Coal resources of southern Kuzbass (Novokuznetsk administrative district)

Abstract

The article summarizes data on geological structure of Novokuznetsk district of the Kemerovo region and its coal reserves. Survey is conducted consistently in regards to geological and economic areas of Kuzbass, included in the territory of Novokuznetsk district (Aralichevsky, Baidayevsky, Bunguro-Chumyshsky, Erunakovsky, Kondomsky, Mrassky, Osinovsky, Tersinsky, Tutuyas, Central, Uskatsky). Stating presence of significant coal reserves in this territory, the survey points out that in some geological and economic areas reserves are either depleted (Aralichevsky) or there are no prospects for reserves increase (Baidayevsky, Mrassky). The largest coal reserves explored are concentrated in Erunakovsky, Tersinsky and Osinovsky geological and economic areas. The main reserves of highly dmanded coking coals are located in Erunakovsky and Osinovsky areas. As for the Novokuznetsk administrative district, a significant increase in coal production level is possible, although it has to be linked to demand, since the extracted coal can not be stored for a long time. Today key point is not the increase in coal production, but qualitative deep processing of coal.