Coal is generally produced in open-cut mines in Australia because the coal seams are close to the surface. This makes it more economical to mine. Coal formed in basins is also found in Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia.
Almost 80% of Australian coal is extracted from open-cut mines, where up to 90% of the rock can be recovered from the seam. First, the topsoil is removed and stored for later use in restoring the disturbed land. The surface rock covering the coal is then blasted with explosives and removed by excavators. The uncovered coal is then blasted to break up the layers and loaded into large trucks. The coal is transported to the processing plant where impurities are removed.
Australia has both black coal and brown coal. Black coal, also known as anthracite or bituminous coal, is found in Queensland and New South Wales. Brown coal or lignite is found in Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia, as well as other regions in Queensland and New South Wales.
Coal is used for electricity generation and steel production. In 2019-2020, Australia exported $54.62 billion worth of coal. In 2019-20, Australia exported 390 Mt of coal (177 Mt metallurgical coal and 213 Mt thermal coal).
